Exploring the Impact of Tertiary Institutions’ Autonomy Proposed by the Federal Government of Nigeria

Abstract

Autonomy in higher education institutions refers to the freedom and independence granted to these institutions to govern themselves, make decisions, and allocate resources. The aim of this study is to examine the potential impacts, benefits and challenges associated with autonomy in Nigerian tertiary institutions. It also analyzes the implications for governance, academic freedom, quality assurance, financial management, and student and faculty rights and responsibilities. This paper employed a mixed research approaches such as systematic literature review and semi-structured interviews to explores the impact of tertiary institutions autonomy proposed by the federal government of Nigeria. The research employs a qualitative research approach, by reviewing 36 relevant literature on tertiary institutions’ autonomy ranging from 2017–2023 sourced from six (6) different research databases such as: Google Scholar, Research Gate, Academia, Science Direct, Emerald Insight, and Taylor and Francis. The findings of the study contribute to the ongoing discourse on higher education policies in Nigeria and provide insights for policymakers, administrators, and researchers.