Rural Infrastructural Development in Nigeria: Policies And Implementation Strategies

The search for the development of rural areas in Nigeria had led to the adoption of different strategies, oftentimes, reflecting the ideological learning of policy makers over time. This study derives from a concern with the arguably poor outcomes associated with most of these strategies. Using the descriptive-analysis approach, the study identifies policy implementation pathologies leading to failures of most of these strategies, and argues that there is an urgent need   for ideological and philosophical re-direction in choosing strategies and implementation machinery for rural development

Towards a Better Public Service Management in Nigeria: The ‘Target-Setting’ Technique to the Rescue

In the face of decidedly poor public service delivery in Nigeria over time, series of public sector  reforms had been undertaken with varying  outcomes. In form, scope and dimension, these reforms had been characteristically different. An important innovation introduced in one   of the major nation-wide reforms is the ‘Target-Setting Technique’. As a management tool, the technique was deigned to improve  service-delivery in the public sector in Nigeria. This paper is an effort to assess how far this administrative innovation has succeeded in achieving its goal. Using the descriptive analytical approach, the paper examine the face s and application  of the technique. The conclusion drawn is that the coming of the mechanism had changed little or  nothing as far service-delivery in the public sector in Nigeria is concerned

Productivity measurement and growth in Nigeria: challenges and prospects

Productivity (growth) measurements (describing the assessment of an economy’s rate of change in the ratio of a volume measure of output to a volume measure of input use) and related analysis are regular undertakings by staff of economic development of most nations and development institutions such as the OECD. Although they strive to accomplish objectives related to studying efficiency or the achievement of maximum output physically achievable under the use of current technology and given inputs, accounting for the contribution of real costs savings; introduction of benchmarks for production processes and to highlight living standards obtaining at points in time, its emphasis has been at the expense of examination of issues related to society (institutions), history, innovation and productivity change, which are concerned with promoting growth beyond mere productivity accounting. This paper has attempted to address all these issues as they pertain to Nigeria’s rather stagnant or declining economy. This slight modification was prompted by changes from philosophers concerned with the wider area of productivity measurement and change. The literature agrees that productivity measurement (growth accounting) only “identified the significance of different proximate sources of growth” but fails to employ institutional, historical case studies to investigate the underlying causes of the growth, innovation and productivity change. Details of deficiencies related to the foregoing issues are examined and policy recommendations drafted and presented to assist practitioners, policy and decision makers and other stakeholders.productivity, change, improvement, growth, labour, corruption.

Sub-national regional development and degree-awarding tertiary educational institutions in Nigeria: descriptive, geo-demographic and geo-spatial analyses

Public and private investments in educational institutions as a means of catalysing economic growth has been recognized a veritable strategy for developing human capital, increasing productivity and competitiveness at various regional levels. Nigeria’s multiplicity of cultural groups whose political sensitivity to (in)equality in the sharing of nationally pooled resources has been a source of conflicts including the 1967-70 civil war, presents an ideal scenario for understanding the extent of balance or otherwise of tertiary educational opportunities across the national landscape. This has not been sufficiently addressed in the academic literature. This article reports findings of a study of the provision of degree-awarding tertiary educational institutions (TEIs) by governments and private entities in Nigeria’s sub-national regions. Geo-demographic-spatial and description analyses were used to analyze secondary data. We found among others that: the numbers of TEIs provided in the sub-national regions (geo-political zones and their constituent states) have not been determined by the population size of the sub-national regions (state/territory); highest concentration/localisation of TEIs were in Nigeria’s SouthWest geo-political zone. It is argued that the full government financing of education implemented in the former (South) Western Region about half a century ago (since the 1950s) laid the foundation for creating critically needed human capital mass that has continued to regenerate in multi-dimensional strategies for establishing more TEIs thereby promoting regional development in the present South-West Region thereby contrasting with Nigeria’s other geo-political regions

Incentive Structure and Work Attitude among Junior Staff in Cross River State Civil Service

