Strategic Human Resource Management Practices and Performance In Nigerian Public Universities

In recent times, the declining standard in Nigerian universities has generated much concern and the need to adopt strategic approach in managing the universities’ human resources, as a way of improving performance and raising the standard, has become imperative. The objective of this paper was to examine factors that influence the adoption of SHRM practices in public universities in Nigeria and also to evaluate the impact of SHRM practices on the performance of the universities. 220 respondents from eight (8) public universities were surveyed and both descriptive and inferential statistical tools were applied to analyse the generated data and test the hypothesis of the study. Findings revealed that the adoption of SHRM practices were influenced by factors such as funding of the universities, governing council decisions, degree of awareness of universities’ mission and vision by staff especially the HR department, and knowledge of the benefits of SHRM practices.  Findings also revealed that the universities applying SHRM practices have benefited by way of attracting more research grants, increased scholarly publications, more international collaborations, and awards of excellence for research breakthroughs. The study recommended the adoption of the strategic approach to HR management in Nigerian universities to foster improved performance aimed at raising the declining standard. Keywords: Strategic Human Resource Management Practices, Performance, Public Universities, Nigeria

Effect of Employee Participation in Decision Making On Performance of Selected Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Lagos, Nigeria

This study examined the effect of employee participation in decision making on   performance of selected SMEs in Lagos, South Western Nigeria. Data was sourced from one hundred and twenty nine (129) employees and twenty seven (27) owner/managers of the randomly selected SMEs, with the aid of questionnaire. The data generated were statistically analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tools. Results showed that, overall, employee participation in decision making had significant  positive impact on organizational performance  in the SMEs, with (? = 0.597, t = 6.572, P<.01).The implication of this finding  is that Nigerian SMEs should pay attention to human resource management  practices which, they have hitherto, largely ignored, in the course of running their businesses. Increasing employee participation in decision making will impact positively on their growth and potential for survival. Key words: Employee participation, Decision making, Performance, SMEs and Nigeria

Constraints to Proper Administrative Staff Training in Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Nigeria

The study examined the constraints to training programmes offered to administrative staff of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria. The primary data were sourced from respondents with the aid of key informant interview (KII) administered on the Administrative Officers in charge of Staff Training and the officer in charge of Budget & planning section. The secondary data was generated from records obtained from the Training and Development section as well as Budget and Planning section of the Registry in the University. It was discovered that there were constraints to proper administrative staff training and development programmes.  One of the constraints is late arrival of invitation fliers from the organizers of training programmes as well as delay in obtaining funds from the Bursary department even after necessary approval. It was established that LAUTECH do sponsor training programmes only that there is always room for improvement.  It is therefore suggested that more people should be allowed and encouraged to attend training programmes that is relevant to their jobs as frequently as possible to enhance better performance and reduce staff turnover. Keywords: Constraints, Administrative staff, Training

Influence of Information Literacy Skills on Infopreneurship Intentions of Library and Information Science Undergraduates in Public Universities in South-West, Nigeria

The study investigated the influence of information literacy skills on infopreneurship intentions of Library and Information Science (LIS) undergraduates in public universities in South-West Nigeria. Two theories supported the study, namely; the theory of planned behaviour and the big six information literacy model. The Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study and the population comprised 668 LIS undergraduates in their final year (400 level) across three public universities in South-West Nigeria. Total enumeration technique was used to cover all the target respondents. An adapted questionnaire was used as data collection instrument. Five hundred and eighty responses were returned from the online google form sent to 668 respondents, representing 86.8% response rate. Findings revealed that there was a positive and significant correlation between information literacy skills and infopreneurship intentions of LIS undergraduates in public universities in South-West Nigeria (t=7.765; B=0.294; p\u3c0.05). The study concluded that information literacy skills are critical variables that can predict and facilitate positive infopreneurship intentions among LIS undergraduates in public universities in South-West Nigeria and recommended among others that public universities in Nigeria should explore the idea of equipping LIS undergraduates with the requisite information literacy skills to facilitate start-up of information businesses after graduation

Production of cellulolytic and xylanolytic enzymes by a phytopathogenic Myrothecium roridum and some avirulent fungal isolates from water hyacinth

