Empirical Analysis of the Buoyancy and Elasticity of Tax in Nigeria

Many countries in the world have greatly sponsored their government expenditures with the aid of tax revenue, and owe their developments to this internally generated revenue. The rate of increase depends on the elasticity and buoyancy of tax and it is on this premise that, this study investigates the elasticity and buoyancy of tax in an attempt to ascertain its flexibility and hence the possibility of increasing the tax base in Nigeria The study adopted the standard OLS estimation procedure which was modified into Dynamic OLS (DOLS) and was incorporated in vector error correction model (VECM). The results of the study therefore suggest that aggregate revenue is relatively elastic and significantly buoyant according to the 2004 tax reforms. And the results of the four major taxes tested showed that only PPT was found to be relatively elastic while VAT, CED and CID were relatively inelastic. However the results further suggest that, while VAT and CIT are not significantly buoyant according to the 2004 tax reforms, PPT and CED are significantly buoyant. Finally, the study used the 2005 structural break to establish that aggregate tax revenue dropped significantly after the boom period. The study therefore concludes that tax in Nigeria is relatively flexible with respect to growth and therefore more could be done to increase it. Keywords: Tax, tax reform, elasticity, buoyancy, Nigeria

Empirical Analysis of Trade Barriers and Economic Growth in Nigeria

AbstractThe impact of trade barriers on economic growth remains an issue that can only be resolve empirically, in view of this, the study investigates the relationship between trade barriers and economic growth in Nigeria over the period of 1970-2006. The study employed ordinary least square regression techniques. The period covered is 37 years. Data was collected on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is proxy for economic growth. Trade barriers are in form of tariffs such as import and export duties, quotas and bans. Due to unavailability of required data on import quota and unquantitative nature of ban, data was collected only on import duty and export duty which form tariff variable. Data was also collected on Aggregate export, Aggregate import and ratio of export to GDP. The result showed that Tariff barrier, Aggregate export and openness are positively related to economic growth while Aggregate import and Ratio of export to GDP are negatively related to economic growth. The empirical findings shows that trade barriers have positive and statistical impact on economic growth in Nigeria. Keywords: Trade, Barriers, Growth and Developmen

EFFECT OF NOMINAL GROUP TECHNIQUE OF BRAINSTORMING ON THE ACHIEVEMENT OF SECONDARY SCHOOL BIOLOGY STUDENTS IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

Poor performance of students in examinations is most times blamed on use of inappropriate teaching methods. Consequently, the search for appropriate methods for classroom instruction has continued to engage the attention of researchers. Hence, this study was aimed at investigating the ‘Effect of Nominal Group Technique of Brainstorming on the achievement of Secondary School Biology students in Anambra state Nigeria’. Two research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. The quasi-experimental study adopted a pretest post-test non-equivalent control group design. The sample consists of 80 Senior Secondary Two (SS 11) biology students from two intact classes randomly drawn from two co-educational schools. One class was assigned experimental group and the other control. An instrument tagged Biology Achievement Test was validated and used for data collection. Its reliability co-efficient was 0.72. Results showed that Students taught using Nominal Group Technique (NGT) performed significantly better than those taught using Lecture method and there was no significant difference in biology achievement test scores of male and female students taught using NGT. The paper therefore concluded that Nominal Group Technique enhanced achievement of biology students irrespective of gender

An Assessment of the Use of Social Media as Advertising Vehicles in Nigeria: A Study of Facebook and Twitter

Social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter are potent tools in modern communication and marketing. Considering Social media’s growing popularity, particularly Facebook and Twitter, this study assessed the use of social media as advertising vehicles in Nigeria. In order to generate data for this study, the survey research method was employed and the questionnaire was used as the instruments for data collection. The study revealed that 70% of business organisations in Nigeria are embracing social media to communicate with their customers while 30% are yet to see the promises that these new media hold. Of these 70%, the study revealed that the use of social media in advertising has been successful for 35% of business organisations using them to place advertisement. Others (65%) leverage on their social media presence to get their fans/followers informed about their products/services. The work recommended among other things that more Nigerian organisations should embrace social media advertising since it has the potential of reaching their target market and should see them as good avenues to market their products, counter negative perception about their organisation’s products/services and attend to their customers and potential customers online.   Key Words: Social media, Facebook, Twitter, Advertising, Nigeri

Empirical Test of Hechscher-Ohlin Theory between Nigeria and USA

This study empirically tested if Nigeria patterns of production and trade are consistent with the Heckscher-Ohlin framework. The theory predicts that countries export the products that use their abundant factors intensively. As such, Secondary sources of data were collected from Central Bank of Nigeria and United Nation Conference on Trade and Development (UNTCTAD). The data for the study were transformed into nine sectors, namely manufacturing sector, Agricultural sector, mining sector, service sector, consumption sector, trade, Electricity, export and import sectors which formed the input-output table. The study utilizes an estimation methodology used by Leontief in the construction of input-output table. The study observed that the value of capital\labour ratio imported from U.S.A to Nigeria showed a value of (2.09) which exceeds the critical value of (1) or a representation of 55.7% of Nigeria total major imports from USA. This empirical result showed that Nigeria’s pattern of production and trade are inconsistent with the prediction of Heckscher-Ohlin theory. This is because; Nigerian experience has proven Heckscher-Ohlin theory a dynamic model as against static model argued by others. This is indeed a major departure of Nigerian experience of Heckscher-Ohlin theory from others countries of the world. As such, the key policy implication from the study is that Nigeria should shift her patterns of production and trade from capital intensive oil production to labour intensive agricultural production as capital is scarce resources in Nigeria and at the same time make intensive use of her relatively abundant endowed labour resources, rich soils and favourable climatic conditions. Though, the study observed that there are some agricultural commodity and activities that Nigeria cannot do without employing labour intensive, such as groundnut, cocoa and palm products harvesting. KEYWORDS: Heckscher-Ohlin theory, labour intensive, imports, input-output matrix & capital intensiv

