PROBLEMS OF RECORDS MANAGEMENT IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS (A CASE STUDY OF OUR SAVIOR INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE, AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY (OSISATECH), ENUGU)

ABSTRACT The core objective of this study is to look into the problems of records management in tertiary institutions in Nigeria using Our Saviour Institute of Science, Agricultural Technology (OSISATECH) as a case study. Other purposes include; to identify the records management practice used in OSISATECH, Enugu, to identify the problems encountered by secretaries in handling records in this institution, and to determine the problems involved in storage of these records, among others. This study comprised of five chapters and each chapter is elaborate and explicit on the subject matter. The research design adopted was the descriptive method. The researcher used all the personnel officers and junior staff in OSISATECH which is seventy-five (75) as the population of the study. However, five research questions were formulated in the study and the researcher made use of percentages to analyze the data collected. The data for this study was gathered through questionnaire and past studies directly related to the study. It is inferred from the study that the records management practice commonly used in OSISATECH, Enugu is central filing and efficient records practice is not maintained in institutions of higher learning. Also, that the problems encountered by secretaries in handling records in the institution include delay in filing document, lack of storage space and absence of modern record equipment and insecurity of storage room etc. The researcher, from the presentation and analysis together with the summary of findings, concluded that efficient record management practices or programme is not maintained in the institution, institutions of higher learning do not employ trained personnel to handle their records and this makes records job to be done haphazardly and storage space and equipment are not adequately provided in this institution and this leads to compacting of record in relatively small space. It was as a result of these findings that the researcher recommended that record retention policy of every institution should be kept in such a way that the appropriate retention period of records of document would be and no record should be destroyed when it is still in use, an efficient and effective records management should be maintained so that records would be properly kept and handled and finally, record management personnel should be made to have a broad background in business and training information areas to enable them cope with the expanding need of business.