Social Policy and the Retrenchment of the Welfare State in Nigeria: The Old and New Pension Schemes and Lessons from the Nordic Model

The 2004 pension reform in Nigeria was a paradigm shift in social policy from the social model of the pre-2004 era to the Anglo-Saxon contributory model that aligns with the emergent "convergence downwards" in the global South, driven by the globalization of neo-liberalism. A major flaw of the reform was that it tended to uncritically follow the dictates of supranational institutions without accounting for important endogenous factors that undermined the pre-2004 social security model. These include state irresponsibility, social dumping, lack of state accountability and its incapacity for competent but disinterested bureaucrats. This paper, therefore, undertakes a comparison of the old and new pension schemes in Nigeria - using selected variables. It further examines external constraints and local possibilities integral to the social protection question in Nigeria, drawing attention to important lessons from the Welfare State experiences in Europe, with particular reference to the Nordic model. It also highlights certain micro-level creative responses of worker cooperatives and trade unions that are instructive for social policy direction in the light of decent work agenda in Nigeria

Factors driving adoption and constraining the non-adoption of biofortified orange fleshed sweet potatoes (OFSP) among farmers in Abia State, Nigeria

This study sought to determine the factors that drive the adoption and constrain the non-adoption of Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) varieties among farmers in Abia State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was used in selecting sixty sweet potato farmers (thirty adopters and non-adopters each). Participatory tools such as structured interview schedule, key informant interviews and personal observation were employed for quantitative and qualitative data collection. The data were analysed using descriptive statistical tools like, percentage, mean scores and factor analysis. The results of the study revealed that a greater percent of both adopters and non-adopters of OFSP were males. Although the adopters were older than the non-adopters, they were more educated, cosmopolite, cultivated larger farm sizes, earned more income, had more extension contact and access to credit than the non-adopters. The majority of adopters had high knowledge, while non-adopters had moderate knowledge of OFSP. The adopters were motivated to adopt the OFSP mainly as a result of its pleasant taste, profit from the sale of its roots and vines and not necessarily because of its perceived health benefits of supplementing vitamin A. Perceived constraints to the adoption of OFSP by non-adopters were particularly the complexity of OFSP production techniques and the high cost of OFSP vines and roots. Thus, extension agents should create more sensitisation and provide education about OFSP to farmers. Additionally, concerted eorts should be made by the research institutes to provide adequate and easily accessible inputs (vines and other planting materials) so that more farmers can produce vitamin A rich OFSP

URINARY SCHISTOSOMIASIS AND CONCOMITANT BACTERIURIA IN THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY ABUJA NIGERIA

ABSTRACT: Urinary schistosomiasis and concomitant bacteriuria was investigated in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. Single urine samples collected from subjects aged 5 years and above between 1000 hours and 1400hours were examined for the presence of S.haematobium eggs using centrifugation technique and for bacteriuria by standard bacteriological methods. A total of 1,150 subjects comprised of 667 males and 483 females were studied from the 6 Area Councils of the FCT. Overall, 360 (31.3%) had the eggs of S. haematobium in their urine while 289 (80.3%) of the 360 who had eggs of S. haematobium in their urine, had bacterial growth. Prevalence of bacteriuria in urinary schistosomiasis ranged from 74-86% with no significant difference in the distribution of the prevalence of the co-infection in the 6 area councils surveyed (P=0.125). The distribution of bacteria colony count in relation to different ova intensity was significantly different (P<0.001) and assumed a weak positive linear relationship (r=0.2). There was no significant difference in the results of the methods used to investigate for bacteriuria (P=0.05). The bacteria isolated included: klebsiella species, Escherichia coli, Enterococci species, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Salmonella species, Proteus species, and Pseudomonas species. Eshericha coli occurred more frequently (70%) than the rest of the bacteria species isolated. The antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of isolates revealed varying percentage susceptibilities by all isolates. This study clearly suggests that bacteriuria is a potent complication in the management of urinary schistosomiasis. Therefore the complimentary incorporation o

Deregulation, Globalisation and Current Issues in the Electronic Media in Nigeria

