International Journal of Multidisciplinary Department
Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Socio-Economic Development in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria
Abstract
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was established to drive regional development through interventions in critical sectors such as water scheme development and health care development. Despite decades of NDDC projects and programmers, many communities across the Niger Delta still experience limited access to reliable infrastructure and essential social services. This raises serious concerns about the extent to which NDDC interventions are translating into measurable socio-economic improvements. The main objective of this study was to examine the impact of NDDC on socio-economic development in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. One of the specific objectives of the study was to examine the impact of NDDC on water scheme development in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. Institution theory was adopted as the theoretical framework for the study. The study used both descriptive design and survey method. The study population was 56,079,185 which was the projected population of the people in the Niger Delta Region. The sample size of the study was 384. Stratified and simple random sampling techniques were adopted in the study. The data collected from primary and secondary sources were analyzed using simple regression analysis with SPSS statistical tool. The study revealed that there is no significant impact of the NDDC on water scheme development in the Niger Delta Region. The study also revealed that there is a positive and insignificant impact of the NDDC on health care development in the Niger Delta Region. The study therefore recommended that; NDDC should raise investment in potable water (boreholes, water treatment, reticulation) especially in underserved LGAs, and ensure sustainability by setting up/ training local water-user committees, providing maintenance funding models, and integrating water schemes into WASH and primary healthcare goals in the Niger Delta Region. NDDC should shift emphasis toward operational effectiveness by equipping facilities, support solar power/water supply for clinics, partner with state health ministries for staffing, and monitor key service indicators (maternal care, immunization, disease reduction) to confirm real impact in the region.
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MANAGEMENT IMPERATIVES OF POST-BASIC EDUCATION THROUGH ETHICS AND VALUES EDUCATION REENGINEERING FOR SUSTAINABLE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. A NIGERIAN PERSPECTIVE.
Abstract
In the context of education, management is a necessary phenomenon that must exist to activate all responsible parties to function as expected, ensuring that the education process delivers the expected aims and objectives. That is why education management imperatives should encompass strategic planning, resource allocation, and operational oversight of educational institutions and systems. It should also involve developing and implementing policies, overseeing day-to-day activities, and ensuring the effective functioning of schools and colleges. Ultimately, education management seeks to create and maintain an effective learning environment that fosters teaching and learning, thereby enhancing student academic performance. Ensuring that the school curriculum aligns with societal ethics and values is also an imperative for education managers, and a key aspect of sustainable National Development. To this extent, it is essential to recognize that people's beliefs, customs, norms, and values form the fundamental basis for every educational enterprise and should be incorporated into what is taught and learned in schools. Educational activities should be structured in a manner that meets people's needs and also promotes better and sustained national and Global educational expectations and demands. However, this paper is limited to focusing on ethics and value education reengineering as a management imperative in Post-basic Education to enhance sustainable National Development. It is important to state that Post-basic education generally refers to schooling that occurs after the completion of compulsory basic education (also known as primary or lower secondary education). It encompasses a range of educational opportunities beyond the initial years of schooling, including secondary schools, technical schools, and vocational training programs. In Nigeria, for instance, post-basic education typically includes secondary school (Junior Secondary School and Senior Secondary School) and technical colleges. It is at this stage that students are fully introduced to various aspects of their societal ethics, values, norms, and customs, equipping them to be all-round individuals who can contribute meaningfully to sustainable National development that competes globally.
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EFFECT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE UNDER ONE ROOF POLICY ON REFERRAL SYSTEM IN BWARI AREA COUNCIL
Abstract
Over a decade of the preoccupation of the Primary Healthcare Under One Roof (PHCUOF) policy, the Nigerian health system is still perceived as weak in some vital areas such human resource, financing, information system and other logistics (referral). The policy was introduced to consolidate governance, harmonize financing, coordinate human resources, and improve logistics and information systems with specified focus on referral system as one of its major elements. However, the extent to which PHCUOR has improved referral system efficiency, timeliness, and feedback mechanisms in Bwari, Area Council, FCT remains underexplored. This study, therefore, investigated the effect of PHCUOR implementation on referral system performance in Bwari, Area Council FCT using the Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) Theory, which emphasizes the integration of governance, financing, workforce, infrastructure, and information systems to improve health outcomes. A mixed methods research design was adopted, combining descriptive survey and documentary review. The population consisted of health care workers and administrators in Bwari PHC facilities (N=108), with a sample size determined using Taro Yamane formula. Primary data were collected via structured questionnaires and interviews, while secondary data were sourced from official reports of PHCUOR. Data analysis employed descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) and inferential statistics, including multiple linear regression using SPSS version 25 at 5% significance level. Findings revealed that governance integration, financing harmonization, and human resource coordination significantly improved referral system efficiency, while logistics and information system strengthening enhanced referral timeliness and feedback mechanisms. The study therefore, recommends that the Federal Capital Territory Administration expand its scope of mobility and transport services, and in synergy with National Primary Health Care Development Agency adopt digital referral tracking systems to strengthen communication between PHC and higher-level hospitals. These interventions are critical for sustaining improvements in referral effectiveness and overall PHC performance.
