INFLUENCE OF RECRUITMENT PRACTICES ON ACADEMIC STAFFING EFFECTIVENESS IN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN NORTH-EAST ZONE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

This study examined the influence of recruitment practices on academic staffing effectiveness in public universities in north-east zone, Nigeria. Three specific objectives and research questions were set for the study. The study adopted descriptive survey research design with the population of 10,036 comprised of 8,342 lecturers and a total of 847 University administrators (Deans, Directors and Head of Departments) and sample size of 241. Questionnaire titled “Influence of Recruitment Practices on Academic Staffing Effectiveness Questionnaire (IRPASEQ)” was used as instrument for data collection. The data collected were analyzed using frequency and mean scores to answer all research questions. The results revealed among others that manpower planning influence academic staffing effectiveness through proper forecasting of academic staff needed, maintaining adequate staff student ratio and regular assessment of manpower. The finding also revealed that vacancy advertisement influenced academic staffing effectiveness through timely advertisement of academic vacancies, wide dissemination of vacancy advertisements and clear specification of job requirements in vacancy advertisements. It was therefore concluded that manpower planning, advertisement of vacancies and staff selection procedures influenced academic staffing effectiveness in public universities in north east zone, Nigeria. The study recommends among others that public universities in north-east should strengthen their manpower planning practices by conducting regular assessments and forecasts of academic staff needs. This will enable them to identify staffing gaps, determine future personnel requirements, and ensure the timely recruitment of qualified academic staff to meet teaching, research, and community service demands.