This study examined the relationship between governance practices and security management effectiveness in higher
educational institutions in Plateau State, Nigeria. The study was motivated by increasing security challenges in higher
educational institutions and the need to understand the role of governance practices in enhancing security management
effectiveness. A correlational survey research design was adopted. The population of the study comprised 5,842 academic
and non-academic staff of selected higher educational institutions in Plateau State, Nigeria. A sample of 374 respondents
was selected using a multistage sampling procedure. Data were collected using a researcher-developed instrument titled
Governance Practices and Security Management Effectiveness Questionnaire (GPSMEQ). The instrument was validated
by experts, while its reliability was established using Cronbach's Alpha reliability coefficient (0.70). Data were analyzed
using Mean and Standard Deviation, Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient, and Simple Linear Regression
Analysis. The findings revealed a significant positive relationship between governance practices and security management
effectiveness (r = .658, p < .05). The result further showed that governance practices significantly predicted security
management effectiveness (β = .658, t = 16.86, p < .05), accounting for approximately 43.3% of the variance in security
management effectiveness (R² = .433). Based on the findings, the study concluded that effective governance practices
contribute significantly to enhanced security management effectiveness in higher educational institutions. The study
recommended that institutional administrators strengthen accountability, transparency, participatory decision-making, and
policy implementation mechanisms to improve security management outcomes.

Keywords: Governance practices, Security management effectiveness, Higher educational institutions, Transparency,
Accountability, Leadership effectiveness, Plateau State.