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IMPACT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGRICULTURAL SUBSIDIES AND MARKET INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE ECONOMIC LIVELIHOODS OF RURAL FARMERS IN MANGU, PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA
Abstract
This study investigated the impact of local government agricultural subsidies and market infrastructure on the economic livelihoods of rural farmers in Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nigeria. Driven by persistent rural poverty and severe post-harvest crop degradation within grassroots agrarian communities, the primary objective was to evaluate how input distribution efficiency and public market-storage assets influence smallholder seasonal net incomes. The study was anchored on the Induced Innovation Theory, which posits that targeted institutional interventions are structurally required to alter factor constraints and lower transactional barriers for resource-poor producers. Methodologically, a mixed-methods research design was adopted, blending descriptive survey and documentary approaches. Using the Taro Yamane formula, a sample size of 351 respondents was determined from a population of 2,810 registered smallholders, with data gathered via structured questionnaires and key informant interviews. Quantitative analysis was executed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression modeling at a 5% significance level via SPSS 25.0. The empirical findings revealed that the independent variables collectively accounted for 55.9% of the total variance in rural livelihoods ($R^2 = 0.559, F = 210.121, p < 0.05$). Market infrastructure exerted the strongest positive predictive impact ($\beta_2 = 0.518$), followed by input subsidies ($\beta_1 = 0.436$), though subsidy utility was heavily weakened by late distributions. It is concluded that transforming rural livelihoods depends on resolving input logistical delays and fixing severe preservation infrastructure deficits. Consequently, the study recommends that the local council digitize its subsidy supply network to guarantee time-sensitive delivery, and prioritize budgetary allocations for constructing modern, well-ventilated public cold-storage facilities to eliminate post-harvest biological decay.
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SOCIAL COMPETENCE AS PREDICATOR OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENT’S ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN CHEMISTRY IN ENUGU STATE
Abstract
The study examined social competence as a predictor of secondary school students' academic achievement in chemistry at Enugu State. Two research topics and two hypotheses guided the investigation. The study's population consisted of 4934 SS2 Chemistry students. 347 SS2 Chemistry students 186 males and 161 females made up the study's sample size. A multistage sampling approach utilizing various techniques was used to draw the sample. Two tools were employed to gather the data. They are Social Competence Scale (SCS) and Chemistry Achievement Test (CAT). SCS contained 10 item questions while CAT contained 40 objective questions. The two instruments were validated by three experts. The reliability of (SCS) was 0.77 using Cronbach alpha while the reliability of (CAT) was 0.77 using Kuder-Richardson 20 formula. This indicated that the two instruments were reliable. The research question were answered using r and R2 while the hypotheses were tested using P value. The findings revealed that there is moderate predictive power of social competence on secondary school student’s academic achievement in Chemistry and the prediction was statically significant (r = 0.510: R2 = 0.260: P-value = 0.000). More so, the result revealed a high and moderate positive predictive strength of social competence scores on male and female students’ achievement scores in chemistry and the prediction was statically significant (Male: r = 0.850: R2 = 0.723: P-value = 0.000) (Female: r = 0.761: R2 = 0.579: P-value = 0.000). In order to increase students' accomplishment in chemistry, the findings suggested, among other things, that chemistry teachers modify their instructional behavior to ensure accurate identification of the students' social competency in instructional practice. Conclusions were drawn from the suggestions.
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TRADITIONAL METHODS OF ADMINISTRATION AND ENTHRONEMENT OF OBONGS’ (PARAMOUNT RULERS) IN AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA: A STUDY OF NSIT UBIUM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
Abstract
The leadership style of the traditional head or Obong was identified as the main force in developing community potentials in Akwa Ibom State (AKS). The Oblong is entrusted with responsibility to mobilize collectively the material and human resources at his disposal towards development of human capital, production of goods and services, and promotion of the well-being of the people in the community. The study investigates traditional methods of administration and enthronement of Obongs’ (Paramount Rulers) in Nsit Ubium, AKS. The paper described the duties of the family-head, village-head, clan-head, and para-mount ruler, and the kind of leadership style required to harness community potentials for sustainable community development. The study adopted a qualitative research method with the main objectives of collecting data, describing, and contextually analyzing the data to arrive at inferences. The study results revealed that, there is a significant direct influence between traditional methods of administration and enthronement/selection of Obongs’ (Paramount Rulers) in Akwa Ibom State; non-adherence to traditional laws and frequent political interference impact negatively on traditional methods of administration and enthronement of Obongs’ (Paramount Rulers) in Nsit Ubium, AKS; and strict compliance with the native laws, conventions, customs, and traditions of the people positively influences traditional methods of administration and enthronement of Obongs’ (Paramount Rulers) in Nsit Ubium, AKS. It concluded that people of proven integrity should be enthroned to leadership positions such as family-heads, village-heads, clan-heads, and para-mount rulers, and that selection of Obongs’ (Paramount Rulers) should be based on competence, acceptability, compatibility, and entrepreneurship education, which demonstrate the ability of a leader to mobilize government organizations and community groups for development.
