Incentive Structure, Civil Service Efficiency and the Hidden Economy in Nigeria

Nigeria, Oil boom, Civil service reform, Corruption

Perception of Female Undergraduates on Drug Abuse in Kano State, Nigeria: Implications for Counselling

The abuse of drugs by female undergraduate students is becoming alarming, posing serious repercussions for society in general. This study examined the perception of female undergraduates on drug abuse by female university students as perceived by female undergraduate students in Kano State. The study used a sample size of 306 female undergraduate students (selected using proportionate sampling technique) from Faculty of Education in BUK1, KUST2 and YUMSUK3. A validated instrument, DAI4 was used to collect relevant data. The reliability of DAI was established using the test-retest method. PPMC was used to compute the correlation coefficient of the instrument and reliability index of 0.79 was obtained. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer research questions, while t-test for independent sample and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test the three null hypotheses of the study. The findings of the study indicated that Benylin is the most commonly abused drug among female university students in Kano State, there is a difference in the perception of female undergraduates on drug abuse prevalence among female university students in Kano State based on university, in favour of BUK with the highest mean score of 8.04. Based on the findings, it is recommended among others that: the sales of benylin and other commonly abused drug within university campuses should be controlled by university authorities

Solution of First-Order Differential Equation Using Fourth-Order Runge-Kutta Approach and Adams Bashforth Methods

In this research, we investigate the solution of first-order differential equations (DEs) using Runge- Kutta fourth-order method (RKM) and Adams-Bashforth methods (ABMs). In this work we consider fourth-order RKM and ABMs for solving first order DEs. The method proof to be simple, easy, accurate and efficient technique for solving first order DEs. Moreover, there are unlimited application of fourth-order RK4 and ABMs for solving first-order DE in science, engineering, economics, social science, biology and business. These play an important role in science and engineering. Some examples are giving and solved to support the efficiency of our methods which are demonstrated by figures. &nbsp

NEW MODEL FOR SOLAR RADIATION ESTIMATION FROM MEASURED AIR TEMPERATURE AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY IN NIGERIA

Solar radiation prediction is essential for effective and reliable solar power project, predicted solar radiation can be used for accurate solar energy prediction. Solar radiation measurement is not sufficient in Nigeria for various reasons such as maintenance and repair cost, calibration of instrument, and expansive of measuring device. In this paper, adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) model was developed to predict the monthly average solar radiation in Nigeria. Air temperature of monthly mean minimum temperature, maximum temperature and relative humidity obtained from Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) were used as inputs to the ANFIS model and monthly mean global solar radiation was used as out of the model. Statistical evaluation of the model was done based on root mean square error (RMSE) and correlation coefficient R to examine the accuracy of the developed model. The values of RMSE and R for the training data are 0.91315MJ/m2 and 0.91264MJ/m2 respectively. The obtained result showed a good correlation between the predicted and measured solar radiation which proves ANFIS to be a good model for solar radiation prediction.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v36i3.3

Incentive structure, civil service efficiency and the hidden economy in Nigeria

Successive governments in Nigeria have introduced reforms aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the civil service. Still, the service remains inefficient and incapable of reforming itself, let alone the rest of the economy. Corruption has become an endemic feature of public sector activities, with the oil booms and busts distorting the incentive structures of civil servants and other agents in the economy. It is estimated that the ‘hidden’ economy now comprises the bulk of economic activity. To turn the tide will demand the creation of an efficiency-based incentive scheme that links reward to performance. Political interference in the daily operations of the civil service needs to be minimised if the confidence of the public service is to be restored. Wage incentives are also important in raising morale. An underpaid civil service will not be able to perform its ‘patriotic duty’. – Nigeria ; oil boom ; civil service reform ; corruptio

Evolution of the Media in a Capital City: The Case of the Rise of Abuja as a News Centre

