Improving Outcomes in the Nigeria Healthcare Sector through Public- Private Partnership

Nigeria’s healthcare sector over the years has continued to degenerate with health indicators currently below national targets and internationally set benchmarks. Budgetary allocations to the sector have remained far below the World Health Organization (WHO) and African Union (AU) recommendations of 11% and 15%, respectively, of a country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) dedicated to the health sector. The poor healthcare system has led to loss of confidence resulting in frustrations and unbearable consequences for the poor and low income segment of the society whereas, top government officials and the affluent resort to outbound medical tourism. Using a qualitative research methodology that focuses on descriptive analysis, the paper reviews health system performance in Nigeria in line with the achievement of United Nations health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) and targets. The paper recommends for institutionalization of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in the Country’s healthcare sector. Public - Private Interaction offers opportunity of leveraging private sector investment in the sector and further enhances improvements in service delivery as well as increases access to quality healthcare. The paper contributes to current scholarly discussions on improving outcomes in healthcare delivery system and the curbing of excessive foreign medical tourism which is found to deplete the country’s foreign reserves.Key words: Nigeria, Healthcare Sector, Health Outcomes, Health Indicators, Public-Private Partnershi

Electricity generation, transmission and distribution policy: a comparative study of Nigeria (1960-2011) and South Africa (1960-2011)

The electric power policies in Nigeria and South Africa are considered the governments’ intention to provide quality and affordable electricity to the people. A comparative study on the electric power policies focuses on the similarities and differences in the policy approaches, the policy issues that affect electrification, and the impact of the policy issues in achieving the goal of universal access to quality and affordable electricity power in both countries. The methodological approach allows for an in depth textual study on the electric power policy documents in both countries. In Nigeria, the government intends to address the massive demand-supply imbalance and achieve the goal of electrification through reforms that focus on private sector-led growth in the sub-sector. In South Africa, the identification of electrification as a public problem by the post apartheid government leads to an integrated policy framework that focuses on balancing economic concerns with social and environmental considerations. The study identifies electricity provision as a social welfare responsibility of the governments in both countries and examines the policy issues in the context of public welfare. In Nigeria, the policy issues are found to be self serving and not in line with sustainable public interest, given the socio-economic challenges. As a result they, exert less impact on achieving the goal of universal access to quality and affordable electricity in the country. In South Africa, good governance in the sub-sector has enabled the identification of policy issues in line with sustainable public interests of social equity, poverty alleviation and environmental sustainability; and government using public administration agencies to play a key role in service delivery. Recommendations of the study mainly derive from the South African experience on electrification, and are intended to offer some policy-lessons to Nigeria in the sub-sector. The study contributes to new knowledge in the discipline of public administration by opening up new vistas for a comparative analysis of electric power policy issues in both countries in the context of public welfare. Besides, a comparative study on electrification in Nigeria and South Africa from a policy angle contributes to the existing knowledge base in the discipline

Rethinking Public Administration Professionalism in Nigeria

The mission statement of Nigerian public administration anchors on providing a professional public administration fit for sound public sector management. Using a qualitative methodology that focuses on descriptive analysis, this paper examines professionalism of public administration in line with the various policy and regulatory frameworks put in place to enforce professional conducts. The impact of unprofessionalism in the Country’s public administration is large scale unethical behaviors which has over the years resulted in the compromise of basic principles and values. This subverts the very essence of public administration existence in terms of providing efficient, responsible and professional service in line with sustainable public interest. The paper reflects on public administration practices, identifies some obstacles to professionalism and amongst other propositions strongly recommends for good governance in the Country. The paper contributes to current discussions on enhancing professionalism of public administration in Nigeria and elsewhere.Keywords: professionalism, profession, public administration, public sector, service deliver

The state and local government joint account system and performance of local government councils in Nigeria: a case study of Awgu local council of Enugu state (1999-2016)

