| 1 |
Author(s):
Etekpe Ambily, Dan-Woniowei Fie David, Koko Epoweide Isaiah, Ogroh Stella Embeleakpo.
Page No : 1-36
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An Assessment of the Leadership-Sustainable Development Nexus: Bayelsa State, Nigeria
Abstract
The present Bayelsa State, Nigeria was part of the Niger Delta region, described by the Henry Willink Commission (HWC) report as “poor, backward and neglected” in 1958; and urged the federal government to establish an agency to develop the area/people. The people never wanted an agency, rather a state; and when the agency – Niger Delta Development Board was established in 1961, it couldn’t develop the area. This prompted perennial agitations until Bayelsa state was created, along with 5 others – Ebony, Ekiti, Gombe, Katsina and Zamfara (BEE-GKZ) in 1996. After 24 years, the area is still least developed, even within the 6 states; and the problem was traced to bad leadership (i.e., governors). Thus, the study aimed at interrogating the nexus between leadership and sustainable development (SD), as well as, comparing and contrasting the level of SD with the other 5 states on 6 critical indices developed by the researchers between 1999 and 2020. It adopted the ‘CAABA model’ of development, along with the “people – task orientation leadership” of the Michigan Studies in 1950 as theoretical frameworks; and applied a combination of descriptive survey and historical design of data collection. The instruments containing 3 questions were given to scholars/experts in the Niger Delta University for face and construct validity, and subjected to reliability test. Data was presented in table and analysed in qualitative and quantitative formats; and the study recommended some drastic improvements in the recruitment processes of political executives (governors) by political parties and Nigerians by insisting on strict adherence to guidelines on internal democracy during party primaries. The implication is that without improvement, the political executives shall ‘drag’ Nigeria to become a ‘failed state’.
| 2 |
Author(s):
Bala S. Dada, Ja’afar A. A. Zankan.
Page No : 37-51
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Tax Rate Chargeable on Landed Properties in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria
Abstract
This study evaluates tax rate chargeable on landed properties in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria, with a view to providing relevant information on the potentials of the tax as a source of local revenue generation which can be used for the provision of services and amenities. Data for this study was sourced from the records of landed properties assessed for taxation, tax rate chargeable and record of property tax collections available in the local government official records. Tables were used in analyzing and presenting the result for the study. The result of the study shows that tax rate chargeable on landed properties range from as low as N2, 000 to N120, 000. The result also indicates that there were different types of landed property tax collected in Tafa Local Government Area, such as title registration fee, tenement rate, survey fee, approval of building plan, ground rent, and change of land use. The study also shows that there are different types of landed properties on which tax is collected in Tafa Local Government Area. They include residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, recreational and educational properties. There has been increased tax collection on landed properties in the study area from 2013–2016 due to more compliance and development of landed properties within the period. It is recommended that the local government administration should embark on a land ownership registration programme and automation of databases on landed property, establishment of an awareness forum by the local government where taxpayers would be sensitized and enlightened on the importance of land tax, and ensure proper valuation of landed properties for taxation.
| 3 |
Author(s):
Deinibiteim M. Harry (Ph.D), Maureen O. Harry.
Page No : 52-62
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The Nigerian State and Democratic Governance: A Need for Revisitation of Democratic Ethos
Abstract
The study examined the practice of democracy in Nigeria, bearing in mind the tenets of democracy. Democracy has been accepted as the most viable and sustainable form of government by world leaders and is used to determine the extent of freedom enjoyed in different countries of the world. However, the availability of the freedom it offers in Nigeria is questionable. This is largely due to the lack of democratic principles such as free, fair and credible elections, mass participation in the governance processes, independence of the judiciary, rule of law, etc. While successive governments since 1999 have verbalized efforts at strengthening democratic ethos/culture in the country, observers are of the view that the democratic practice in Nigeria is a far cry from the acceptable norms. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to examine the extent to which democratic ethos have been institutionalized in the Nigerian State. The study adopted the Participatory Theory of democracy, its main idea being the provision of greater involvement and control over all governmental laws and non-governmental rules pertaining to the citizens, and to analyze the imperative to revisit the practice of democracy in Nigeria. The study relied mainly on secondary data focusing on the nature and character of democratic governance in the country. The study revealed that efforts at institutionalizing democracy, enhancing mass participation as well as achieving development had not yielded the desired outcomes in the country. This is evident in the increasing rate of electoral violence that characterizes elections over the years in the country. The paper concluded that, for Nigeria to substantially deliver the “dividends of democracy” to the people, the state must revisit the culture and practice of democracy in the country. The study recommended, among other things, that the state should strive to uphold the rule of law at all times, ensure judicial independence, enhance mass participation in the governance processes and efforts should also be made to guarantee free, fair and credible elections.
| 4 |
Author(s):
Nwinyokpugi N. Patrick (P.hD) , Dornanu Lebari.
Page No : 63-83
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Civil Service Efficiency: Leveraging on Electronic Administration Tools
Abstract
This study investigated the relationship between electronic administration strategies and organisational efficiency of the civil service sector in Rivers State, Nigeria. Digital administration provides governments with an effective and efficient channel to facilitate their internal administrations and will improve their external services, thereby increasing transparency and generating a higher degree of trust. This study used a descriptive research technique through the adoption of a cross-sectional survey design. Twenty ministries were conveniently sampled for this study. The instrument of data collection employed to obtain relevant data for analysis was a structured close-ended questionnaire. The study population comprised twenty (20) out of the twenty-five (25) ministries in Rivers State civil service sector as released by Rivers State Government of Nigeria. Two (2) copies of the questionnaires were administered to 40 census senior management members (director and deputy director) from the twenty (20) ministries, giving a total of forty (40) respondents. The data were analysed using Pearson's Product Movement Correlation statistic. The results of analysed data showed that the dimensions of electronic administration strategies, which included but were not limited to enterprise content management, electronic transaction, document management system and workflow management system, significantly correlated positively with the measures of organisational efficiency being cost reduction and quality service delivery. The finding also showed a high moderating effect of information and communication technology on electronic administration strategies and organisational efficiency in the civil service sector, Rivers State, Nigeria. Relying on the empirical findings, the study concluded that electronic administrative strategies have a positive significant relationship with organisational efficiency. It is therefore recommended that enterprise content management, electronic transaction, document management system and workflow management system identified in this study should be utilised as they enhance organisational efficiency.
| 5 |
Author(s):
Ugorji H.I., Ugwuneke John, Nkwocha E.E..
Page No : 84-93
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The Implications of Political Tenure Instability of Elected Local Government Officials on Grassroots Development of Southeastern Nigeria
Abstract
Political tenure instability in the Local Government Areas of the elected chairmen and counsellors have been a common phenomenon in Nigeria. This general phenomenon has its beginning from the military era (1966–1998) and has not changed much even with the return of the country to democratic governance in 1999. Nigeria has 36 states and 774 local government areas. Nearly 90% of these local government areas are without chairmen and counsellors. In their place, state governors set up caretaker committees that are now saddled with local governance. This paper provided insights on the causes and effects of this trend on the local government system in particular and grassroots development in general with special reference to the southeastern region of Nigeria. It was concluded that if this practice is not stemmed, particularly as the country’s democracy flourishes, sustainable development goals at the local levels will not be achieved. The paper recommended measures that could be used to put a permanent end to this political quagmire.
