Reforms in the Nigerian Banking Sector and Strategies for Managing Human Resource Challenges

The banking sector anywhere in the world occupies a very strategic position in the nation’s economy. Hence, instability in the sector is capable of creating perennial crises not only for the economy, but also for the workers in the sector. In Nigeria, the banking reforms that commenced in the sector since 2004 till date has thrown a lot of disengaged workers into the over bloated and saturated labour market with vary consequences even for the surviving ones. This paper reviews critically the reforms in the sector and the attendant human resource challenges. It argues that surviving workers who are not very certain about their future career path in the sector are facing a number of challenges with may scuttle and undermine the entire reform process. Using Neo-liberalism and Weberian Social Action as a theoretical guide, the paper examined a number of strategies that may be adopted in the sector to manage the surviving workers so that human element which is a very critical aspect of the banking reforms in Nigeria will not be compromised. Keywords: Bank reforms, Human resource, Retrenchment, Neo-liberalism, Surviving worker

Empirical Study of the Use of Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Among Bank Customers in Ibadan Metropolis, South Western Nigeria

Automated Teller Machine (ATM) is perceived to offer considerable benefits and challenges both to the banks and their customers, yet these are rarely empirically investigated. The study was conducted in purposively selected eight ATM location points of four banks in Ibadan metropolis, Nigeria. The sample size was made up purposively selected one hundred and eight-two (182) and another twelve (12) respondents for survey and in-depth interviews respectively. Data were collected and analyzed through quantitative and qualitative methods. Results showed that most respondents were utilizing the machine for various purposes. Also, respondents mentioned convenience, quick funds transfer, and time saving as the real benefits of the machine. Some respondents mentioned fear of armed robbery attack, technical hitches, invalid debit and perennial network failure as the challenges of utilizing the machine. On the whole, most respondents (67.0%) evaluated the machine as having benefited them more than it had cost them. The bivariate analysis showed that more female bank customers (?2=6.469; p<0.05); more relatively younger customers (?2=66.846; p<0.05); more customers with relatively higher level of education (?2=26.892; p<0.05) and more student customers (?2=61.196; p<0.05) agreed the machine had benefited them more than other groups. Qualitative data also confirmed the various benefits and challenges of the machine to the customers. Using the modernisation and rational choice theories, the study argued that ATM is a modern technology which some bank customers were selectively adopting based their real subjective and objective experiences. The study concludes that for the benefits of ATM to be consolidated and to gain wider acceptance among bank customers, the challenges inherent in the machine should be addressed. Keywords: ATM, bank customers, benefits & challenges, modernisation, rational choic

Globalization and Collective Bargaining in Nigeria

Globalization has become a worldwide phenomenon affecting all aspects of human endeavour. It has also affected workers’ rights worldwide but the Nigerian situation is among the worst cases. To what extent has globalization aided or hindered collective bargaining in Nigeria and in what ways has Labor managed the situation? These questions serve as motivation for this paper and are addressed through content analysis of relevant documents. In Nigerian, collective bargaining institutions have been constructed and reconstructed in different contexts driven by globalization. Government at all levels in Nigerian subscribed to various provisions of the International Labor Organization but failed to implement them as prescribed. The state and its allies including multinational and transnational companies have manipulated statutory mechanisms that could have guaranteed effective collective bargaining.  Inherent in this situation are various detriments on Labor and aggravated incidence of industrial actions in Nigeria. Therefore this paper argued that though globalization is not completely harmful, however, its operations in Nigeria are such that the setbacks it creates far outweigh its positive influence. In this light, movement for the entrenchment of effective collective bargaining should be intensified and pursued till lasting industrial peace is achieved in the Nigerian industrial relations climate. Keywords: Labor, Globalization, Collective Bargaining, Industrial Actions, Nigeri

Factors Influencing Green Practices Adoption and Infusion by Manufacturing Companies in Ogun State, Nigeria

