Employment Status, Pay and Perceived Performance among Workers in Foreign-owned Industries in Southwest, Nigeria

This study examined employment status, pay and perceived performance of workers in selected foreign-owned manufacturing industries in south-west Nigeria. Adams Stacy Equity theory was used to give theoretical explanation(s) to the issues of interest. As a descriptive study, it adopted cross-sectional research design. Data was gathered using questionnaire and in-depth interview guide and was analysed through quantitative and qualitative methods respectively. The study revealed that aside the mode of recruiting casual and permanent staffs is similar; the former remuneration was against the Nigerian minimum wage. This outright disobedience prevailed mostly in Indian and Chinese owned industries, as British employers have better remuneration for casual workers. The study also discovered that there is a positive significant relationship between employment status, pay and workers performance. The study then concludes that workers dignity has come under attack by foreign industrialists despite local and international norms. The study recommends that all foreign employers must regularise the status of casual workers within an agreed time frame or as spelled out by the Nigerian Labour Act as it is a crucial ingredient for workers performance on the job. Casual workers are to acquire more education as it might determine the regularization of their employment and the pay that would accrue to them. Lastly, government and other policy makers should ensure that labour laws are carefully implemented and evaluated to protect, casual workers from the exploitation of foreign employers

Impact of Job Stress on the Job Performance of Nigeria Security And Civil Defence Corps Members.

This study assessed the impact of job stress on job performance among workers of Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC). Job stress was measured by the Job-Related Tension Index (JTI) developed by Kahn, Wolfe, Quinn, Snoek and Rosenthal (1964) and job performance was measured by the Role Based Performance Scale (RBPS) developed by Welbourne, Johnson and Erez (1998).The sample for the study consisted of 300 participants, comprising of 185 males and 115 females. Participants were selected using the convenience sampling method from the population of NSCDC workers. And results of the analyses of data collected indicated that job stress positively influenced job performance. Additionally, it was found that age, gender and years of experience neither independently not interactively influenced job performance. Discussion of results was in line with previous literature and it was recommended that organizations should foster functional stress to trigger moderate anxiety for higher performance while simultaneously avoiding over stressing workers to guide against redundancy and lower job performance. Keywords: Job stress, job performance, NSCDC workers, Ekiti State, Nigeria

GLOBALIZATION CULTURE AND ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

Globalization has exerted so much pressure on every aspect of the global economy. This pressure is fast affecting the economy of most underdeveloped and developing world. The precipitation of the World Trade Organization principles, which compelled participating nations to open up their boarders to foreign goods and services, has finally compelled indigenous culture and economy to untold competition and imminent collapse. This paper considers the inherent and apparent effects of globalization culture on architectural education as well as curriculum development in Nigerian Schools of Architecture. It opined that there is a need to marry both the unique tropical Nigerian environment with its cultural background, while embracing the loftiness of foreign design concept and flavour that are initiated through globalization. It asserted that while globalization principles can be embraced, great caution should be exercised. Finally, both environmental harmony as well as sustainability factors must be given due considerations in harnessing any global design concept. This will avert the intractable architectural misdemeanours prevailing in Nigeria communities. Through appropriate architectural education, so much can be achieved in re-orientating the Nigerian architects

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF TWO BIOMETRIC ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEMS

This paper compared two Biometric Access Control Systems (BACS). The BACSs employed iris pattern for their authentication. Fast Fourier Transform-driven Access Control System (FACS) uses global iris features while Haar Wavelet Transform-driven Access Control System (HACS) uses local iris features for its template generation. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was employed to select principal components of the extracted features (local and global). Fuzzy clustering was used for classification and Euclidean Distance (ED) as the distance metric. Experimental result showed that it took more time to train the HACS than FACS because of its intrinsic location in the iris images. It was discovered that global features driven Access Control System (FACS) with EER being 7.78 outperformed the local features driven Access Control System (HACS) with EER of 8.05. Though the two systems satisfied the benchmark of 80% for Recognition Accuracy (RA) of Biometric Systems, FACS exhibited RA of 89.87% while HACS achieved a RA of 83.83% when tested on iris images captured with CMITECH DMX-10 Portable USB 5.0 M pixel CCD Iris Camera at automatic convenient eye distances. Performance of global and local features on other biometric recognition systems can be tested and a means of combining the two features for hybridization can also be sought

Gauging parameters for e-procurement acquisition in construction businesses in Nigeria

e-Procurement tools build on traditional methods of procurement by integrating the processes and people involved in construction businesses through Internet-supported information and communication technologies. In spite of how crucial these tools are there is a need to for strategic management decision making before they are procured and used because of the cost and technical implications involved. The study examined the gauging parameters for e-procurement acquisition in the construction businesses by firms and organisations in Nigeria. The study utilized a survey approach of actual users of e-procurement tools and technologies in the Nigerian construction industry. A total of 759 actual users were identified from several cities in the study area. Data obtained were analyzed in stacked bars, frequencies and categorical regression. The study presented the significant gauging parameters that can influence e-procurement technology acquisition. They include staff strength of the construction business, presence of quality internet facilities, security level and validation capacity of eprocurement transactions, supportive policy and legislative framework in e-procurement usage and computer literacy level of construction stakeholders participating in an eprocurement environment. In conclusion, the study developed a framework to guide construction businesses in e-procurement technology acquisition. Every construction organization should have unique metrics for measuring and predicting technology acquisition in order to avoid obsolescence and waste of scarce resources. There is a need for supportive policies and legislative frameworks that encourage e-procurement usage among construction stakeholders in the different countries

