PUBLIC SECTOR REFORMS AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA. A CRITIQUE

Francis Nnaemeka Mbuba

Department of Public Administration

Anambra State University, Igbariam Campus

Email: fn.mbuba@yahoo.com
Abstract:
Public Service Reforms in Nigeria and beyond are prosecuted, in the effort to improve management in governments by increasing efficiency, effectiveness, and the delivery of quality services to; the people. However experience has shown that the public service reform recommendations in Nigeria have not been properly implemented and therefore have negated both the spirit and the philosophy that motivated the reform efforts. As a result the public service in Nigeria is far from achieving the goals for which it has been established. This paper has therefore look closely at the public service reform efforts from the colonial period to the present day and identified the draw backs that have militated against their implementation. Through the scrutiny of the abundant literature on the public service reforms efforts in Nigeria, recommendations on the way forward have been made. Among others, it has been recommended that an independent institution should be established and empowered with the necessary legislation to handle the task of monitoring and ensuring that the recommendations to the government towards the achievement of the goals of the reforms are accomplished. The reforms from the inception to implementation should be democratic in order to be people-oriented and achievable


AN ANALYSIS OF PRODUCTIVE AND DESTRUCTIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP: A SURVEY OF LITERATURE

Abubakar S. Garba & Ahmad Muhammad Tsauni

 
Department of Business Administration, Northwest University, Kano

Department of Economics, Bayero University, Kano

Email: ahmadutsauni@gmail.com; atsauni.eco@buk.edu.ng


Abstract: Entrepreneurship is overwhelmingly accepted by policy makers in both developed and developing countries as a veritable tool for job creation and growth. It is on this premise that entrepreneurs are supported and encouraged particularly in countries with poverty incidence, high unemployment and low growth. Although, entrepreneurial practice cuts across all countries, the nature, outputs and impact of the entrepreneurial activities vary. The determination of what type of entrepreneurship to be encouraged is very crucial in policy making as entrepreneurship could be productive or destructive. The paper explores relevant literature on entrepreneurship to analyse the behaviour and effects of its productive and destructive components on the growth of developing economies. Through synthesis of the literature, the paper compares the benefits or otherwise of productive and destructive entrepreneurial activities and examines the role of formal and informal institutions toward those activities. Therefore, the ability of any country to achieve and sustain growth is dependent on whether the benefits brought about by productive entrepreneurial activities outweigh the negative effects of non-productive entrepreneurial activities. However, in most developing economies where corrupt practices are prevalent, cost of doing business is increasing and institutions are weakened, destructive entrepreneurship is accentuated. Thus, destructive entrepreneurship is often attributable to developing economies. Rule of law is overly needed to impose necessary restrictions for destructive entrepreneurship a long side with improving infrastructure and reducing cost of doing business.


CONSTRAINTS TO INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN KANO STATE, NIGERIA

Ahmad Muhammad Tsauni & Abdullahi Muhammad Adamu

Department of Economics,

Bayero University, Kano

Email: ahmadutsauni@gmail.com & amakutama@yahoo.com

Abstract: The paper investigates the constraints to industrial development in Kano – Nigeria. It starts by conceptualizing industry and industrialization as well as a brief on the various policies and incentives pursued toward attaining industrial development. With the aid of secondary data sources, basically survey findings extracted from some studies, the paper assesses the performance of the industrial sector in Nigeria generally Vis – a- Vis the plethora policies and incentives put in place from independence to date. It was observed that not much has been achieved as the major industrial indicators are not faring well. The poverty level, unemployment and rate of closure and distress of companies in Kano buttressed those findings. To that effect, a number of constraints to industrial development in the State have been identified ranging from infrastructural deficiencies, small home market and insecurity. In order to address these problems, the paper recommends among others that government policies should be fine-tuned to converge with economic progress and that government should have a strong commitment to the development of the sector.


AGRICULTURE, FOOD SECURITY AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN MAKURDI, BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

Asamu Festus Femi1 , Oloni, Elizabeth Funlayo2 & Onojowho Akpeuwe Harvest

1Department of Sociology, Landmark University, Nigeria.

