This study investigates management strategies for improving the functionality of tertiary education in Nigeria. One research question was asked and answered and three hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 alpha level. The sample of the study comprised 900 respondents selected through the simple random sampling technique from six tertiary institutions in Delta and Edo States of Nigeria. The questionnaire was the instrument for collection of data from the respondents. Descriptive statistics in the forms of mean and standard deviation were used to answer the only research question. The three hypotheses were tested using one way analysis of variance. The results obtained showed that improved funding, monitoring and adoption of best practice in service delivery would help to improve the functionality of tertiary education in Delta and Edo States. Staffs of University, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education did not differ significantly in their mean perception scores for any of the identified management strategy for improving the functionality of tertiary education. The study recommended that governments of Delta and Edo States should give adequate priority to tertiary education by ensuring that enough fund is allocated and disbursed to the institutions for proper management of affairs and improved functionality.