Urban agriculture: a global analysis of the space constraint to meet urban vegetable demand

Urban agriculture (UA) has been drawing a lot of attention recently for several reasons: the majority of the world population has shifted from living in rural to urban areas; the environmental impact of agriculture is a matter of rising concern; and food insecurity, especially the accessibility of food, remains a major challenge. UA has often been proposed as a solution to some of these issues, for example by producing food in places where population density is highest, reducing transportation costs, connecting people directly to food systems and using urban areas efficiently. However, to date no study has examined how much food could actually be produced in urban areas at the global scale. Here we use a simple approach, based on different global-scale datasets, to assess to what extent UA is constrained by the existing amount of urban space. Our results suggest that UA would require roughly one third of the total global urban area to meet the global vegetable consumption of urban dwellers. This estimate does not consider how much urban area may actually be suitable and available for UA, which likely varies substantially around the world and according to the type of UA performed. Further, this global average value masks variations of more than two orders of magnitude among individual countries. The variations in the space required across countries derive mostly from variations in urban population density, and much less from variations in yields or per capita consumption. Overall, the space required is regrettably the highest where UA is most needed, i.e., in more food insecure countries. We also show that smaller urban clusters (i.e., <100 km2 each) together represent about two thirds of the global urban extent; thus UA discourse and policies should not focus on large cities exclusively, but should also target smaller urban areas that offer the greatest potential in terms of physical space

Bypassing shortages of personal protective equipment in low-income settings using local production and open source tools

Free and open-source hardware, 3D printing, and the use of locally sourced materials can be valuable tools for local problem solving, as proven by the production of more than 400 reusable face shields and masks in a Nigerian community to bypass PPE shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic

Wastage amidst shortage: Strategies for the mitigation of standby electricity in residential sector in Nigeria

Abstract : Due to rising population and the increasing rate of urbanization, residential electricity usage accounts for a large chunk of Nigeria’s electricity consumption. However, little attention is paid to electricity conservation in the country. In response to this, several studies are been tailored to ensure a rapid reduction in energy consumption through various alternatives including energy efficient technologies given the current state of inadequate electricity supply in the country. On this note, this article discusses the significance of standby electricity in Nigeria. The electricity generation and consumption patterns were briefly discussed while the current electricity saving behaviour and practices among the urban dwellers were detailed with a case study analysed. Based on the case study, it was discovered that the mean standby load across the 30 households were estimated at 60 W ranging from 34-144 W. Also, standby consumption accounts for 13-44% of the annual electricity consumption across the households. Finally, the strategies for electricity saving and sustainable consumption, most especially the mitigation of standby electricity were highlighted

Blood pressure control and left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive Nigerians

