The industrial attitudes of active white collar civil service trade unionists.

This thesis describes and explains a recent industrial relations phenomenon, the "Industrial attitudes of active white-collar civil service trade unionists." It begins by tracing the problem facing the civil service trade unions back to the institutionalized low pay of their members and the apparently autocratic character of their employer. Evidence was gathered which showed that the Government, in its role as employer, had over the years gradually disarmed the representatives of its employees seemingly through the exercise of its prerogative. However, when the exercise of prerogative took on a new meaning, for instance, making decisions unilateral1y and enforcing pay increases which were unacceptable to the unions, it was seen by civil service trade unionists as an abuse of power. The thesis contains further evidence which shows how overt Government attitudes gradually transformed its hitherto intentionally docile workers into a militant workforce. It illustrates the process by which the Government anaesthetized itself in order to overcome the growing militancy among its employees. It delineates a connection between Government practices in the area of industrial relations and low morale in the civil service. Analyses of data gathered through a wide ranging survey provide substantive grounds for a categorical dismissal the myth that higher grade civil servants were right wing and were consequently less militant than lower grade civil servants, and more prone to shirk their unions' activities. It amply demonstrates how the attitude of active white-collar civil service trade unionists to industrial action is influenced more by their experience of the negotiating process and the behaviour of their employer, than by the structure of their personal circumstances. It argues that because the unions failed in their endeavour to win better pay and in particular, as a direct result of their defeat by the Government in the 1981 pay campaign, the level of militancy had declined, thereby jeopardizing the effectiveness of their negotiating strategy. The thesis concludes by highlighting the distinctive outcome of the survey, namely, that militancy is a more significant aspect of trade union power than high density of membership

EVALUATION OF ESL SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM IN NIGERIA: A SOCIOCULTURAL PEDAGOGICAL APPROACH IN ENHANCING PRAGMATIC COMPETENCE

English language teaching is incomplete without a maximum focus on how the L2 learners use the language they learn with utmost appropriateness according to contexts during conversations. In an increasingly volatile world, appropriate language use is a vital tool to reducing interpersonal clashes, and ensuring peaceful co-existence. For the L2 learners to master this appropriate language use, their pragmatic competence in the language has to be developed. The role of classroom instruction in the development of this competence has been widely acknowledged. Thus, any curriculum that does not make adequate provision for this instruction is doing a colossal disservice to the L2 learners. This paper has concertedly made efforts to raise awareness on the need for curriculum developers in Nigeria to clearly give policy direction on teaching of pragmatics, at least beginning from the senior secondary classes. Also, the paper provides a conceptual strategy (Transactional Classroom Meeting) that is wholly interwoven with the sociocultural constructs of mediation, scaffolding and zone of proximal development ZPD, on how teachers can teach pragmatics in ESL classrooms. It is confidently perceived that this strategy would elicit the necessary social interactions that would enable the L2 learners to internalize the pragmatic principles in order to enhance their pragmatic competence. Future researchers can leverage on this by carrying out empirical studies to find out the definite impact of this strategy.  Article visualizations

Deregulation and Macroeconomic Drivers Of Foreign Direct Investment In Nigerian Agriculture (1970 -2009): An Econometric Analysis

This study used secondary data from Central Bank of Nigeria and National Bureau of Statistics to ascertain the determinants of Foreign Direct Agricultural Investment (FDAI) in Nigeria from 1970 to 2009. After attempting modeling the determinants of FDAI with untransformed OLS regression model, autocorrelation was detected, hence Praise-Winston model was applied. The series' residuals were subjected to appropriate econometric tests and met the major requirements for running OLS models in addition to being cointegrated at I(0) using ADF and Philip Perron indicators. The model's fitness test indicated an R2 of 60% with an F-statistic significant at p<0.01. The study showed that foreign exchange and the economic deregulation policy of Nigerian government which started in 1986 were the most significant macro-economic drivers of FDAI in Nigerian economy over the review period. The findings call for improved management of the foreign exchange regimes by the Central Bank of Nigeria; tightening of fiscal discipline through increased transparency and removal of other structural impediments against the successful implementation of the economic reforms by the government (especially poor power supply among others).Key Words: Foreign direct investment, agriculture, deregulation of Nigerian economy and economic growth

