UTILISATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE THEORIES AND EFFECTIVE INSTITUTIONAL ADMINISTRATION IN FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE ABEOKUTA, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the utilisation of administrative theories on effective institutional administration in Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB). The study used correlational research design to investigate the utilisation of the bureaucratic and systems theories on the administration of FUNAAB. The population of the study was 1929 out of which 120 academic and non-academic staff of the University was sampled randomly. Administrative Theories and Effective Institutional Administration Questionnaire (ATEIAQ) was used to obtain data from respondents. Mean and standard deviations were analysed and used to answer the research questions, while Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation was used to test the hypotheses at p<0.05 significant level. The finding revealed that the level of effective institutional administration of FUNAB is low at 2.23 average mean. The bureaucratic theory and systems theory had significant influence on effective institutional administration in FUNAB. Recommendation was made that the government and other stakeholders of universities should provide adequate resources (human, material, financial) for the administration of universities. Other administrative theories, such as the contingency theory could be applied alongside with the systems theory and the bureaucratic theory, in the institutional administration of higher education, in order to ensure effectiveness and efficiency. The human relations/behaviourist theory, which emphasises that high institutional administrative productivity, is a result of acceptable staff welfare packages, job security and humane decision making, could be intensified in the administration of universities for improved effectiveness.