THIRTY THREE (33) YEARS ON: AN ASSESSMENT OF ECOWAS TRADE LIBERALIZATION SCHEME AND ECONOMIC INTEGRATION IN THE WEST AFRICAN SUB-REGION

The ECOWAS Trade Liberation Scheme (ETLS) is the main ECOWAS Operational tool in bringing a free trade area and economic interaction for the West African Sub-region. Although there are few minimal achievements of the scheme, there are a lot more obstacles bedevilled the full implementation of the scheme after 44 years it had been drawn up, and 33 years after it became fully operational. Therefore, the crux of this study was an assessment of whether the scheme has succeeded in the creation of a free trade area, customs union and economic integration in the West African sub-region. The study adopted the custom Union theory as the theoretical framework of analysis. The major finding of the work was that there cannot be a free trade area without any products to trade as the lack of export diversification has been one of the major obstacles to attaining a free trade area and economic integration in West Africa. Other findings included but were not limited to, the inadequacies of laid-down policies coupled with the constant circumvention of such policies, the absence of harmonization of policies and standards and much more. In the final analysis, the study recommended among others, the improvement in levels of production in individual member states through policies and programmes, eliminating of all forms of trade barriers as well as the private sector involvement in the decision-making and the implementation process of ECOWAS protocols and schemes for a fair representation of their interest.  Article visualizations

NIGERIA BORDER CLOSURE AND THE ECOWAS PROTOCOL ON FREE MOVEMENT OF PERSONS, RESIDENCE AND ESTABLISHMENT AMONG MEMBER STATES: IMPLICATION FOR ECOWAS SUB-REGIONAL COHESION

This study was on the Nigeria border closure and ECOWAS protocol on the free movement of persons among member states: implications for sub-regional cohesion. Thus, the 2019 policy of Nigeria’s Government to close borders between its neighbours Benin Republic, Cameroon and Niger Republic was followed by the circular issued on 20th August 2019 and disseminated to all border security agents. The people living around border communities largely depend on cross-border trade for their survival, and closing the border has led to difficulty and hardship for those living around the border. On the other part, the government proclaimed that closing its border has numerous benefits and for security reasons which will ensure economic growth and development of Nigeria, whereas member states of the West African sub-region believed this action to be, an affront and counter-productive act to ECOWAS protocol on the free movement of goods and persons in the West African sub-region and for the sub-regional integration at large. Hence, the main objective of this paper was the assessment of the border closure and its implications on sub-regional cohesion. The research study made use of a secondary source of data collection and data from the secondary sources were subjected to qualitative content analysis, with the main purpose of assessing the implication of the border closure on the sub-regional integration as stipulated by the ECOWAS protocol. The Theory of Comparative Advantage as propounded by David Ricardo was adopted for the work. His notion significantly explained the theoretical exploration and analytical discussion of the need for a country to trade and relate with other countries in various ramifications with certain advantages especially when these countries are under a common economic bloc, as the case in ECOWAS. The findings showed among other things that the policy of border closure by the Nigeria government has so far been counter-productive, as other West African member states with particular reference to Ghana, have started rejecting and getting Nigerian goods out of their countries, thereby posing a serious threat to economic cohesion of the sub-region. The study recommended among others that the policy of border closure should always consider the poor people who are about 87 million in Nigeria and became subject to hardship following the closure of cross-border trade. And that such border closure was not necessary when the effort was being made to fully actualize the principles of the ECOWAS protocol as applied to all member states.  Article visualizations

Cooperative Societies and Managerial Competence among Small-Scale Businesses in Odukpani, Cross River State, Nigeria

In this 21st century, Nigeria still faces the big challenge of improving the socio-economic condition of its rural population. Low income and poverty is a perennial problem in Nigeria’s rural communities. This could be attributed to poor or deficient use of the human, natural, environmental and agricultural resources which are available to the rural sector. Primarily, it is the duty of the rural community dwellers themselves to make the best use of these resources which are available to them. This study investigates how cooperative societies can be a tool or strategy for developing managerial competence among small-scale businesses in rural communities of Cross River State using Odukpani as a case study. One hypothesis is tested for the purpose of the study using Analysis of Variance. Ex-post Facto approach is adopted as research design for this study. Ex-post facto is systematic empirical enquiry in which the scientist does not have direct control of the independent variables because they are inherently not manipulable. Sample size for the purpose of this study was one hundred forty (140). Twenty persons were selected from each of the seven (7) Wards/Villages which had cooperative societies. The sampling technique used for this research was simple random sampling. In this study, the researcher used questionnaire for data collection. The findings of the study showed that membership of cooperative societies does significantly influence development of managerial competence for business among rural communities of Odukpani. Based on the findings of the study, recommendations were made

