ADMINISTRATIVE AUTONOMY AND EXTERNAL INTERFERENCE IN HIGHER INSTITUTIONS IN BAYELSA STATE

Abstract

This paper critically examines administrative autonomy and external interference in higher institutions in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. It explores the concept of autonomy as the institutional right of tertiary schools to manage their internal affairs such as personnel administration, academic programs, and financial management without undue external influence. External interference is defined as political, community, or donor influence that undermines the authority of educational managers and disrupts institutional independence. The study identifies key causes of interference, including weak oversight mechanisms, poor leadership quality, excessive political involvement in management appointments, and the politicization of institutional establishment and siting. It highlights major forms of interference such as politically motivated appointments, manipulation of staff recruitment, imbalanced resource allocation, and compromised student admissions. These interferences have produced far-reaching consequences such as corruption, poor institutional performance, regional imbalance, weak leadership structures, and declining academic standards. The paper concludes that limited administrative autonomy exposes higher institutions in Bayelsa State to political and external pressure, thereby hindering effective governance and sustainable academic development. It recommends restoring full autonomy through legislation, adopting merit-based recruitment and leadership selection, ensuring financial independence via first-line charges, and strengthening internal accountability mechanisms to safeguard the integrity of higher education in Nigeria.