2Department of Economics Landmark University, Nigeria.

Email: olonielizabeth@yahoo.com

Abstract: Agriculture from the unset has been the main source of Nigeria economy due to its fertile land as over 80% of its populace are involved in this sector. Due to the mismanagement of fund, a vast majority of people engages in subsistence agriculture without adequate capital to expand and increase production. The lack of storage and agro industries to processed as well as dilapidated road network causes food loss resulting to poor economy development and high rate of poverty. The study therefore examines the food security and it implication on national development in Makudi, Benin State, Nigeria. The researcher adopted the structural change theory. The first theory focused on the change in the method of production to boast economy development. Data was collected from a total of 100 respondents on their opinion using the primary source, only 92 were returned back. The survey instrument used was open and closed questionnaire. The sampling technique used was the stratified sample and simple random sample. The population was divided into strata based on age group, sex and income. A sample is them selected from the stratum by picking every tenth Number in random series. The study shows that 34 (36.96%) of the respondents between the age of (21-30) are youth who largely involved in food production. 47(51.09%) are females but with little motivation due to lack of mechanized tools and are self-supportive actively participate in feeding the populations. From the findings, it shows that these set of people are not encouraged due to poor funding of Agricultural sector. This results to underdevelopment in Makurdi. It shows that mechanized farming increases production, boast economy development by generating fund; it reduces the rate of food importation to the country. Finally, finding shows that the people are willing to adopt innovative technology to effect a change in the society on food production However, the following suggestions were made by the respondents that government should provide farmers with mechanized tools at subsidized price to increase productivity. Agro industries should be provided to increase federal funds, to reduce food waste, food stability, improve nutritional content of food, and reduce food price.


CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF MILITARISING ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA

Okpanachi Odiji

Department of Political Science

College of Social and Management Sciences

Wesley University of Science and Technology, Ondo

Email: okpasspecial@yahoo.com,

Abstract: The Ekiti and Osun 2014 gubernatorial elections in Nigeria generated controversy despite being adjudged as free and fair. This is particularly due to the excessive deployment of armed security agents to man the polls. This paper attempts to unearth the raison d’êtres for this action as well as investigate its consequent implication(s).  Taking insights from the principles of democracy and elections and drawing inferences from observed trends during the two polls mentioned above, the discourse observes that while the need to secure the ballot might have principally motivated the State into this new practice, its repercussions such as the propensity to demoralise the police, daunt voters and overstretch the military among others are capable of truncating democracy as well as undermining the entire polity.    


Table of Contents

Geophagic Practice and Its Possible Health Implications – A Review

Ogidi Odangowei I. and Omu Okiemute                                                                              1 – 12

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Soils within Selected Communities

In Delta State

Ivwurie W., Emelife S.C., Sun C. and Snape C.                                                                          13 – 18

Impacts of Solid Waste Management Strategies on the Health of School Children

in Oil Producing Communities of Rivers State

Wokocha G.A.                                                                                                                          19 – 23

Studies on the Abiotic Conditions of Karidna Reservoir in Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abdulazeez, M.T., Wada, Y., Areo, O.O., Balarabe, M.L., Abdullahi, S.A.                                              24 – 34

Economic Analysis of Pineapple Production in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government

Area of Imo State, Nigeria

Uche Okeke                                                                                                                             35 – 46

Analysis of Credit use by the Beneficiaries of Bank of Agriculture in Onitsha

Agricultural Zone of Anambra State, Nigeria

Uche Okeke                                                                                                                             47 – 59

Mechanism of Thiosulphate Oxidation by Di-μ-Oxo-Tetrakis

(2, 2’- Bipyridine) – Dimanganese (iii, iv) Perchlorate in Acidic Medium

O.A. Babatundeand Patricia Ese Umoru                                                                                                           60 – 72

Characteristics of Cookies Produced from Wheat and Egg Shell Flour

Animashaun, O.H., Bamgbose, A.& Olorode O.O.                                                                                        73 – 80