Agroforestry Potential for Combating Forest and Environmental Degradation: Reflections on Southeastern Nigeria

Growing deforestation and environmental degradation in parts of Southeastern Nigeria have shifted attention to agricultural production systems that are environmentally sustainable, socially acceptable and economically appropriate. Agroforestry is one major sustainable farming system that has been the centre of theoretical and empirical attention, over the recent years. This paper examines the potential of agroforestry system to promote sustainable land use and ameliorate risks from deforestation, forest degradation and environmental damage. The paper is divided into sections. Section one is the introduction and background of the analysis. Section two reviews the various agroforestry systems and practices that hold potential for promoting sustainable land use and alleviating environmental risks. Section three expounds these potentials which cut across the social, economic, ecological, religious and cultural aspects of rural life. Section four highlights and discusses the imperatives for realizing agroforestry potential in the sustainable development of natural resources in rural Southeastern Nigeria. Section five contains the conclusion and policy agenda for action in order to enhance forest conservation and environmental sustainability.Key Words: Agro forestry, Environmental damage, Sustainability, Conservatio

Determinants of consumption preference of local versus imported rice brands in Enugu State, Nigeria

This study examined the determinants of consumption preference of local versus imported rice brands in Enugu State, Nigeria. In Nigeria, rice is a cereal crop widely accepted and consumed as a staple crop both in urban and rural areas. Both imported and local brands are widely accepted, but there appears to be a hidden stereotype guiding consumer preference of each of the brands which this study wants to unveil. The research is set to examine consumption preference of the different brands of rice consumed and examine the preferred attribute of rice quality. Results are based on a questionnaire survey conducted among 106 consumers across twelve communities in six local government areas and three agricultural zones in Enugu State, Nigeria. Descriptive statistics and semantic differential scaling were used to analyse the data. Rice quality (75.7%) and packaging (71.4%) were the reasons consumers gave for their preference of the local rice brand and imported rice brand, respectively. The attribute that makes consumers prefer local rice brand include availability (x̄ = 1.8), taste (x̄ = 1.0), swelling capacity (x̄ = 1.5), and minimal use of ingredients (x̄ = 2.3). Consumers of imported rice brand prefer the brand because of its cleanliness (x̄ = 2.3), full grain size (x̄ = 2.5), and ease of preparation (x̄ = 1.8). This study therefore was necessary to unravel the determinants of this preference for strategic policy decisions that may guide improvements in the production, processing and marketing of local rice brands for obvious positive contributions to the national income and gross domestic product.Keywords: consumer preference, local rice brands and imported rice bran

Cash Income Diversification in Rural Small Holder Cassava Producing Households of Nigeria

The issue of poverty alleviation for the people of less developed nations of the world has currently assumed the status of a recurring decimal. This is particularly critical for sub-Saharan Africa, because, the region contains a growing share of the world's absolute poor, with most of these found among rural farm households. High variability in crop yield and thus income variability arising from the vagaries of weather makes income diversification important for these households in order to improve their economic status. This paper, based on primary data collected as part of the Collaborative Study of Cassava in Africa, identified factors that drive cash income diversification decisions among rural farm households of Nigeria. Using Heckman's two-stage model, it separates the first discrete decision of whether or not to engage in noncrop income activities from the continuous decision of how much non-crop income is needed by the household. While the level of formal education of the household head, good market access conditions and availability of initial liquidity stimulate the first decision to start non-crop income activities, only household characteristics (also including the level of formal education of the household head) drive the extent of non-crop cash income earned by the household. These observations further underscore the need for investing in people – education, and in infrastructure – improving market access, as potent tools for economic empowerment

