BOARD DILIGENCE AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE: EVIDENCE FROM NIGERIAN DEPOSIT MONEY BANKS

The study examined the effect of board diligence on financial performance of deposit money banks (DMBs) listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Data of the 10 selected DBMs were obtained from their annual financial statements from 2012 to 2018 using an ex post facto research design and purposive sampling technique. The data were analysed using inferential statistics and the hypothesis was tested using Generalised Method of Moment (GMM). It was found that board diligence has significant negative effect on financial performance of Nigerian listed DBMs. As regards the controlled variables, only capital adequacy and firm size were found to positively and significantly influence financial performance. Liquidity ratio was found to have direct but no significant effect on financial performance while nonperforming loan negatively and insignificantly affect financial performance. The study concludes that board diligence reduces financial performance. It is therefore recommended that preference should be given to the quality of board meetings and not the frequency of such meetings; and that issues that have implications on performance should be given utmost attention at board meetings

Changing urban structure and physical expansion trends of Kafanchan Metropolis, Kaduna State, Nigeria

This study examines the changes in the urban growth of the city using empirical methods. First, the population growth was analysed to track changes between 1978, 1991, and 2016. Secondly, the city's physical, structural expansion was assessed from 1990 to 2016 using earth observation satellite images over the two epochs on supervised classification and the maximum likelihood criterion. The study generated digital maps of land use/land cover changes of the two epochs. Results showed that the developed area had increased from 8.93 % in 1990 to 22.1 % in 2016. Most expansion took place at the periphery of the town. Considering population indices, from 1978 to 1991, there was 9.6% growth and a tremendous growth between 1991 and 2016 of 227.6%. Considering population growth and spatial land cover change increase, there is over 200% growth of both indices. The study recommends the need for the Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Agency (KASUPDA to continuously monitor urban growth and compliance with the Master plan using similar empirical methods developed in this study. Keywords: Urban Growth, Urban expansion, Kafanchan, Population, Trends, GIS.&nbsp

BOARD CHARACTERISTICS AND FINANCIAL REPORTING TIMELINESS OF FIRMS IN NIGERIA

Several studies have examined issues relating to board characteristics and financial reporting timeliness in Nigeria, but none have conducted studies to examine board independence and board size in relation to financial reporting timeliness of non-financial distress likelihood zone firms in Nigeria. This study aims to examined board characteristics as well as financial reporting timeliness of firms in Nigeria. Different variables of board characteristics like board independence as well as board size were examined to determine how they are related to financial reporting ttimeliness. For the purpose of the study to be achieved, twenty-eight (28) distress likelihood zone firms from 2012 to 2021 as it relates to the non-financial firms that are listed on Nigerian Exchange Group (NXG) PLC as at 31st December, 2021 were carefully selected and studied. The panel least squares (PLS) regression was employed in the study and E-view 9.0 packages was used for the analysis of data. The regression analysis revealed a positive as well as a relationship that is significant between board independence and financial reporting timeliness while board size was found to be insignificant and negatively related with financial reporting timeliness of firms in Nigeria. Hence, it is recommended that the presence of independent board and their skills should not be neglected as it is in a better position to make sure financial statements are properly presented and reported for the shareholders to make good decision

Seroprevalence of acute hepatitis C virus infection among mortuary workers and ambulance drivers in Plateau State, Nigeria

Nigeria is one of the countries highly endemic for viral hepatitis. However, data on the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among mortuary workers and ambulance drivers has not been documented. Hence, this study sought to determine the seroprevalence of HCV among mortuary workers and ambulance drivers in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria. Between December 2015 and February 2016, a total of 80 blood samples were collected from mortuary workers and ambulance drivers with the view to test for HCV antibody using rapid immunochromatographic test (ICT) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for anti-HCV immunoglobulin M. Three milliliter of blood was collected from each patient and the serum was separated out and used for the screening. A self-administered questionnaire was used to access the patients’ sociodemographic variables. Of the 80 samples analyzed, five (6.3%) were positive for HCV using the rapid immunochromatographic assay, while two (2.5%) were positive for anti-HCV immunoglobulin M. There was no statistical association between seroprevalence of HCV with age and sex of patients. However, the seroprevalence of HCV was significantly associated with contact with blood, number of sexual partners, use of gloves, and history of sexually transmitted infections (P<0.05). The HCV seroprevalence of 2.5% among mortuary workers and ambulance drivers was relatively low; however, this suggests that the patients are at-risk group for occupational infection due to HCV