Mean Cardiac Size Parameters in an Adult Ghanaian Population

(Running Title: Mean Cardiac Size Parameters in Ghanaian Adults)

Edmund K. Brakohiapa, Eric K. Ofori & Jerry Coleman                                                           81-87

Effect of Salinity and the Presence of Pharmaceutical Active Compound

on a Laboratory Scale Biological Wastewater Treatment Reactor

William-Ebi, D. Saroj, D.P. and Jones, C.                                                                                 88-93

Paradigm Shift in the Management of Labour Pain: A Challenge in

Low Income Countries

Dalhatu A., Muhammad, S.M., Amina, S.R.,Nuhu, K. & Abdullahi, A.                                     94-100


PARADIGM SHIFT IN THE MANAGEMENT OF LABOUR PAIN: A CHALLENGE IN LOW INCOME COUNTRIES

Dalhatu Aa., Muhammad, S.M.b., Amina, S.R.a,Nuhu, K a. & Abdullahi, A. a.

aDepartment of Nursing Sciences, Bayero University, Kano

bDepartment of Medicine, Bayero University Kano and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital

Email: adamudalhatu206@gmail.com

Abstract: One of the basic functions of government is to provide quality and effective health care services to its citizens. Pain relief in labour has always been surrounded with myths and controversies. Hence, providing effective and safe analgesia during labour has remained an ongoing challenge by social and health care system deficiencies that are aggravated by economic problems.  Health care sector in low income countries is still face with enormous challenges that must be overcome if quality and effective health care service is to be made available to the laboring mothers. This article reviewed relevant literatures related to labour pain, non-pharmacological and pharmacological techniques used in labour pain management which were published by journals nationally and internationally. An overview of the literatures showed that labour pain has been related to evil, magic, witchcraft and demons. As such, pain relief in general was the responsibility of sorcerers, shamans, priests and priestesses who used herbs, rites and ceremonies as their protocol in managing labour pain. Primitive pain management in labour had been crude and largely ineffective and attempts to help relieve pain were based mainly on suggestions and distractions. There has been a great change in the field of labour analgesia with the practice of comprehensive methods of labour pain management using evidence-based Nursing. The major challenges of adopting the shift from the primitive era of labour pain management to the present day practice of using evidence based nursing in low income countries are: social and health care system deficiencies that are aggravated by economic problems. This article concluded by recommending that there should be an increase need in government to standardized maternity health care system in low income countries, empowering research amongst healthcare workers in maternity settings to providing evidence based nursing practice.


EFFECT OF SALINITY AND THE PRESENCE OF PHARMACEUTICAL ACTIVE COMPOUND ON A LABORATORY SCALE BIOLOGICAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT REACTOR

1William-Ebi, D. 2Saroj, D.P. and 3Jones, C.

Niger Delta University, Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Wilberforce Island. Bayelsa State

Department of Water Engineering, University of Surrey, Surrey. United Kingdom

Department of Water Engineering, University of Surrey, Surrey. United Kingdom

Email: rhodagumus@yahoo.com

Abstract: The effects of salinity and the presence of Pharmaceutical active Compounds (PhaCs) on the biological treatment efficiency of a lab scale bioreactor with aeration were investigated. The combined effect of salinity and Presence of a pharmaceutical compound Naproxen on the nitrification process was investigated. Naproxen was observed to cause significant inhibition of the ammonia oxidation process with a consequent decrease in nitrification activity and efficiency.  An initial Nitrification rate of 4.5mg NH4-N L-1 h-1was estimated.  Decreased Nitrification rates were observed  with the introduction of naproxen into the reactor system. Decrease in Nitrification rates from 4.5 mg NH4-N/l-h to 2.5mg NH4-N/l-h at 1ml, 0.5mg NH4-N/l-h at 5ml and 0.5 mg NH4-N/l-h at 100ml naproxen solution respectively.Though inhibition was pronounced the system was observed to have recovered and oxidixed ammonia to nitrates.