As a country with arguably the most vibrant media in Africa, Nigeria has caught the fire of the global media phenomenon. The Nigerian electronic media industry, in particular, continues to show greater participation in the global village agenda. This trend started with the passage of Decree 38 of 1992 that liberalized the electronic media industry in Nigeria, and empowered private ownership; however, no time has the globalisation effect been more felt than in the 15-year old (1999 – 2014) democratic administration in the country. This paper relies on primary and secondary materials from existing literatures and reports, to show how this globalization trend has galvanized the electronic media in Nigeria with numerous benefits and challenges, particularly in terms of production, content and reception. Keywords: Nigeria, Globalisation, Deregulation, Electronic, Media

Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in a University Teaching Hospital in Southern Nigeria: Prevalence, Uropathogens, and Antibiotic Susceptibility

Background: Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) has been documented as the main risk factor for the development of symptomatic urinary tract infection in pregnancy and is associated with maternal and fetal complications. Objective: To determine the ASB prevalence, the causative microorganisms, their drug sensitivity patterns, and the factors associated with its occurrence in pregnant women in the Uyo, Nigeria. Methodology: Three hundred and twenty women were recruited during their first antenatal visit over a period of 13 weeks. A midstream urine specimen was obtained from each patient, cultured, isolates identified and antimicrobial sensitivity done. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20.  Results: The ASB prevalence was 9.1% with the two commonest identified isolates being Escherichia coli (41.4%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (24.1%). Imipenem(100.0%) and gentamycin (37.9%) were the two most sensitive drugs. The association between respondents’ educational level and the occurrence of ASB was significant statistically. Conclusion: The prevalence of ASB was relatively high among the respondents. This, therefore, emphasizes the need for routine  screening  of our antenatal female population for ASB in all our health facilities

Reduced serum tetanus antibody titre in HIV infected subjects with malaria co-infection in a malaria endemic area of Nigeria

Tetanus infection is widespread and difficult to completely eradicate. Thus the present study was designed to assess the tetanus antibody titre in HIV infected subjects in relation to the presence or absence of malaria parasitaemia. 107 subjects consisting of asymptomatic group (asymptomatic HIV, n=17 and asymptomatic HIV-Malaria co-infection, n=17), symptomatic group (symptomatic HIV, n=18 and symptomatic HIV-Malaria co-infection, n=17), and control group (control without malaria, n=19 and control with malaria, n=19) participated in the study. Blood sample collected from the participants were used for the determination of packed cell volume, CD4+ T cell count, malaria parasite, HIV seropositivity and tetanus antibody titre using standard laboratory methods. The tetanus antibody titre was significantly reduced in symptomatic HIV infected subjects with malaria co-infection compared with symptomatic HIV infected subjects without malaria (

Haematologic Indices in Pulmonary Tuberculosis with or without HIV Co-Infection in South Eastern Nigeria

To evaluate the changes in haematologic indices in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) with or without Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) co-infection in South Eastern Nigeria. The study population included 116 subjects (60 = males; 56 = females), recruited from 2 study centers: mile 4 Hospital Abakaliki Ebonyi State and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Teaching  Hospital Nnewi, Anambra State, both in Nigeria. PTB + HIV (n = 20); PTB infection ( n = 27) and HIV sereopositive (n = 28). The PTB and HIV negative; control subjects were 41 (n = 41). Blood samples collected from subjects in Ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) container were used for the analysis of the Haemtological cells count,  packed cell volume (PCV) and Haemoglobin estimation using routine methods as described (Dacie and Lewis, 1984). HIV screening was done with Stat pak kit and confirmatory test by Western blot method. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was by Westergren method. Haemoglobin estimation (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV) values were significantly lower in patients with PTB (11.27±1.62 g/dl, 0.35±0.04 l/l) compared with control values (13.67±1.46 g/dl 0.41 ± 0.05 l/l) (p < 0.05). Patients with HIV seropositive showed significantly low PCV values of (0.36 ± 0.04 l/l) compared with the control subjects (0.41 ± 0.05 l/l) (p < 0.05). PTB patients showed higher TWBC counts (6062.5 ± 1481.83109/l) when compared those with HIV infection (3841.38±735.58 x 109/l) as well as normal control value (4363.64±551.66 x 109/l) (p < 0.05). Male and female values compared in this work showed no significant difference (p > 0.05). The results showed that the effect of PTB and HIV infection have caused some haematological deregulation. It also showed that sex has little or no effect on the studied parameters. Keywords: Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB); Human ImmunoDeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hematologic Indice