Political Party Rebellion, Legislative Politics and Balance of Power in the 8th National Assembly of Nigeria

The issue of equitable power sharing in the All Progressives Congress APC controlled federal legislature has been very contentious in the 8th National Assembly of Nigeria This paper analyses the legislative politics and politics of office distribution in Nigeria focusing on how elite struggles for power and influence shape the internal conflicts and implementation of zoning principles in the National Assembly Legislatures evolve and develop internally in reaction to broader political environment Zoning and rotation principle are part of a democratic culture used to address the problems inherent in a plural society of underdeveloped states The zoning principle is structured to deliberately ensure some degree of diversity This is indispensable to the maintenance of the Nigerian State due to its diversity in ethnicity religion language education etc This article analyses the conflicts arising from an attempt to change the zoning principle and office distribution imbedded in the federal character principle in Nigeria It focuses on how elite struggle for power and money shape the conception implementation and continuity of zoning of offices and positions in order to maintain ethnic balancing The article adopts a methodology involving qualitative research based on a review of published literature The study recommended the reintroduction of zoning principle for maintaining zonal equilibrium as a modality for ethnic diversity balancing and managemen

Political Party Rebellion, Legislative Politics and Balance of Power in the 8th National Assembly of Nigeria

The issue of equitable power sharing in the All Progressives Congress APC controlled federal legislature has been very contentious in the 8th National Assembly of Nigeria This paper analyses the legislative politics and politics of office distribution in Nigeria focusing on how elite struggles for power and influence shape the internal conflicts and implementation of zoning principles in the National Assembly Legislatures evolve and develop internally in reaction to broader political environment Zoning and rotation principle are part of a democratic culture used to address the problems inherent in a plural society of underdeveloped states The zoning principle is structured to deliberately ensure some degree of diversity This is indispensable to the maintenance of the Nigerian State due to its diversity in ethnicity religion language education etc This article analyses the conflicts arising from an attempt to change the zoning principle and office distribution imbedded in the federal character principle in Nigeria It focuses on how elite struggle for power and money shape the conception implementation and continuity of zoning of offices and positions in order to maintain ethnic balancing The article adopts a methodology involving qualitative research based on a review of published literature The study recommended the reintroduction of zoning principle for maintaining zonal equilibrium as a modality for ethnic diversity balancing and managemen

Strategies for Teaching Business Education Students in Nigerian Tertiary Institutions for Cooperate Governance

In recent time, graduates from the nation’s tertiary institution of learning most especially the business education graduates have been plagued by the inability to get jobs in corporate industries and companies in Nigeria. Many authors and researchers have related this problem to the quality of training received by these graduates while in school which is devoid of skills required to meet up with the demands of the business world. It is in seeking a solution to this problem that the authors delved through literature to determine effective strategies for teaching business education students for corporate governance. The strategies proffered included: the integration of business ethics courses in the business education curriculum, training and retraining of business educators for corporate governance, engaging students in work-based learning and the adoption of online learning in teaching of corporate governance. The authors believe that these strategies if judiciously adopted will to a great extent improve the quality of business education graduates and improve their chances of being employed in corporate organizations in Nigeria. Keywords: Business Education, Cooperate Governance, Strategies, Teaching, Tertiary Institution

The Study on the Corrosion Behaviour of Welded and Unwelded Medium Carbon Steel in Sodium Chloride (Nacl) Solutions

The research work was based on the study of the corrosion behaviour of the welded and un-welded medium carbon steel in sodium chloride solutions. The Sodium chloride solutions used are 1ml, 2ml, 3ml and 4ml for both welded and un-welded medium carbon steel in NaCl. The experiments were conducted in two ways, the weight loss analyses of measurements and using the electrochemical analyzer workstation to determine the potential dynamic of the samples. The samples for the weight loss measurements were prepared from rolled products obtained at the foundry shop. Two medium carbon steel materials were sourced with different chemical compositions as sample A and B. The materials were prepared to accommodate the experiments for the determination of welded and un-welded medium carbon steel. A total of sixty-eight (68) samples were produced, prepared and used for the weight loss measurements /analyses the experiments. Thirty-four of the samples each were prepared for both the welded and un-welded experiments. All the samples were produced and prepared through the use of various machining processes with the use of a lathe machine for planning, milling. Thirty-four (34) of the sample preparation were further welded in readiness of the experiments. Sixty -eight breakers were sourced for and used. Ten (10) other samples were used for the determination with the use of the electrochemical analyzer. The chemical compositions of the medium carbon steel were determined with the use of SPECTRO Analytical Instruments. A metallurgical inverted optical microscope was used to determine the microstructures of the materials. The Scanning Electron Microscopy with EDS was used to determine the morphologies of the materials. The thirty-four of the samples were welded this process was performed to determine the effects of welding on the material surrounding the weldments. These materials were made into sizes with the use of power hacksaw (i.e. 2cm by 2cm). Other materials were prepared to 1cm x 1cm thickness from the same materials. The Tafel plot experiments and that of the open Circuit Potential Time (OCPT) were carried out with the use of Electrochemical Analyzer/ Workstation. The Medium carbon steel materials were exposed for fifty-four (54) days, with an interval of 3days. The corrosion rates analyses were determined and the graphs of the corrosion rates (mm/yr.) and other parameters were used plotted against No of days exposed

Bulk Raw Materials Handling and Blending Techniques of Sinter Plant: A Case Study of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, Kogi State, Nigeria