This study examined factors influencing the adoption and infusion of green practices by manufacturing companies in Ogun State, Nigeria. The study adopted a cross-sectional and descriptive survey research design. Area-based technique in which multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 321 employees of medium and large-sca2le manufacturing firms in Ogun State, Nigeria. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The data were analysed using factor analysis and multiple regression. An examination of the research objective revealed two technological factors which are a combination of adoption cost and complexity (as the first factor) as well as the combination of relative advantage and compatibility (as the second factor) that influence green practices adoption in every manufacturing company. Also, five organizational factors (regulatory support, organizational support, quality of human resources, environmental factors and customer pressure) influence green practices adoption with eigenvalues greater than 1 and Cronbach’s alpha greater than 0.700. Test of hypotheses revealed that compatibility (β =0.191, t = 2.033; P .05), complexity (β =0.022, t = .264; P .05), quality of human resource (β =0.125, t = 1.364; P > .05), government support (β =-.031, t = -464; P > .05), regulatory support (β = -.118, t = -1.562 P > .05) and customer pressure (β = -.119, t = -1.557; P > .05) had no significant independent prediction on infusion of green practices. The findings of the study were discussed within the existing literature and recommendations were provided for policy intervention

Familial adenomatous polyposis with synchronous invasive colonic carcinomas and metastatic jejunal adenocarcinoma in a Nigerian male

Familial adenomatous polyposis is rare. Three cases were previously reported in Nigeria. An intriguing feature of this case is an ulcerated jejunal carcinoma which was metastatic rather than synchronous carcinoma. This patient presented with partial large bowel obstruction and the pathological analysis revealed 4 invasive adenocarcinomas, 3 in the colon and 1 in the jejunum (Dukes stage D). Palliative pancolectomy and jejunal tumour resection with chemotherapy was offered to him. He died eight months after surgery from disease progression. The challenges of managing a hereditary cancer syndrome in a resource poor country are highlighted

Paratesticular myxoid liposarcoma in a 23-year old Nigerian

Paratesticular liposarcomas are rare tumors and are usually seen in patients in middle age or older. Optimal treatment is radical orchidectomy. Radiotherapy or chemotherapy is added for advanced disease or recurrences. These practice guidelines often vary from the experience in developing countries

Educational attainment, formal employment and contraceptives practices among working women in Lagos State University

Over the years the international attention has been focused on women empowerment and how to improve their socio-economic status by reducing the heavy burden of large family size through the use of contraceptives. Despite this, many women still suffer discriminations, burden of large family size and all kinds of abuses. Most Nigerian educated women are not insulated from this problem thereby predisposing them to abuses in different facets of life. Based on this, the study examines educational attainment, formal employment and contraceptives practices among working women in Lagos State University. Survey design was adopted for the study. Using Stratified and simple random sampling techniques, quantitative data was gathered through the administration of structured questionnaires in the study population. A total of ninety-five structured questionnaires were distributed to the working women aged 25-60 years. Frequency distribution and chi-square techniques were used for data analysis. The result showed that the majority of the educated women prefer small family size due to occupational stress and domestic responsibilities. The findings also revealed that the desire to limit family size is mainly a function of women level of education and formal employment. However, the majority of the respondents attributed women abuses to the age long patriarchy, which remains unabated. Therefore, this study recommends the need to facilitate women education and economic empowerment through reliable social policy in order to provide alternative to women illiteracy and under representation in the labour market.African Journal for Psychological Study of Social Issues Vol. 8(2) 2005: 189-20

Health implications of stream water contamination by industrial effluents in the Onitsha urban area of Southeastern Nigeria

Nigeria has abundant surface and ground water resources many of which are polluted and can be detrimental to human health when consumed. This study investigated the effects of effluents discharged by industries into streams on the health of people who depend on stream water for domestic purposes in the Onitsha urban area of eastern Nigeria. Water samples collected from eleven discharge locations underwent physico-chemical and microbiological analyses. Data on the effects of industrial effluents on health were obtained from records in the public hospitals located in Onitsha as well as through questionnaire surveys and field observations. The results of the analyses revealed that the effluents grossly degrade surface water bodies; several parameters (temperature, iron, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, lead, magnesium, total heterotrophic counts, total coliform group, pH) had values which were higher than the WHO (2011) safety limits for drinking water. The contamination of investigated streams by effluents had negative impact on the health of stream users. The discussion included health effects of polluted water and the prevalence of water borne or related diseases in the area. Implications of these findings were also discussed. Management measures capable of minimizing contamination of surface water in the study area were suggested