Economics of Marketing Benniseed In Nasarawa State, Nigeria

The performance of the marketing system of benniseed in Nasarawa State was determined by using marketing margin models, Analysis of Variance and Duncan multiple range test. Primary data used for analysis were generated through random sampling of 90 farmers and 270 regular middlemen. The results showed that the mean marketing margin was 18.2%, marketing costs 12.8%, net profit 8.3% and farmer’s share 78.9% of the retail price. These values indicated efficient and competitive trends under the prevailing circumstances. ANOVA results showed that marketing margins at the three main market centers were significant at 0.05 level of probability while the multiple range tests showed that marketing margin was highest in Doma Nassarawa central markets.Keywords: Economics; Benniseed; Marketing Margins; Nigeria

Economic Analysis of Climate Change Effects on Arable Crop Production in Nigeria

The study was designed to evaluate the effects of climate change on arable crops’ productivity, in Nigeria. It estimated the influence of climate factors on farm productivity (net revenue variability) in the country. The study relied mainly on institutional (NIMET) and primary data for its analysis. Data were obtained using a set of structured questionnaire administered in a multi-stage, stratified random sampling manner on arable crop farmers producing maize, rice, cassava, yam and cowpeas. Sixty (60) farmers each were randomly selected from 5 states in each of the five agro-climatic zones in Nigeria giving a total sample size of 300.  Data collected were analyzed using Ricardian model. It was found that rainfall and temperature variations, planting materials costs, household size and labour cost exerted statistically significant effects on level of gross margins.  Their elasticities were 1.199 (p <0.01), 8.219 (p <0.01), 0.108 (p < 0.05), 0.097(p <0.01) and 0.124 (p <0.05) respectively. Keywords: Climate variability, climate change risks, arable crop productivity, Ricardian Mode

Evaluation Of Farming Systems And Informal Insurance Measures For Optimum Income Of Rural Farmers In The Rain Forest Zone Of Nigeria

Maintaining an increasing flow of income to rural farmers is a challenge to success of poverty alleviation programmes in developing economies, due to risks and uncertainties that characterize agricultural activities. The study thus, evaluated farming systems and other informal insurance measures used by farmers for optimum farm income in rain forest zone of Nigeria. Fifty farmers were randomly selected from Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. Data collected through structured questionnaires and interview schedules were analysed using net farm income analysis, Pearson correlation, and two way ANOVA techniques. Results showed a positive correlation between number of sources of risks and uncertainties perceived by farmers and strategies employed to prevent their effects. The two way ANOVA showed that farmers who cultivated plantation crops, food crops, reared poultry and small ruminants have more income than those who do not. It also showed that adoption of risk management techniques, marketing strategies, souring of microcredit and improving information sources simultaneously, ensured higher income. Recommendations include encouraging farmers to adopt the most profitable farming systems and informal insurance measures as well as provision of more micro-finance facilities to rural people. Keywords: Agriculture; Risks and Uncertainties; Informal Insurance; Income. NigeriaJournal of Agriculture and Food Sciences Vol. 5 (1) 2007: pp. 53-6

Large-Scale Land Acquisitions by Foreign Investors in West Africa: Learning Points

Recent reports indicating that large portions of land (estimated 50-80m hectares) have been bought by international investors in middle- and low-income countries, with roughly two-thirds of those purchases occurring in sub-Saharan Africa, calls for a cursory appraisal of the implications of the trend of land grabbing for West African food security. This study reviews cases of land grabbing by foreign investors in West Africa, identifies the possible drivers of large-scale land acquisition by foreign investors in the region, and discusses the implications of the findings for agricultural and land policy reforms in West Africa. Land transactions involving foreign investors have increased in the area over the past 10 years. Over 100,000 ha have been documented in Nigeria. Ghana and Mali have many significant transactions on land by foreign investors. Several investors have more than 100,000ha. Burkina Faso has one significant land transaction (200,000 ha) while Niger and Senegal have relatively small land transactions. Most lands grabbed in West Africa were profit driven (by biofuel investors) and were made under the guise of using the lands acquired for agricultural investments. There were noted dangers in the deals with respect to food security drive, food safety, environmental safety, employment generation, and land tenure threats, which endangered peace, sovereignty, and the economic wellbeing of citizens. We recommend applying a regional approach by African countries, implementing land reforms that will involve the local communities who own the land, stopping long-term leasing beyond 50 years, building capacity, and creating awareness about land transactions of large magnitudes