Volume 2, Issue 1, 2026

INTEGRATING OPTIMIZATION MODELS INTO PUBLIC SECTOR PERFORMANCE EVALUATION: EVIDENCE FROM NIGERIAN PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS

ONI, GABRIEL FOLORUNSHO

Abstract

Public sector institutions in Nigeria operate under severe fiscal
constraints, rising service delivery demands, and increasing
pressure for accountability. Performance evaluation systems in
many public organizations, including federal universities,
ministries, and agencies, remain primarily descriptive and
compliance-driven, limiting their usefulness for strategic decision
making. This study examines the integration of Operations
Research (OR) optimization models into public-sector
performance evaluation, with specific reference to Nigerian public
institutions, such as federal universities. Using insights from linear
programming, data envelopment analysis, and goal programming,
the study develops a conceptual framework linking performance
indicators to optimization-based decision support. The paper
argues that embedding optimization models into performance
evaluation systems can improve resource allocation, enhance
operational efficiency, and strengthen accountability in Nigerian
public institutions. The study contributes to public management
and applied economics literature by demonstrating how
optimization techniques can transform performance evaluation
from a reporting exercise into a strategic management tool in
developing economies.

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