Empirical evidence from developing contexts underscores these dynamics. Studies show that information
systems can significantly enhance administrative efficiency when they are reliable, integrated, and effectively
used by competent personnel (Egoeze et al., 2018; Olasina, 2021). However, Nigerian universities often face
persistent challenges—poor interoperability, inadequate ICT infrastructure, limited staff digital literacy, and
inconsistent institutional support—that inhibit the translation of digital investments into measurable service
improvements (Ajah, 2019; Olasina, 2021). Even where systems exist, many administrative processes such as
payroll management, admissions, and transcript processing remain partly manual, undermining timeliness and
data accuracy.
Recent regional research confirms that while office information technologies have been deployed in many
tertiary institutions in South-East Nigeria, their contribution to organizational performance is uneven and
sometimes marginal (WJARR, 2023). Scholars argue that sustainable efficiency gains in higher-education
administration require not only robust systems but also continuous staff training, system integration across
departments, and management commitment (Eze, Chinedu-Eze, & Bello, 2020). This interplay of technological
and human factors situates OIS as both an enabler and a potential bottleneck of administrative transformation.
Despite growing scholarship on ICT adoption in higher education, comprehensive studies linking system quality
and integration, user competence and utilization, and service-delivery efficiency within the Nigerian federal
university system remain scarce. Consequently, there is limited empirical evidence on how these interrelated
constructs jointly influence administrative performance in the region. Addressing this gap is essential for guiding
evidence-based digital-transformation policies and improving accountability mechanisms in Nigeria’s public
universities.
Statement of the Problem
The deployment of Office Information Systems in Nigerian federal universities was intended to modernize
administrative operations, eliminate delays, and improve service quality. However, the expected efficiency
dividends remain only partially realized. Persistent complaints from staff and students about slow service, data
inaccuracy, and opaque procedures indicate that OIS investments have not fully translated into administrative
effectiveness (Ajah, 2019; WJARR, 2023). Tasks such as transcript issuance, personnel management, and
interdepartmental correspondence often experience delays despite the presence of digital tools, suggesting
systemic weaknesses in either system integration or user application.
Evidence from studies in Nigerian universities points to systemic challenges: frequent downtime, poor
interoperability, inadequate maintenance, and limited technical support (Olasina, 2021; Eze et al., 2020). Equally
critical are human-capacity constraints—many administrative personnel lack advanced digital literacy or have
not received continuous OIS training, reducing utilization and efficiency (Egoeze et al., 2018; Al-Emran,
Mezhuyev, & Kamaludin, 2018). International research similarly confirms that without user competence and
organizational support, even sophisticated systems fail to yield meaningful performance gains (Siyam, 2019).
Despite these insights, few empirical studies have simultaneously examined the relationship between system
quality and integration, user competence and utilization, and service-delivery efficiency in Nigerian federal
universities. Most existing work treats these factors independently or focuses on isolated ICT platforms, leaving
a theoretical and practical gap regarding their combined effect on administrative outcomes. As a result, university
managers and policymakers lack robust evidence on which aspects of OIS implementation most strongly predict
efficiency improvements.
This study therefore seeks to address this gap by empirically analysing how system quality and
integration and user competence and utilization influence service-delivery efficiency in federal universities in
South-East Nigeria. The study’s findings will provide actionable insights for improving administrative
performance, optimizing digital-transformation strategies, and informing higher-education policy in emerging
economies.
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