Effect of Treasury Single Account Policy on Financial Management in Federal Universities in North East Nigeria

This study examines the effect of the Treasury Single Account policy on financial management practices in federal universities located in North East Nigeria. Introduced by the Federal Government of Nigeria, the TSA policy consolidates all government revenue into a single account held at the Central Bank of Nigeria, eliminating fragmented banking arrangements that previously enabled financial leakages. Universities, as significant recipients of federal allocations, have been directly affected by this policy. This study uses a survey design and collects data from 100 bursary, finance, and administrative officers in four federal universities across Yobe, Borno, and Gombe States. A structured questionnaire assessed changes in cash flow management, fund utilization, procurement efficiency, and reporting timeliness following TSA implementation. Regression analysis and descriptive statistics were applied. Results indicate that the TSA policy has significantly improved fund monitoring and reduced unauthorized expenditure in the sampled universities. However, delayed access to approved funds and bureaucratic remittance processes have created operational disruptions, particularly in institutions with high recurrent expenditure needs. The study concludes that while the TSA has strengthened financial accountability, its rigidity poses implementation challenges for university administrations. It recommends that the Office of the Accountant General develop streamlined fund release procedures for academic institutions to minimize operational disruptions while maintaining the integrity of the consolidation framework.

Keywords: Treasury Single Account, federal universities, North East Nigeria, public financial management, TSA policy.