This study investigates whether incentive structure plays a significant role in the work attitude of junior civil servants in Nigeria. Five different incentive items were tested by data collected. These include monetary, job security, promotion, good work environment, and social/official recognition. These five sub-variables were ranked in their order of importance. Frequency distribution, descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient and T-test statistical techniques were used to analyze data obtained. It was found that junior civil servants considered monetary incentives highest on their ranking, and that incentive structure as a whole significantly affected work attitude among junior staff in the Civil Service

The Nature and Weighting of Major Determinants of Women Participation in Policy Process in Nigeria: Evidence from Akwa Ibom State

This study investigates the factors responsible for the very low number of women participating in policy process in Akwa-Ibom, Nigeria. Stratified random sampling was used in this study for the purpose of separating the respondents into educated (HND/B.Sc. and above) and less educated. Responses from educated respondents were used in this study. Data were collected by distributing and retrieving 900 questionnaires across the three senatorial districts of the state (300 in each senatorial district). The various factors tested were economic, cultural, physical, mental, psychological, religion and ideology. Frequency distribution statistics is used to analyze data obtained. It was found that 66% of respondents considered economic factor as most responsible for the low number of women participating in policy processes in Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria

Decentralization and Democratic Local Government in Cross River State, Nigeria: A Fact or Fallacy

This study focused on decentralization and democratic local government in Cross River State, Nigeria. Sample size of 900 was adopted for the purpose of the study. Stratified random sampling was used in the study. Stratification was done on the basis of geopolitical zone, political party affiliation and educational status of the respondents. 900 political party members evenly distributed (300 apiece) among the three leading political parties in the last general elections were used as respondents for the purpose of the study. Each respondent has at least an SSCE/WASC educational qualification. 300 respondents were interviewed in each of the geopolitical zones (i.e. South, Central and North). One hypothesis was tested. Results showed the political class themselves perceive the local government administration system in Cross River State as not effective and development-focused based on the provisions of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria. Keywords: Decentralization, Democratic, Fact, Fallacy, Local Governmen

Study of Oversight Functions Mechanism of the Legislature of Cross River State, Nigeria: Focus on Public Funds Appropriation and Usage

This study focused on oversight functions mechanism of Cross River State legislature on public funds. Sample size of 900 was adopted for the purpose of the study. Stratified random sampling was used in the study. Stratification was done on the basis of geopolitical zone, political party affiliation and educational status of the respondents. 900 political party members evenly distributed (300 apiece) among the three leading political parties in the last general elections were used as respondents for the purpose of the study. Each respondent has at least an SSCE/WASC educational qualification. 300 respondents were interviewed in each of the geopolitical zones (i.e. South, Central and North). Two hypotheses were tested. Results showed that the political class themselves perceive the Cross River Legislature as not carrying out its oversight function over the state’s Fund Appropriation and usage significantly. KeyWords : Appropriation, Mechanism, Public Fund, Oversight, Usag

A Review of Rainfall Erosivity as a Natural Factor of Gully Erosion

In this 21st century which is climate change-driven with more extreme rainfall events, gully erosion is increasingly becoming a global environmental problem influenced by both natural and anthropogenic factors. This paper is a literature review of rainfall erosivity as one of the natural factors of gully erosion. The central objective of the paper is to show in a global context how rainfall erosivity has influenced gully erosion. The method used is a review of academic/journal articles, textbooks, internet materials, conference papers and publicly available materials on gully erosion and rainfall erosivity as one of its factors. Previous authors whose works were reviewed on rainfall erosivity as a factor of gully erosion have a convergent view that rainfall is the primary cause of water-induced erosion and its power to do so is known as erosivity. They were of the view that a more intense rainfall of short duration can cause gully erosion more than a less intense one for a longer period of time. The authors also have a unity of opinion that areas with high rainfall regime such as the tropics are more prone to soil erosion than areas with low rainfall events. Recommendations to reduce the influence of rainfall as a factor of soil erosion include planting of trees and grasses that reduce the impact of rainfall to detach soil particles, conservation practices such as terracing, strip cropping and contour ploughing, a shift from rain-fed agriculture to dry season farming and grants to the affected people and landholders to manage gully erosion using adaptive measures based on their indigenous knowledge