ASUU–Federal Government Industrial Disputes and External Efficiency of University Education in Nigeria: Evidence from National Youth Service Corps Members in Cross River State

The study assessed ASUU–Federal Government Industrial Disputes and External Efficiency of University Education in Nigeria drawing evidence from National Youth Service Corps Members in Cross River State. Correlation research design was used for the study. The population of the study was 1,501 batch A stream 2 corps members posted to Cross River State for 2026 service year. Cluster and simple random sampling techniques were used for the study. A sample of 900 respondents was generously drawn using Yamane sample determination formula. The instrument was administered on the sample in their orientation camp at Obubra LGA of Cross River State. Out of which 890 questionnaires were retrieved and used for analysis. The researcher-developed instrument titled: ASUU-Federal Government Impasse and External Efficiency of University Education Questionnaire (AGIEFUEQ) employed for data collection was validated by three experts in Departments of Educational Management, Educational Psychology and Economics of University of Calabar, Calabar in order to ensure its face and content validation of the drafted copy. The instrument contained 21 items (seven for irregular academic calendar, brain drain and external efficiency respectively) developed on a Likert four-point rating scale of Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree and Strongly Disagree. A trial test was conducted on comparable population in Anambra State, Nigeria. The data collected were subjected to measure of internal consistency using Cronbach alpha which yielded the reliability index of .80 and .84 for the sub-scales. The data collected from the field was analyzed using simple linear regression at .05 level of significance with the aid of Special Package for Social Sciences version 23. The results showed significant prediction of irregular academic calendar and brain drain individually and jointly on external efficiency of university education in Nigeria. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that the Federal Government should honour any agreement reached with ASUU by previous Government(s) in order to guide against industrial disharmony which breeds irregular academic calendar with its attendant effect on external efficiency of university education in Nigeria.

Keywords: ASUU-Federal Government Industrial Disputes, External Efficiency, University Education, Nigeria.