The cellulolytic and xylanolytic activity of a pathogenic Myrothecium roridum Tode (IMI 394934) and non-pathogenic Fusarium solani and Curvularia pallescence Boedjin isolates from water hyacinth were investigated. The mycelial plugs of each isolate was grown in submerged cultures of Czapeck Dox broth containing the appropriate carbon source (carboxymethylcellulose, sawdust and homogenized dry water hyacinth leaf) at 25°C for 16 days. The enzyme activity assay was carried out on the culture filtrates obtained. This was measured as micromole sugar released per min. The result obtained showed that the enzyme activity (U/ml) for b-1,4-exoglucanase, b-1,4-endoglucanase and xylanase was maximum 3.70 ± 0.43, 0.95 ± 0.03 and 2.32 ± 0.10, respectively, in C. pallescens Boedjin grown on carboxymethylcellulose and minimum 0.12 ± 0.02, 0.13 ± 0.03 and 0.34 ± 0.01 respectively, in M. roridum grown on homogenized dry water hyacinth leaf. The b-glucosidase activity (U/ml) was highest, 1.74 ± 0.06 in M. roridum grown on sawdust and least, 0.08 ± 0.00 in C. pa llescens Boedjin grown on homogenized water hyacinth leaf broth. The maximum (324.00 ± 19.51 mg/ml) and minimum (130.00 ±5.83 mg/ml) total extracellular protein was produced in M. roridum grown on homogenized dry water hyacinth leaf and carboxymethylcellulose, respectively. This study showed that the phytopathogenic strain of M. roridum is capable of producing cellulases and xylanase enzyme in submerged cultures but to a lesser degree compared to F. solani and C. pallescence Boedjin

Frequency and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of uropathogenic agents of urinary tract infections among asymptomatic diabetic patients in Okada community, southern Nigeria

Massive evidence showed that patients with diabetes have a high risk of urinary tract infections. We studied the frequency of potential urinary uropathogens among diabetic patients and identified their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns. This was a prospective hospital-based study conducted at the Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Igbinedion University Teaching Hospital, Southern Nigeria, between January 2014 and May, 2014. We included 240 previously confirmed diabetic patients (women, n=70 and men, n=170) who were regularly followed up without prior treatment with any antimicrobial therapy and within the age range of 26-75 years. Patient personal history data and midstream urine samples were collected. Urine samples were processed in the laboratory following a Standard Laboratory Protocol. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella spp. and Candida spp. were isolated in this study. A significant bacteriuria count was estimated in 12.5% of the sampled population, while 17.1 and 10.6% were estimated in females and males, respectively. Similarly, candiduria was found in female, male and total sample in 12.9%, 2.9%, and 5.8%, in that order. According to antimicrobial sensitivity testing, the Gram-negative bacilli isolated were highly sensitive to nitrofurantoin followed by ofloxacin, gentamycin and least sensitive to cefuroxime. Estimation of potential uropathogens among asymptomatic diabetic populations may avert possible urinary tract infections and their possible complications ultimately and thus prevent possible advanced renal diseases

AN EVALUATION OF THE IMPACT OF MOTIVATION ON EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE: A STUDY OF THE CIVIL SERVICE OF OSUN STATE, NIGERIA

This paper accessed employees’ level of motivation vis-a-vis their level of performance. The objective was to ascertain the nature of the relationship between the two variables within the context of prevailing conditions of work in the public service. The study sample was up of 580 randomly selected workers of the Osun State Civil Service and 345 randomly selected clients of the government establishments. Data were collected through two questionnaires and analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. Results showed that there was no significant relationship between motivation and performance of the workers. It was concluded that lack of necessary requirements in the work environment prevented the intrinsic motivation of the workers from being translation into higher performance levels

A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF DIFFERENCES IN REWARD PREFERENCE AMONG SENIOR AND JUNIOR CADRE WORKERS: A Case Study of Osun State Civil Service.

This paper examined differences in the preference of senior and junior cadre workers of Osun State Civil Service for financial and non-financial motivation rewards. The objective was to ascertain the nature of such differences and its policy implications. Data were collected through a questionnaire from a randomly selected sample of 580 workers made up of 233 junior and 347 senior cadre workers. The data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistical tools. Results showed that while there was a significant difference in the preference of both senior and junior workers for financial rewards, there was no significant difference in their preference for non-financial rewards. It was concluded that junior level workers also place a great premium on non-financial motivators as much as senor level workers

The effects of oral administration of Croton penduliflorus seed oil and Depo provera on liver and kidney functions of pregnant Dutch-white rabbits

This study investigated the effects of oral administration of Croton penduliflorus seed oil (CSPO) and Depo provera on liver and kidney function of pregnant rabbits. Graded doses of CSPO were suspended in5% Tween 20 solution. Twenty-five pregnant Dutch-white rabbits at mid–gestation were allocated into 5 groups. Group 1 animals served as control and received 1ml daily of 5% Tween 20 while groups 2-4 received 50, 100 or 150 mg/kg body weight oral dose of CPSO for 10 consecutive days. Animals in group 5 received one intramuscular injection of 2.73 mg/kg of Depo provera. Withdrawal of treatment was followed by 18 hrs fast, and then sacrificed. Blood samples from fasted animals were collected from all groups and analyzed for liver and kidney function parameters. CSPO caused significant (P < 0.05) dose-dependent elevation of serum ALT, AST and ALP; dose independent but significant (P < 0.05) increases in urea, direct bilirubin and creatinine accompanied by a significant (P < 0.01) depression of total bilirubin levels of treated animals. Depo provera resulted in significant (P < 0.01) elevation of serum globulin and creatinine levels with significant (