Enforcing Building Set Backs as a Viable Strategy for an Emerging City

For any emerging city to grow into a healthy and safe city, development guidelines and regulations which serve as a vital strategy should be considered and be adhered to. Most importantly the town and country planning laws which are purposely designed to regulate various development aspects that includes, zoning practices, occupancy type building height, as well as building setbacks among many other regulations, depending on the problems of a particular locality. Suleja in the last three decades has rapidly experienced increase in size with numerous number of buildings springing up, largely as a result of its proximity to the new Federal Capital Territory; unfortunately most of the buildings were haphazardly placed with less or little regard to local planning regulations. This paper is aimed to explore how non adherence to building setbacks affects the immediate dwelling units of an area. A field survey and oral interviews were used in three core areas of Suleja to evaluate the level of non-adherence of building setbacks, and its resultant effects. The research findings identified several problems arising from non-compliance to building setbacks regulations, which includes poorly lightened and ventilated interiors of dwelling units, lack of access roads linking buildings with main roads, lack of outdoor spaces for parking vehicles and unsafe environment which all leads to a poor city growth

A study of the process and barriers of property tax revenue generation in local government (a case study of Pasir Gudang Municipal Council)

Property tax collection issues in local governments are an important area of concern in recent years. Similarly, Pasir Gudang Municipal Council is facing serious challenges due the accrual of arrears on property tax. These issues are directly linked to the conducts and compliance behavior of the taxpayers which determine the revenue generation of the local government. Therefore, as a result of high non-compliance behavior of the taxpayers, the revenue generation capacity of Pasir Gudang Municipal Council has been declining. This study therefore, makes an effort to investigate the problems of low property tax revenue generation at Pasir Gudang Municipal Council, Malaysia. Random sampling technique was used for the data collection required for the study. Nevertheless, the study adopted a mixed method approach. 300 respondents are targeted which form the sample size to answer one of the research questions. While the qualitative method answers the other 3 research questions. However, 264 questionnaires were returned. The quantitative data analysis employed was simple distribution tables, bar chart and percentage distribution. On the other hand, thematic network analysis and narration, photographs and observations were used for qualitative analysis. The study has discovered that inadequate provisions of infrastructural facilities and services are the reason for the decline in property tax revenue collection generation in the study area. Because the findings of study discovered that the taxpayer's expectations were to have adequate infrastructural facilities and services in the study area but due to the absence of these requirements most of them evade paying the property tax. Through the findings of the study a relationship between public authorities and the taxpayers is established. The research contribution to knowledge based on the findings of this study is very significant. The study has established that provision of public amenities (public goods and services) is a determinant to taxpayers compliance. This can be used as an extension on Fischer's model of compliance behavior. However, effective public engagement in the public service delivery and enforcement could yield positive results

Disability Benefits Available Under the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Veterans Disability Compensation (VDC) Programs

[Excerpt] Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Veterans Disability Compensation (VDC)— administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) respectively—are two of the largest federal disability programs, but strongly differ along several dimensions, including the populations served, how each program defines a “disability,” as well as varying eligibility requirements. This report provides a description and comparative analysis of the SSDI and VDC programs. These issues will be of particular interest to Congress because of the expected increase in the numbers of SSDI and VDC claims. The recent economic decline and aging baby-boomers have continued to place a strain on SSA’s resources. The aging of the veteran population and expansion of presumptive conditions policies have contributed to the increase in VDC claims

Information technology adoption inhibitor-influencer model for SMEs in the construction industry

Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) in the Nigerian construction industry has been struggling with the issues of improper materials management practices. In an attempt to address these issues, Information Technology (IT) was initiated primarily to overcome the shortcomings of the conventional materials management practices. Although, IT was aimed to greatly enhance performance and reduce non-value adding activities, IT structures in reality lack clear adoption realisation process to drive in within such factors to deliver the adoption of IT in SMEs. The current trend of materials management practices in small and medium construction companies has been the subject of criticism. IT adoption has not had the expected resounding success of a total adoption and utilisation. This research has empirically identified factors inhibiting and influencing IT adoption in Nigerian SMEs. The research focuses on the factors with respect to their inhibiting and influencing impact to IT adoption within the context of SMEs in Nigeria with the aim to develop IT adoption inhibitor-influencer model for SME’s IT adoption enhancement. The methodology adopted in this research was mixed methods approach. Interview data was obtained from seven (7) SMEs, based on a systematic sampling of the SMEs in the north-eastern region of Nigeria and the data were analysed using content analysis. Whilst questionnaire survey data was obtained from 187 respondents and the data were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to test the relationships between the exogenous constructs (inhibitor and influencer) to endogenous construct in order to validate and confirm the developed influencing factors for IT adoption model. The findings reveal that cost, government, and employees factors have significant influence on SME’s IT adoption, whilst, technology and practices factors were found to have a partial inhibiting effect on SME’s IT adoption. This research provides a multi-dimensional perspective for the enhancement of SME’s IT adoption and can contribute to high project performance. It is also provide mechanism for realising effective materials management practices for delivering successful projects in the SME construction companies. In conclusion, it is timely to reverse the trend of low IT adoption within SMEs in the construction industry in Nigeria

Primer on Disability Benefits: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

[Excerpt] This report presents information on two components of federal disability benefits, those provided through the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs. The SSDI program is an insured program that provides benefits to individuals who have paid into the system and meet certain minimum work requirements. The SSI program, in contrast, is a means-tested program that does not have work or contribution requirements, but individuals must meet the asset and resource limitations. To receive disability benefits under either program, individuals must meet strict medical requirements

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI): The Five-Month Waiting Period for Benefits

[Excerpt] Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is authorized by Title II of the Social Security Act and provides income replacement for eligible individuals who are unable to work due to a long-term injury or illness that is expected to last at least one year or result in death. Current eligibility requirements include (1) verification of an applicant’s disability, (2) filing a claim, (3) a “recent work” and “duration of work” test, (4) verification that an individual has not reached normal retirement age, and (5) a five-month waiting period from disability-onset. In implementing the five-month waiting period for SSDI benefits, Congress sought to set a time frame that would be long enough for a short-term injury or illness to be corrected, but would also deter individuals who can work from applying for benefits. The first month counted as part of the waiting period can be no more than 17 months before the month of application, and benefits can be applied retroactively for up to 12 months. The Social Security Administration (SSA) encourages eligible individuals to apply for benefits as soon as possible after the onset of a disabling condition. The waiting period does not apply to individuals who have been previous recipients of SSDI in the five years prior to any current disability. Several other programs, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), temporary disability insurance, workers’ compensation, unemployment compensation, and private disability insurance, can provide funds for eligible SSDI applicants facing financial hardship during the five-month wait period. This report explains the five-month waiting period and its legislative history and will be updated to reflect legislative activit