Evaluating the Impact of Aurora Kinase Inhibition on Immunogenic cell death(ICD) in HPV+ murine models

https://openworks.mdanderson.org/sumexp23/1109/thumbnail.jp

Comparison of intraocular pressure reduction of initial and adjunct selective laser trabeculoplasty for primary open angle glaucoma in Nigerians

Objective: The objective was to compare the intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering effect of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) as initial and adjunct therapy in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG).Subjects and Methods: Retrospective chart review of POAG patients who had SLT either as initial or adjunct therapy over a period of 1‑year. Each patient had SLT done in 360° of the anterior chamber angle. IOP measurement with the Goldmann applanation tonometer was done at baseline, 60 min post procedure, days 1, 7, 30, 90, and 180.Results: Mean baseline IOP was 15.4 ± 3.5 mmHg and 17.5 ± 5.5 mmHg for initial and adjunct, respectively (P = 0.153); not significant. Mean IOP at 90 days was 10.5 ± 1.8 mmHg and 16.2 ± 6.3 mmHg for initial and adjunct, respectively (P = 0.013); statistically significant. Records at 180 days revealed mean IOP of 14.1 ± 3.9 mmHg and 15.7 ± 7.7 mmHg (P = 0.465) for initial and adjunct, respectively; not significant. The maximal mean IOP reduction in both groups was at 7 days. 70% of patients in the initial had IOP reduction of >20% compared to 63.5% of adjuncts throughout the study period. Initial sustained mean reduction of ≥3 mmHg from day 1 to 90, while the adjunct was till day 30.Conclusion: Initial SLT showed a sustained reduction in IOP, compared to adjunct with marginally lower measurements.Keywords: Adjunct, initial, primary open angle glaucoma, selective laser trabeculoplast

Dilute Acid Hydrolysis of Cowpea Hulls: A Kinetic Study

In this study, dilute acid hydrolysis of cowpea hulls was carried out in two stages under the following conditions: pre-hydrolysis (4%v/v H2SO4, 121˚C, 30 minutes) and hydrolysis ( at 10% and 15% v/v H2SO4,varied at different temperatures 150 oC, 160 oC, 170 oC and 180 oC for 2.5 hrs.). The substrate was characterized using both Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and proximate analysis. The percentage lignocellulosic composition of the substrate was obtained for cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin as 34%, 14% and 4.7% respectively. Maximum glucose concentration of 8.09g was obtained using 10%v/v acid concentration at 170˚C after a reaction time of 90min. Saeman’s model gave a good fit for the experimental data. Activation energy for glucose formation using 10%v/v and 15%v/v H2SO4 was obtained as 38.28KJ and 82.204KJ respectively. From the results obtained it can be concluded that cowpea hulls can be converted to a useful product

Prevalence and factors associated with anthropometric failure, vitamin A and iron deficiency among adolescents in a Nigerian urban community.

Background: Under nutrition is a problem of severe magnitude in low income countries like Nigeria. Adolescent school children might also be vulnerable. The dearth of data hinders planning of school health and nutrition programmes for school children. Objective: To determine the prevalence of stunting, thinness; vitamin A and iron deficiencies among adolescent students in Nsukka urban, Nigeria and to determine factors that are associated with these nutritional problems. Methods: A total of 400 participants were randomly selected from 717 students aged 12 \u2013 18 years in 3 randomly selected secondary schools. Questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, and blood analyses were the data collection methods employed. Results: The prevalence of stunting was 33.3% and thinness 31.0%. Neither overweight nor obesity was observed. While 64.0% were anaemic; 44.0% had vitamin A deficiency (VAD). A total of 48.0% had both anaemia and stunting, 42% had VAD + thinness; while 40% had anaemia + VAD. Household income was a predictor of vitamin A status. Children from medium/ high income households had higher odds of having VAD than those from low income households (AOR=0.14; 95% CI=0.031, 0.607; P=0.009). Household income (AOR=0.12; 95% CI=0.021, 0.671; P=0.016), and age (AOR=0.09; 95% CI=0.014, 0.587; P=0.012) were independent determinants of height-for-age status. Conclusion: Among urban adolescent students in Nigeria, stunting, thinness, anaemia and VAD were problems of public health significance. Age and household monthly income played major roles

Rethinking corruption in contemporary African philosophy: Old wine cannot fit

To conceive the notion of corruption presupposes the existence of corrupt individuals, groups or organisations. The existence of corrupt individuals, groups or organisations you might say presupposes the presence of an entity. Every entity (i.e. state or corporate) has laid down procedures, processes and methods of doings and functioning. When these procedures and processes are negated, one could be accused of subversion. Subversion is an element in the definition of administrative corruption and is the unwillingness to follow stipulated plans of actions. An action that negates procedures falls under corrupt practice. This article will answer the following research questions: How has corruption been framed and perceived and what are the underlining consequences in Africa? In what ways, if any, has the prevailing perception of corruption undermined and understated the notion of corruption in Africa? In what ways can a remedial be conceived in the fight to make Africa free of corruption? And finally: How can Kleptoafronia be conceived as a panacea for corruption in the continent? This article uses themes and narrative analysis in the qualitative realm to provide answers to the research questions. Over 500 scholarly materials were read and scanned from journal articles, Internet sources, textbooks and several academic indexes to provide evidence for the arguments in this article from five disciplinary standpoints: political science, public administration, criminology, psychology and medical sciences. This article is a conceptual article that tends to demonstrate that corruption in Africa is a psych-administrative disorder termed – Kleptoafronia