Bulk raw materials handling plant and sintering plant preparatory plants are established to receive, blend, stockpile, prepare and supply specified grades of raw materials for smooth operations of iron making plant (Blast furnace), steel making plant (Basic oxygen converter) and lime Plant(calcinations plant). The study discusses bulk raw materials handling and some general problem of scientific analysis and documentation of basic equipment details, stockyard facilities, bulk materials transport systems and sinter processes, for the general knowledge and operational procedures of these plant for effective and efficient operational processes for optical results. Iron ore concentrate supplied from the mines to some extent fluctuate in their chemical composition as a result of the nature of the deposit with various factors controlling beneficiation processes and addition of metal-bearing materials collected as a waste product from the Rolling Mills, Blast Furnace and Sinter Plant which must be recycled through Iron ore concentrate stockyard. The part of the sinter mixture is melted at a temperature about 1300-1480 ° C and a sequence of reactions shaping the sinter cake to be loaded into the blast furnace to produce iron from a pig

Assessment of community knowledge, attitude, and stigma of Buruli ulcer disease in Southern Nigeria

Background: Poor knowledge can influence timely care-seeking among persons with Buruli ulcer disease (BUD).Objectives: To assess community knowledge, attitude and stigma towards persons with BUD in endemic settings of Southern Nigeria.Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey conducted among adult community members in four States of Southern Nigeria. A semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was administered to all participants.Results: Of 491 adults who completed the survey, 315 (64.2%) belonged to the ≤40 years age group, 257 (52.3%) were males and 415 (84.5%) had some formal education. The overall mean (SD) knowledge score was 5.5±2.3 (maximum 10). Only 172 (35.0%) of the participants had a good knowledge of BUD. A total of 327 (66.6%) considered BUD as a very serious illness. Also, there was a high-level of stigma against BUD patients; 372 (75.8%) of the participants felt compassion for and desire to help them, 77 (15.7%) felt compassion but tended to stay away from them, and 53 (10.8%) feared them because they may infect them with the disease. Having a formal education and ethnicity were independent predictors of good knowledge of BUD.Conclusion: There is poor community knowledge of BUD in endemic settings of Southern Nigeria which influenced the attitude and perceptions of community members towards persons with BUDKeywords: Mycobacterium ulcerans disease, knowledge, perceptions, practices

Assessment of community knowledge, attitude, and stigma of Buruli ulcer disease in Southern Nigeria

Background: Poor knowledge can influence timely care-seeking among persons with Buruli ulcer disease (BUD). Objectives: To assess community knowledge, attitude and stigma towards persons with BUD in endemic settings of Southern Nigeria. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey conducted among adult community members in four States of Southern Nigeria. A semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was administered to all participants. Results: Of 491 adults who completed the survey, 315 (64.2%) belonged to the 6440 years age group, 257 (52.3%) were males and 415 (84.5%) had some formal education. The overall mean (SD) knowledge score was 5.5\ub12.3 (maximum 10). Only 172 (35.0%) of the participants had a good knowledge of BUD. A total of 327 (66.6%) considered BUD as a very serious illness. Also, there was a high-level of stigma against BUD patients; 372 (75.8%) of the participants felt compassion for and desire to help them, 77 (15.7%) felt compassion but tended to stay away from them, and 53 (10.8%) feared them because they may infect them with the disease. Having a formal education and ethnicity were independent predictors of good knowledge of BUD. Conclusion: There is poor community knowledge of BUD in endemic settings of Southern Nigeria which influenced the attitude and perceptions of community members towards persons with BUD DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v19i2.34 Cite as: Nwafor CC, Meka A, Chukwu JN, Ekeke N, Alphonsus C, Mbah O, Madichie NO, Aduh U, Ogbeifo M, IseOluwa-Adelokiki BO, Edochie JE, Ushaka J, Ukwaja KN. Assessment of community knowledge, attitude, and stigma of Buruli ulcer disease in Southern Nigeria. Afri Health Sci.2019;19(2): 2100-2111. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v19i2.3

The incidence of external male genital defects in Enugu State of Nigeria: an estimate based on the prevalence among secondary school students

Background: Enugu State typifies a Third World environment where most deliveries occur outside the hospital setting. In such circumstances, therefore, hospital-based data about congenital defects are unreliable and call for special methods of approach.Objective: To assess the place of school prevalence survey results in estimating the population incidence of anomalies of the male external genitalia. Method: From February 2, 2002 to August 1, 2004 a sample of male students aged 10 years and above seen in randomly selected secondary schools in Enugu State of Southeast Nigeria were guided through a protocol involving; self-administered questionnaires, physical examinations for evidence and types of anomalies present in their external genitalia and personal interviews. The participant schools were selected by stratified random sampling; first by Local Government Area (LGA) and then by school. Consents for the study were obtained from Local Government authorities, Heads of the schools, and Parents' Teachers Associations, (P T A) Executives.Results: Altogether, four urban and thirteen rural schools were studied over the 18 month-period of the investigation and a total of 6226 male students participated. Overall, 416 (6.8%) were identified with various types of external genital anomalies, with the prevalence rates observed being within the ranges of population prevalence reported in the literature. The commonest types of anomalies encountered were crypto-orchidism with / or without scrotal hypoplasia 268 (4.30%), inguino-(scrotal) hernias 56 (0.90%), and hydrocoeles 52 (0.83%), in descending order. As many as 183 (44%) of those with congenital genital defects were not aware they had them. When compared with urban schools, rural schools were characterized by a higher frequency [8.4% vs. 2.8% respectively; x2 = 58.35; P < 0.0001] and a lower level of awareness about anomalies of the external male genitalia [P = 0.017, by Wilcoxon's rank sum test]. Awareness level was also related to the subject's source of information [P = 0.0012, by Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA].Conclusion: School prevalence surveys may provide close approximations of population prevalence with respect to external male genital anomalies. There is, however, a need for further studies in this direction. Orient Journal of Medicine Vol. 18(1&2) 2006: 43-4