Record management in the Nigerian public sector and freedom of information act: The horn of dilemma

The importance of records and information management in the fight against corruption and promotion of good governance, transparency and accountability cannot be overstated; the three cannot be achieved without available, accurate and accessible records and information. To demonstrate transparency and accountability to its citizens, government relies upon policy documents, budget papers, procurement records, property and fixed assets, registers, accounting records etc. With the use of public management theory, the paper analyzed issues of records and information management and the role it can play in administrative efficiency and success of Freedom of Information Act 2011. Drawing experience from the developed and developing countries in this globalized era, it concludes that the Nigerian Freedom of Information Act cannotsuccessfully address the challenges of corruption in high places, bad governance, lack of transparency and accountability, unless publicservants embrace and cultivate global best practices in records andinformation management as x-rayed in the paper.Keywords: Management, Records, Accountability, Efficiency, Effectivenes

ISSUES AND CHALLENGES IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROJECT MONITORING AND EVALUATION IN NIGERIA:THE WAY FORWARD

Project monitoring and evaluation are important components of local government councils’ functions. Given the need to take governance to the grassroots, projects are regularly executed by this level of government. However, empirical evidences show that most local government councils incur huge financial losses and alienation of the citizenry due to poor project monitoring and evaluation to ascertain their level of compliance with laid down procedures of project management. The paper argues that given the catalogue of challenges facing project monitoring and evaluation in Nigerian local governments,unless some urgent and categorical steps are taken such as: adherence to due process in all facets of project planning and management involving the people of the grassroots in project initiation, formulation and execution, insistence on continuity on government projects irrespective of change of government or its personnel, availability of visionary and missionary leadership among other steps, government at the grassroots will continue to struggle to make any useful impact on the people’s life

Analysis of Different Brands of Fruit Juice with Emphasis on their Sugar and Trace Metal Content

Ten brands of commercial fruit juice were analysed for pH, specific gravity, total solids, reducing sugar, total sugar, and metal contents. The sugar content was determined using the Lane and Eynon method, sodium and potassium were determined by flame photometry, calcium and magnesium by complexometric titration using EDTA, while the other metals were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The juices had a pH range of 1.80-3.40, specific gravity of 1.002-1.054, total solids of 0.68-12.49%, content of reducing sugar 0.34-8.25% and content of total sugar 0.54-10.69%. Other derived values were calcium (0.01-1.25ppm), magnesium (0.06-0.43ppm), sodium (0.84-3.11ppm), potassium (0.16-7.42ppm), copper (0.28-5.06ppm), zinc (0.01-0.10ppm), chromium (0.03-0.09ppm), manganese (0.11-6.96ppm), cobalt (0.01-0.06ppm), nickel (0.03-0.15ppm), iron (0.45-50ppm), cadmium (0.16-0.38ppm) and lead (0.11-0.33ppm). The Nigerian made fruit juices had higher amount of added sugar. The pineapple juice brand had very high concentration of iron and the presence of cadmium and lead in some of the samples is a clear case of contamination. However the contamination level cannot yet present health threat to the consumer.Keywords: Fruit juice, Added sugar, Reducing sugar, Low level contamination, Trace metal

Nigerian government and oil subsidy regime: a horn of dilemma

Virtually all modern independent States have, as their fundamental goals, the pursuit of the welfare and well-being of their citizens. To achieve these goals, the Nigerian State is required to harness its huge human and material resources for the development of the country. The paper examines the nature and politics of oil subsidy in Nigeria with the aim of identifying the forces behind subsidy removal. To scientifically analyze the issues raised, the study utilized political economy and public choice theories, an eclectic approach. The paper argued that the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government in 2012 violates the fiduciary responsibility of the State as exposed in the preamble to the 1999 constitution. It showcases the insensitivity of the government to the social concerns of the citizenry and attempt by the oil cabal to privatize Nigeria. Given the catalogue of challenges facing fuel subsidy, it recommends among others, that institutions and institutional rules should be strengthened, be accountable and made autonomous of cabals and individuals who might want to manipulate them for group or personal interests. It concludes that unless the government predicates its legitimacy on the peoples‘ support and obedience derived from better socio-economic performance, the country might experience another democratic reversal.Key Words: Economy, Oil, Politics, Removal, Subsidy, Nigeri

Closing the gaps: Steps towards elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV

Background. With significant reductions in the rate of HIV mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) in South Africa, each case of failed prevention of MTCT (PMTCT) should be investigated.  Objective. To establish the cause(s) of MTCT at Khayelitsha’s Community Health Centre (CHC) in order to identify obstacles to MTCT elimination. Methods. Routinely collected data were reviewed for all HIV-infected infants identified at Khayelitsha Site B CHC from January 2012 to April 2013. Results. A total of 926/1 158 (80%) of exposed infants had polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results, with 15/926 (1.6%) PCR-positive. Median (interquartile range (IQR)) values for the maternal indicators were as follows: maternal age, 27 (23 - 31) years; parity, 2 (1 - 3); gestational age at antenatal presentation, 21.5 (17.5 - 30.5) weeks; CD4+, 377(219 - 446) cells/µl. Of the 15 PCR-positive infants, five received ART, five received AZT and five received no prophylaxis. Viral loads were not monitored for any of the women receiving antenatal ART. Nine of the 15 (60%) delivered in hospital, with 6/9 requiring caesarean section. The median (IQR) infant birth weight was 3.0 (2.6 - 3.5) kg. All received prophylactic nevirapine post exposure. Two of the 15 were clinically unwell at birth, and 14 (86.7%) were breastfed, with 10 (66.7%) recorded as exclusively breastfed. Median (IQR) time between delivery and PCR results was 6.6 (6.1 - 7.3) weeks.  Discussion. PMTCT programmes must consider each PCR-positive infant as a sentinel event that can provide valuable insight into correcting ongoing clinical and programmatic reasons for HIV transmission. The main risk factors for MTCT identified in this study were late presentation for antenatal care, inadequate antenatal PMTCT prophylaxis and a lack of viral load monitoring

Leadership, Corruption and Governance in Nigeria: Issues and Categorical Imperatives

Nigeria is inundated with rich human and material resources begging to be harvested by purposeful, creative and innovative leadership. Leadership that is based on the cultural values of the people and takes a Bottom-top approach holds the key to unlocking the development quagmire Nigeria has found itself. However, this is not the case due to leadership failure, corruption and bad governance. Within the framework of theories of the two public and nature of society, an eclectic approach, the paper examines the issues of leadership, corruption and governance with a view to adumbrate the trajectory of an efficacious leadership and governance modus operandi capable of finding solutions to Nigeria’s myriad problems. Also examined is the enigmatic nature of corruption in Nigeria that has made it a lucrative venture. The paper confirms earlier position that leadership, corruption and bad governance are the bane militating against development in Nigeria. Therefore, all hands must be on deck to enthrone effective leadership and good governance that could expunge the scourge of corruption from the nation's body polity. The first fundamental step among other measures is transformation of the state from an alien force to an entity that caters for the welfare and wellbeing of the people. Yet, the need for patriotic, visionary and missionary leaders cannot be overstated because a nation can only be great when it has leaders that plant trees whose shades they know they shall never seat in. The followers should as well perform their obligatory and non-obligatory civic duties and responsibilities.Key words: Development, Corruption, Leadership, Governance, Transformatio

Bureaucratic Accountability and Public Sector Management in Nigeria: Examining the Issues, Challenges and the Way Forward

The main objective the public sector in Nigeria seeks to achieve is policy initiation, formulation and implementation for the well-being and welfare of the citizens. However, over the years, the sector has been plagued with declining service delivery and moral bankruptcy. This article within the framework of social exchange theory examined the dynamics of bureaucratic accountability, the nexus between bureaucratic accountability and public sector management in Nigeria. It is usually the public that suffers from a malfunctioning public service. Nigerian citizens look up to public servants for protection against various ills in the society and the provision of essential services. If the involvement of public servants in the political, economic and social life of the country is considered, we shall better appreciate the needed urgency in making the service accountable for its actions. It argues that for Nigeria to match forward, there is need for effective, efficient, patriotic and committed public servants, who should be accountable for their stewardship. The article recommends that unless the Nigeria public sector is revitalized and "dead woods" therein removed, Nigeria and Nigerian will continue to experience deep-seated frustrations in the often-touted desire to move the nation forward. Key Words: Accountability, bureaucracy, government, service delivery, patrioti

Analysing the interface between bureaucracy, interest groups, and public policymaking for good governance in Africa

Abstract:Introduction: Interest groups are major players in public policymaking processes, either within the legislature or the bureaucracy. They engage the tactics of lobbying and lobbyists to incorporate their interests into certain policies that help the advancement of their members and society at large. The effectiveness of interest groups’ influence is diluted by several constraints, which range from structural and organisational to procedural and logistics. Methodology: This article, which is theoretical in nature, utilised qualitative research methods and drew its arguments from secondary data, which included textbooks, journal publications, and Internet sources. Results: This article argues that if interest groups are to explore and exploit democratic channels for their activities, they must ensure that democratic ethos are embedded in the running of their organisations. Conclusion and Recommendations: It is concluded that unless interest groups practise democracy, they cannot champion or protect it. Perhaps the most salient challenge of interest groups in Africa is finance. In developing countries, funds are limited owing to the state of the economy. This has the potential of constraining their roles and autonomy. Bureaucrats should be proactive and deeply involved in consultations and bargaining with interest groups with a view to devising policies that will meet the expectations of their target groups in particular and society in general. At this critical juncture of Africa’s developmental pursuit, this drastic and revolutionary step has become inevitable if Africa is to meet the demands of the 21st century in a globalised system