The State and Local Government Joint Account system was introduced in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with the basic aim of pooling all the financial allocations due to the various local government councils from the Federation Account for onward distribution by the states to the local councils. This is to ensure that the state governments effectively control and monitor expenditure by the executives of the local government councils and also to ensure that the funds are properly allocated to various areas of need. This provision is contained in Section 162 (5) of the Constitution which states that “the amount standing to the credit of local government councils in the Federation Account shall also be allocated to the states for the benefit of their local government councils on such terms and in such manner as may be prescribed by the National Assembly”. Section 162 (7) also states that “each state shall pay to local government councils in its area of jurisdiction such proportion of its total revenue on such terms and in such manner as may be prescribed by the National Assembly”. However, this arrangement has not worked well as state governments continue to manipulate the joint account through illegal deductions, misappropriations, deliberate delays in disbursement and in failure to remit their 10% of internally generated revenue as stipulated in the Constitution. This study examines the State and Local Government Joint Account system in relation to the fiscal autonomy of local government councils and the impact of the joint account system on public service delivery at Awgu Local Government Council. The study used the qualitative methodology design with focus on case-study approach. Data was collected from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data was collected through interviews from stakeholders in the joint account system and secondary data collected from relevant textual sources. The study findings show that this relationship affects the fiscal autonomy of local councils and result in cases of illegal deductions, withholding of funds, refusal to remit statutory 10% of total revenue of states to local councils. In Awgu Local Government from 1999-2016, more than N3billion was withheld and this amounts to a deficit of about 22.5%. This has negatively affected the volume of service delivery to the various communities. Based on these findings, the study recommends for a constitutional review to strengthen the local government system to effectively function as the third tier of government in line with the “Guidelines for1976 Local Government Reforms”. The study also recommends the abolishing of the joint account system and granting local councils full fiscal autonomy. This is the desideratum for enhanced service delivery at Awgu Local Government and other local council areas of Enugu State

Electricity generation, transmission and distribution policy: a comparative study of Nigeria (1960-2011) and South Africa (1960-2011)

The electric power policies in Nigeria and South Africa are considered the governments’ intention to provide quality and affordable electricity to the people. A comparative study on the electric power policies focuses on the similarities and differences in the policy approaches, the policy issues that affect electrification, and the impact of the policy issues in achieving the goal of universal access to quality and affordable electricity power in both countries. The methodological approach allows for an in depth textual study on the electric power policy documents in both countries. In Nigeria, the government intends to address the massive demand-supply imbalance and achieve the goal of electrification through reforms that focus on private sector-led growth in the sub-sector. In South Africa, the identification of electrification as a public problem by the post apartheid government leads to an integrated policy framework that focuses on balancing economic concerns with social and environmental considerations. The study identifies electricity provision as a social welfare responsibility of the governments in both countries and examines the policy issues in the context of public welfare. In Nigeria, the policy issues are found to be self serving and not in line with sustainable public interest, given the socio-economic challenges. As a result they, exert less impact on achieving the goal of universal access to quality and affordable electricity in the country. In South Africa, good governance in the sub-sector has enabled the identification of policy issues in line with sustainable public interests of social equity, poverty alleviation and environmental sustainability; and government using public administration agencies to play a key role in service delivery. Recommendations of the study mainly derive from the South African experience on electrification, and are intended to offer some policy-lessons to Nigeria in the sub-sector. The study contributes to new knowledge in the discipline of public administration by opening up new vistas for a comparative analysis of electric power policy issues in both countries in the context of public welfare. Besides, a comparative study on electrification in Nigeria and South Africa from a policy angle contributes to the existing knowledge base in the discipline

Developmental Local Government as a Model for Grassroots Socio-Economic Development in Nigeria

In the past five decades of political independence in Nigeria, local government administration has moved from the colonial styled Local administration characterized by peculiar systems to the federating units to the present unified and standardized system that constitutionally recognizes local government as the third tier of government. As the third tier of government, local governments are entitled to a statutory allocation of national revenue and the carrying out of specific functions in response to local needs. The objective of the problem statement of this article is to show that the present system whereby, the Constitution gives the State governments the power to handle issues of organization and responsibility in the local governments places a strong limitation on local autonomy and governance at the local level. The abuse of these provisions in the Constitution by the State governments coupled with other issues such as low level of commitment to the people and lack of monitoring and evaluation are negatively affecting grassroots socio-economic development in the Country. Local economic growth and development is an imperative for overall socio-economic development of the Country (the local population presently faces high incidence of poverty, unemployment, lack of social infrastructure and low economic activities). It is in this context that the article prescribes a developmental local government model which has local economic development (LED) as ‘the mandate’ to address the concerns of poverty, unemployment and inadequate resources in the rural areas. The LED approach enables local governments to stimulate economic activities and improve the socioeconomic conditions of people in the localities by working in partnership with private and other non-governmental sectors

