EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA 1993 – 2023

This study adopted a longitudinal ex-post facto research design. It utilizes time-series data to examine the causal relationship between educational management efficiency and economic development in Nigeria from 1993 to 2023. It used GDP per Capita (GDPPC) as the proxy for economic development as the dependent Variable. The independent variables were Public Education Expenditure Efficiency (PEEE) calculated as the ratio of Secondary School Enrollment Rate to Recurrent Expenditure per Student (a higher ratio implies efficient management), Teacher-Student Ratio (TSR) proxy for resource allocation management (Inverse relationship: lower ratio indicates better management), Budget Allocation Ratio (BAR): which is the ratio of education budget to total national budget proxied for policy priority and fiscal management. Secondary data were extracted from the World Bank Development Indicators (WDI), UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Statistical Bulletin. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and ARDL regression analyses reveal a significant positive association between efficient educational management and sustainable economic development in Nigeria. The findings underscore that prudent resource allocation, data‑driven decision‑making and stakeholder engagement in schools enhance long‑term economic resilience, so also the need for systemic reforms that prioritize accountability, timely resource allocation and capacity building for educational leaders. The paper recommended strengthening institutional capacity, adopting performance‑based funding and integrating educational planning with national development strategies.