Higher education institutions, including universities, colleges, and polytechnics, serve as critical drivers of national development by fostering teaching, research, and innovation. These institutions provide an enabling environment for knowledge creation, intellectual exchange, and global competitiveness. However, their ability to fulfill this mandate effectively depends on a robust accountability framework in institutional management. This study examines key accountability challenges affecting higher education management. They include poor resource management, weak institutional frameworks, governance failures, inconsistent policies, inadequate quality assurance mechanisms, corruption, and the politicization of leadership appointments. These challenges undermine institutional efficiency, contribute to brain drain, and impede sustainable national development. To address these issues, this paper advocates for strategic interventions, including improved financial planning, effective budgeting, transparent expenditure controls, sustainable infrastructure maintenance, and continuous capacity-building initiatives. Furthermore, fostering ethical leadership and enforcing anti-corruption measures such as strict penalties for financial misconduct and transparent procurement processes will enhance institutional integrity. Strengthening accountability in higher education management will not only improve resource utilization and governance but also ensure the production of competent graduates, drive technological and industrial innovation, and position Nigeria for global competitiveness. By implementing these accountability measures, higher education institutions can serve as catalysts for sustainable national development, reinforcing their role as pillars of societal progress.