This paper investigates the sourcing of news, through the prism of geography. It locates Abuja, the growing capital city of Nigeria as a case, arguing that like most other things, news sources are usually constructed affairs. Rather than being an absolute affair, a news source is a creation of intermixing variables, which grow over time and space; and which can increase or decline in the performance of this role, with changes in circumstances. The paper evaluates the growth of Abuja as a prime news centre from the time it was named as a future capital, up to the time a definite date of relocation was announced, and from when it became the seat of presidential leadership, to present date. While the paper reviews the value of the city as a veritable source of stories for the local and international media, it notes the different tendencies of the news reports. This is in the sense that while many are regular and heartening, various others rightly reflect the perversions in the land. In this case, another kind of balancing in news reporting is implicated: one that focuses on the good and the bad (not just the other side, whether good or bad) even without a deliberate attempt at doing so. The city produces more than enough good, and then a corresponding mess to balance up the former, in a back and forth approach, in what is symptomatic of an unbiased reporting of a news centre

Empowerment Influence on Turnover Intention of Public Secondary School Teachers in Katsina State Nigeria

Background: Secondary school teacher’s turnover is one of the problems bedeviling education sector in Katsina state. The sector can hardly be improved unless the situation is changed. To change the situation the stakeholders should focus on the need to enhance secondary school teacher’s satisfaction, commitment and empowerment.Purpose: The study examines the influence of empowerment on turnover intention of teachers of public secondary schools in Katsina State Nigeria. In addition the study examines which dimension among the dimensions of empowerment best influences turnover intention of teachers of public secondary schools in Katsina state, Nigeria. Methods: Empowerment and Turnover Intention questionnaires were used to get the needed data. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the data gathered using SPSS version 20.0. Results: The results show that the dimensions of empowerment significantly and negatively explain 40% of variance of turnover intention. Additionally, among the dimensions of empowerment namely; perceived control, perceived competence and goal internalization, perceived competence makes the largest contribution followed by perceived control; beta -.35 and -.31 respectively. Conclusion: the study establishes that empowerment significantly and negatively relates to turnover intention of teachers of public secondary schools in Katsina state Nigeria

Limits of Media Power in the Determination of Electoral Success: The Case of the 2015 Presidential Election in Nigeria

This paper examines the use of the media for electoral campaigns.  It highlights the fact that media channels remain the most influential path to wooing electorates. It reasons that a control of the media could come via ownership pattern, or through the financial prowess of the campaigning entity, and the readiness to deploy same in the mobilization of voters. While the media could play a critical role in the manipulation of hearts and minds, for the benefit of a campaigner, an overwhelming ability to control the media is not an ultimate guarantor of electoral victory. There could as well be other intervening variables. The paper uses the 2015 general elections in Nigeria as a case, with a particular focus on the presidential elections, largely dominated by the All Progressive Party (APC, where Gen. Mohammadu Buhari was presidential candidate and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP, where the incumbent, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was candidate. It concluded that despite the statutory and financial muscle of the incumbent President Jonathan, which gave it an edge in media campaigns, it was still not enough to ensure victory for the PDP.

‘Urf / ‘Adah (Custom) : An Ancillary Mechanism in Shari‘ah

According to the legal maxim in Islamic legislative system, custom (‘Urf / ‘Adah) is said to be authoritative (al-‘adah Muhakkamah). Thus, right from the inception of Islam, it has been playing a decisive role in the dispensation of Shari‘ah. Indeed, medieval and modern works in Islamic jurisprudence (’Usul al-Fiqh) are replete of many judgments (Qada’) and rulings (ahkam) that were based on the custom of the people. The present study aims to x-ray the extent to which ‘Urf / ‘Adah has been an indispensable mechanism in Islamic Ordinance. This is premised on the fact that Islam sanctioned some customs that are considered non-inimical to its tenets. The study has found that curf / ‘Adah regulates the precise implication of terms that are commonly used in a given locality or society. It is argued through the paper that a quite number of Qur’anic verses (ayat) are assimilated with the aid of customary interpretation of a given locality. The descriptive study established that ‘Urf / ‘Adah is not only a manifestation of the flexibility of Shari‘ah but that its incessant relevance would always come to play via internal dynamism as well as regular synthesis between its norms and the changing social realities. The research unmasked the fact that an Islamic Juri-Consult (Mufti) would continue to be acknowledged when he acquaints himself with the prevailing customs in his environment. The paper highlighted some conditions which makes ‘Urf / ‘Adah acceptable in Islamic Ordinances and concluded by observing that even though Urf / ‘Adah occupies a crucial place in Shari‘ah yet, the degree of acceptability varies among the Sunni Schools of Thought.Key words: ‛Urf / ‛Adah, Sources of Sharicah, ’Usul al-Fiqh, ahka