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

The use of plants in the traditional management of diabetes in Nigeria: Pharmacological and toxicological considerations

Ethnopharmacological relevance: The prevalence of diabetes is on a steady increase worldwide and it is now identified as one of the main threats to human health in the 21st century. In Nigeria, the use of herbal medicine alone or alongside prescription drugs for its management is quite common. We hereby carry out a review of medicinal plants traditionally used for diabetes management in Nigeria. Based on the available evidence on the species׳ pharmacology and safety, we highlight ways in which their therapeutic potential can be properly harnessed for possible integration into the country׳s healthcare system. Materials and methods: Ethnobotanical information was obtained from a literature search of electronic databases such as Google Scholar, Pubmed and Scopus up to 2013 for publications on medicinal plants used in diabetes management, in which the place of use and/or sample collection was identified as Nigeria. ‘Diabetes’ and ‘Nigeria’ were used as keywords for the primary searches; and then ‘Plant name – accepted or synonyms’, ‘Constituents’, ‘Drug interaction’ and/or ‘Toxicity’ for the secondary searches. Results: The hypoglycemic effect of over a hundred out of the 115 plants reviewed in this paper is backed by preclinical experimental evidence, either in vivo or in vitro. One-third of the plants have been studied for their mechanism of action, while isolation of the bioactive constituent(s) has been accomplished for twenty three plants. Some plants showed specific organ toxicity, mostly nephrotoxic or hepatotoxic, with direct effects on the levels of some liver function enzymes. Twenty eight plants have been identified as in vitro modulators of P-glycoprotein and/or one or more of the cytochrome P450 enzymes, while eleven plants altered the levels of phase 2 metabolic enzymes, chiefly glutathione, with the potential to alter the pharmacokinetics of co-administered drugs. Conclusion: This review, therefore, provides a useful resource to enable a thorough assessment of the profile of plants used in diabetes management so as to ensure a more rational use. By anticipating potential toxicities or possible herb–drug interactions, significant risks which would otherwise represent a burden on the country׳s healthcare system can be avoided

Determination of the proximate composition, ascorbic acid and heavy metal contents of Star Fruit (Averrhoa carambola)

No Abstract.Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences Vol. 14 (2) 2008 pp. 193-19

Politics of Revenue Allocation in Nigeria: Paths Not Taken, Issues Not Resolved by the National Political Reform Conference (Nprc)

Unquestionably one of the most controversial issues in Nigeria’s political history – Revenue Allocation/Fiscal Federalism – saga expectedly reared its unyielding head in the National Political Reform Conference (NPRC) held at Abuja (nation’s capital city) between February and June 2006. Memoranda on Revenue Allocation and Fiscal Federalism came under the NPRC’s working platform called “Reforms of the structure of Government and Governance”. Among major contentious issues contained in the Terms of Reference (TOR) adopted by the NPRC’s Committee on Revenue Allocation and Fiscal Federalism (and debated by NPRC) are: the separation of Office of Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) from Office of Accountant-General of Federal Government (AGFG); illegal withholding of accruals by some agencies of the Federal Government; inventing generally acceptable Revenue Allocation Principles and Formula; Joint State/Local Government Account; and the establishing of Independent Mechanism for Period Review of matters relating to Revenue Allocation. How far were these and other concomitant issues addressed by the NPRC? To what extent was the path of consensual  (in contrast to antagonistic) politics explored in dealing with these issues? To what extent were the recurrent controversies surrounding Revenue Allocation in Nigeria resolved? How far did NPRC go in dealing with the deep-rooted contradictions associated with Nigeria’s peculiar answers to these questions was the main task of this paper. In the face of evidence before us, the paper argues that, by not taking some critical paths, in dealing with the question of Revenue Allocation in Nigeria, the NPRC culpably left many important issues unresolved. Thus, the cause of advancing the nation has not been served as far as the politics of Revenue Allocation is concerned