Background : Hypertension is a disease characterized by end-organ complications, leading to high morbidity and mortality in many cases. People with untreated or uncontrolled hypertension often run the risk of developing complications directly associated with the disease. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) has been shown to be a significant risk factor for adverse outcomes both in patients with hypertension and in the general population. We investigated the prevalence and pattern of LVH in a treated hypertensive population at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria, using non-hypertensive subjects as control. Design and Setting : A prospective observational study performed at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Methods : Patients had 6 visits, when at least one blood pressure measurement was recorded for each hypertensive subject and average calculated for systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) separately. The values obtained were used for stratification of the subjects into controlled and uncontrolled hypertension. Subjects also had echocardiograms to determine their left ventricular mass. Results : LVH was found in 14 (18.2%) of the normotensive group, 40 (20.8%) of the uncontrolled hypertensive group and 14 (24.1%) of the controlled hypertensive group when left ventricular mass (LVM) was indexed to body surface area (BSA). When LVM was indexed to height, left ventricular hypertrophy was found in none of the subjects of the normotensive group, while it was found present in 43 (22.4%) and 14 (24.1%) subjects of the uncontrolled and controlled hypertensive groups, respectively. Significant difference in the prevalence of LVH was detected only when LVM was indexed to height alone. Conclusion : Clinic blood pressure is an ineffective way of assessing BP control. Thus in apparently controlled hypertensive subjects, based on office blood pressure, cardiac structural changes do remain despite antihypertensive therapy. This population is still at risk of cardiovascular events.arri\ue8re-plan: l\u2019hypertension est une maladie caract\ue9ris\ue9e par l\u2019orgue de fi n complications menant \ue0 \ue9lev\ue9 de morbidit\ue9 et mortalit\ue9 dans de nombreux cas. Personnes avec l\u2019hypertension non trait\ue9e ou non contr\uf4l\ue9e souvent risquent de d\ue9velopper complications directement associ\ue9es \ue0 la maladie. Laiss\ue9 ventriculaire hypertrophie (LVH) a \ue9t\ue9 d\ue9montr\ue9 un facteur de risque signifi catif pour les effets n\ue9gatifs r\ue9sultats tant chez les patients atteints de l\u2019hypertension et de la population g\ue9n\ue9rale. Nous avons a enqu\ueat\ue9 sur la pr\ue9valence et le mod\ue8le de LVH dans un trait\ue9 hypertendues population au University College Hospital, \ue0 l\u2019aide Ibadan, Nigeria non-hypertendues des sujets comme contr\uf4le. conception et la confi guration: A \ue9ventuel \ue9tude d\u2019observation effectu\ue9e \ue0 la University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. m\ue9thodes: Patients avaient six visites o\uf9 au moins un sang mesure de pression a \ue9t\ue9 enregistr\ue9e pour chaque sujet hypertendues et moyenne calcul\ue9s s\ue9par\ue9ment pour SBP et DBP. Les valeurs obtenues ont \ue9t\ue9 utilis\ue9es pour stratifi cation des sujets dans l\u2019hypertension contr\uf4l\ue9e et incontr\uf4l\ue9e. Sujets ont \ue9galement echocardiograms pour d\ue9terminer leur masse ventriculaire gauche. r\ue9sultats: LVH a \ue9t\ue9 trouv\ue9 en 14(18.2%) de la groupe normotensive, 40(20.8%) de groupe de hypertendues non contr\uf4l\ue9es et 14(24.1%) de hypertendues contr\uf4l\ue9e groupe lorsque quitt\ue9 masse ventriculaire (LVM) a \ue9t\ue9 index\ue9e \ue0 corps surface (BSA). Lorsque LVM a \ue9t\ue9 index\ue9 \ue0 hauteur, laiss\ue9 ventriculaire hypertrophie a \ue9t\ue9 trouv\ue9 dans aucun du groupe normotensive, bien qu\u2019il a \ue9t\ue9 constat\ue9 pr\ue9sents dans les 43(22.4%) et 14(24.1%) de hypertendues non ma\ueetris\ue9e et contr\uf4l\ue9e groupes respectivement. \uc9tait de diff\ue9rence signifi cative dans la pr\ue9valence de la LVH d\ue9tect\ue9s uniquement lorsque LVM a \ue9t\ue9 index\ue9 \ue0 hauteur alone. conclusion: clinique art\ue9rielle est un moyen ineffi cace de mesurer le contr\uf4le de BP. Ainsi en sujet hypertendues apparemment contr\uf4l\ue9e bas\ue9e sur la pression art\ue9rielle de bureau, des changements structurels cardiaques restent malgr\ue9 th\ue9rapie antihypertensive. Cette population est toujours \ue0 risque de maladies cardiovasculaires \ue9v\ue9nements

Exposure to anti-malarial drugs and monitoring of adverse drug reactions using toll-free mobile phone calls in private retail sector in Sagamu, Nigeria: implications for pharmacovigilance

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) contribute to ill-health or life-threatening outcomes of therapy during management of infectious diseases. The exposure to anti-malarial and use of mobile phone technology to report ADRs following drug exposures were investigated in Sagamu - a peri-urban community in Southwest Nigeria.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Purchase of medicines was actively monitored for 28 days in three Community Pharmacies (CP) and four Patent and Proprietary Medicine Stores (PPMS) in the community. Information on experience of ADRs was obtained by telephone from 100 volunteers who purchased anti-malarials during the 28-day period.</p> <p>Results and Discussion</p> <p>A total of 12,093 purchases were recorded during the period. Antibiotics, analgesics, vitamins and anti-malarials were the most frequently purchased medicines. A total of 1,500 complete courses of anti-malarials were purchased (12.4% of total purchases); of this number, purchases of sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) and chloroquine (CQ) were highest (39.3 and 25.2% respectiuvely). Other anti-malarials purchased were artesunate monotherapy (AS) - 16.1%, artemether-lumefantrine (AL) 10.0%, amodiaquine (AQ) - 6.6%, quinine (QNN) - 1.9%, halofantrine (HF) - 0.2% and proguanil (PR) - 0.2%. CQ was the cheapest (USD 0.3) and halofantrine the most expensive (USD 7.7). AL was 15.6 times ($4.68) more expensive than CQ. The response to mobile phone monitoring of ADRs was 57% in the first 24 hours (day 1) after purchase and decreased to 33% by day 4. Participants in this monitoring exercise were mostly with low level of education (54%).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The findings from this study indicate that ineffective anti-malaria medicines including monotherapies remain widely available and are frequently purchased in the study area. Cost may be a factor in the continued use of ineffective monotherapies. Availability of a toll-free telephone line may facilitate pharmacovigilance and follow up of response to medicines in a resource-poor setting.</p