Keywords: Salinity, PhACs, Naproxen, Bioreactor, Aeration,Nitrification, Denitrification


MEAN CARDIAC SIZE PARAMETERS IN AN ADULT GHANAIAN POPULATION

(RUNNING TITLE: MEAN CARDIAC SIZE PARAMETERS IN GHANAIAN ADULTS)

Edmund K. Brakohiapa1, Eric K. Ofori 2 & Jerry Coleman 3

1 University of Ghana, School of Medicine and Dentistry,Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana

2, School of Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana

3, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana

Email: ebrakohiapa2000@yahoo.com, erikof2001@yahoo.co.uk & jerryc714@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT:

PROBLEM STATEMENT: Plain chest radiography is a quick, non-invasive way to evaluate the size of the heart. There is a lack of local data on the normal range of heart sizes parameters for Ghanaian adults. This study therefore aims to generate values for mean heart sizes of Ghanaians.

APPROACH: Aretrospective study involved the reviewof 1047 radiological images of adults aged 20 to 80 years, who had plain frontal chest radiographs between January 2012 and November 2013 by 3 radiologists. Data recorded included the transverse cardiac and thoracic diameter and the cardiothoracic ratios. Descriptive and inferential analyses were carried out using the statistical package for social scientist version 17.

RESULTS: The mean age and standard deviation for the study population was 35.1 ± 12.7. The mean and standard deviations for the transverse cardiac diameter, thoracic diameter, and the cardiothoracic ratios for male participants were 13.08cm ± 1.2, 29.7cm ± 2.7 and 46.6 % ± 3.9, and 12.9 cm ± 1.3, 27.1 cm ± 2.6, and 47.8 % ± 4.8 for females. Significant differences (p-values = 0.001) for all the variables were observed between males and females. Significant differences in measurements were observed in males between the 21 – 40years age group and the 41 – 60 years age group only, with respect to the TCD (p= 0.001), CTR (P= 0.032) and TTD (P= 0.001), whilst for females, significant differences were observed in the measurements of TCD and CTR between the age group 21-40 only and all other age groups.

CONCLUSION: The measured average transverse cardiac diameter, transverse thoracic diameter and cardiothoracic ratio for selected Ghanaian adults varied from values suggested by authors in and outside Ghana. Differences in the values between the sexes and among age groups were also observed.

Keywords: Heart Sizes, Transverse Cardiac Diameter, Cardio-Thoracic Ratio.


CHARACTERISTICS OF COOKIES PRODUCED FROM WHEAT AND EGG SHELL FLOUR

*Animashaun, O.H., Bamgbose, A.& Olorode O.O.

Department of Food Technology,

Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta

Email:  traj332002@yahoo.com

Abstract: Cookies are popular snacks commonly consumed by children and adults to provide energy. Quality evaluation of cookies from composite flour of wheat-egg shell powder was assessed. Egg shell was made into powder and fortified in ratios (100:0%, 97.5:2.5%, 95:5%, 92.5:7.5%, 90:10%) for wheat and egg shell flour respectively). The different flour blends was processed into cookies. The cookies produced were then evaluated for proximate composition, mineral composition and sensory attributes using laboratory standard methods. The result of the proximate analysis showed that ash, fibre and protein contents of the cookies sample increased significantly with increase in the level of egg shell powder incorporated with values ranging from 1.70-4.92%, 3.10-6.60%, and 6.52-15.32% respectively. Sample with 10% egg shell powder had the highest value for each of the parameters while control sample (100% wheat) had the least value. The result of the mineral composition also showed that calcium, magnesium and iron content of the samples increased significantly  with increased level of egg shell powder with values ranging from 131-514mg/100g, 48.55-96.26mg/100g and 0.248-1.060mg/100g respectively. The aroma, texture, crispiness, and taste of the fortified cookies had mean scores of 4.7-8.3, 5.4-7.8, 5.4-7.7 and 5.1-8.2 respectively. Cookies fortified with egg shell powder were generally accepted by the panelist up to 10% egg shell powder. Inclusion of egg shell powder up to 10% level is found to improve the nutritional and sensory attributes of the cookies.


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