Enhancing service delivery in Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Nigeria: The imperative of e-governance

Background: Public service delivery in Nigeria is characterised by inefficiency. To address this administrative imbalance, various government organisations in Nigeria adopted e-governance to improve performance and service delivery. Aim: The study examined the impact of e-governance on service delivery using Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) South East Nigeria as the case study. Setting: Five states of the South East of Nigeria were studied. Methods: Descriptive research typology was adopted. Focus group discussion, questionnaire and face-to-face interview were the major tools used for data collection. Statistical tools such as frequency tables and correlation coefficient test were used in data analysis and test of hypotheses. Results: The correlation coefficient test revealed, among others, that e-governance indicators have significant effect on service culture in JAMB. There is also significant relationship between e-governance and service quality in JAMB. In light of these findings, major recommendations were proffered, some of which are that public sector agencies should as a matter of policy develop a positive service culture and set up e-governance implementation committees that will work out modalities for effective implementation of the concept with performance evaluation. Conclusion: JAMB and other public agencies should avail themselves of the windows of opportunities that e-governance provides

Reign Mobile Application for Hotspot Detection

Reign mobile hotspot detection system is a cross platform mobile application developed to help warn its users of hostile areas (i.e., areas prone to accident, flooding, kidnapping, civil unrest, etc.). It also has functionalities that allow users to report hazardous areas through a preconfigured e-mail, which includes the users current location and a description of the hazard being reported. The goal of this project is to explore the use of mobile computing, by means of mobile apps, to address some of the social and developmental challenges being experienced in Nigeria. Thus, we could adapt technology to improve social conditions as well as, possibly, save lives. The motivation for this project is the ubiquity of mobile computing, particularly when we consider that Nigeria with a population of over 140 million people is currently estimated to have a mobile broadband Internet penetration equivalent of about 30%. These users mostly connect through mobile devices with at least 100million unique mobile communication lines registered. The app was developed with HTML5 and JAVA programming languages, uses GPS coordinates to map locations and a push server to send alerts to registered users. Currently, the Android version of the app has been developed and is being tested. During the development and testing, we interacted with security and paramilitary institutions  like the Police, Federal Road Safety Service (FRSC) and the Nigerian Metrological Agency (NIMET) in order to ascertain areas that are prone to hazards. Preliminary tests in Lagos and Abuja confirm the functionality and usefulness of the app. Keywords: Mobile computing, hotspot detection, security hazards, crime detection and prevention, alerts

Impact of Public Capital Expenditure on Inflation Rate in Nigeria

This paper examines the impact of public capital expenditure on inflation rate in Nigeria. The data for the study were sourced from various issues of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s statistical bulletin. The data was subjected to unit root test using Augmented Dickey fuller (ADF) approach to ascertain the time series properties. Descriptive statistics was used to assess the socioeconomic characteristics of the variables. Due to the mixed order of integration witnessed in the unit root, ARDL- Autoregressive Distributed Lag approach was used for cointegration and regression analysis. The result found that Public capital expenditure is negatively and statistically significant (tcal = -2.903) in influencing Inflation Rate in Nigeria. This outcome is highly directional in the sense that prudent and productive spending will always subdue inflation in any economy; therefore, this study recommend that government should increase its investment in production sectors and encourage skilful and willing citizens to participate, since this would reduce the expenses being incurred on business as a result low currency value and raise the profitability of firms

Mechanical Energy Storage Systems and Their Applications in Power Systems

The negative environmental impacts of conventional power generation have resulted in increased interest in the use of renewable energy sources to produce electricity. However, the main problem associated with these non-conventional sources of energy generation (wind and solar photovoltaic) is that they are highly intermittent and thereby result in very high fluctuations in power generated. Hence, mechanical energy storage systems can be deployed as a solution to this problem by ensuring that electrical energy is stored during times of high generation and supplied in time of high demand. This work presents a thorough study of mechanical energy storage systems. It examines the classification, development of output power equations, performance metrics, advantages and drawbacks of each of the mechanical energy storage types and their various applications in the grid networks. The key findings in this work are the strategies for the management of the high costs of these mechanical storage devices. These include deployment of hybrid energy storage technologies, multi-functional applications of mechanical energy storage systems through appropriate control methodologies and proper sizing strategies for cost effectiveness and increased penetrations of renewable energy sources in the power grid