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HARNESSING THE BLUE ECONOMY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: AN ASSESSMENT OF POLICY, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND LIVELIHOODS IN AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA (2023-2026)
Abstract
The Blue Economy has surfaced as a vital avenue for sustainable economic diversification in the coastal areas, especially in resource-dependent regions such as Akwa Ibom, Nigeria. This research investigates the growth, potential, and obstacles of the Blue Economy in Akwa Ibom State within the framework of the ARISE Agenda (2023-2026). The study was anchored on Sustainable Development theory. The study was conducted within the coastal communities of Eket Federal Constituency to evaluate policy frameworks, infrastructure initiatives like the Ibom Deep Seaport and Oron Maritime Hub, human capital development programmes, and collaborations with organisations such as the UNDP. A descriptive research design was employed for the study. A total of 352 study respondents were engaged in the study through Fetterman’s Big-Net Approach of sample size. Quantitative data were collected through a questionnaire and analysed in simple percentages. A purposive sampling technique was used to engage study respondents from the coastal communities and nearby inland settlements. The findings reveal that although Akwa Ibom has considerable coastal and marine resources capable of creating jobs, improving food security, and decreasing reliance on oil, challenges remain in policy integration, coastal erosion, and security issues. The research concludes that a cooperative strategy that includes the government, the private sector, and local communities is crucial for establishing a sustainable and inclusive Blue Economy. Policy suggestions include enhancing fisheries governance, investing in marine research, and ensuring that traditional fishing communities are incorporated into formal economic planning.
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HUMAN RESOURCE PLANNING AND ORGANISATIONAL PERFORMANCE IN ENUGU STATE PUBLIC SERVICE
Abstract
This study examined the influence of human resource planning on organisational performance in the Enugu State Public Service. The study was premised on the need for public institutions to adopt strategic workforce management practices that enhance employee competence, improve operational efficiency, and promote effective service delivery. The specific objectives were to examine the human resource planning strategies adopted, determine their effect on organisational performance, and identify the challenges affecting effective implementation of human resource planning in the Enugu State Public Service. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, with a population of 23,572 employees across selected ministries, departments, and agencies. A sample size of 393 respondents was determined using the Taro Yamane formula. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis with SPSS Version 27.0. The findings revealed that human resource planning strategies were significantly practiced, with an overall grand mean score of 3.78. Training and development recorded the highest adoption level (Mean = 3.95), while succession planning recorded the lowest (Mean = 3.55), indicating the need for improved leadership continuity mechanisms. The regression results showed that human resource planning significantly influenced organisational performance, with an R² value of 0.663, indicating that 66.3% of variations in organisational performance were explained by HR planning practices. The model was statistically significant (F = 118.263, p < 0.001). Manpower forecasting had the strongest positive effect (β = 0.326, p < 0.001), followed by workforce utilisation (β = 0.289, p < 0.001) and employee competency development (β = 0.267, p < 0.001). Major challenges identified include budgetary constraints (Mean = 3.89), political interference (Mean = 3.82), and weak human resource information systems (Mean = 3.71). The study concludes that effective human resource planning is essential for improving public sector performance and recommends strengthening workforce forecasting, digital HR systems, employee development, and succession planning.
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RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS, RITUALS, AND PHYSICAL MOVEMENT: A HUMAN KINETICS PERSPECTIVE
Abstract
This article examines the intersection of religious festivals, rituals, and physical movement through the lens of human kinetics. Drawing on interdisciplinary research from anthropology, religious studies, and sport science, the article explores how bodily movement functions as an integral component of religious practice across traditions. The analysis reveals that physical activities within religious contexts ranging from structured exercise and dance to extreme rituals involving bodily duress serve multiple purposes: they facilitate community bonding, create conditions for transcendent experiences, and contribute to participants' psychological and physiological well-being. The article traces the historical relationship between religion and sport, noting the transition from religion's dominance over physical practices in ancient festivals to contemporary phenomena where religious institutions increasingly utilize sport-based events for community engagement and outreach. Special attention is given to measurable health outcomes associated with religious physical practices, including evidence from studies on Ramadan observances, Hindu pilgrimage, fire-walking rituals, and body-piercing ceremonies. The article concludes by proposing an integrated framework for understanding religious physical practices that acknowledges both their spiritual significance and their kinesthetic dimensions, with implications for health promotion, community development, and the academic study of human movement.
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DETECTION OF VIRULENCE AND ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE GENES IN SOME BACTERIAL ISOLATES FROM DUMPSITES- A REVIEW
Abstract
Dumpsites remain a major environmental and public health concern, particularly in developing countries where inadequate waste management systems encourage the widespread use of open dumping. These sites receive mixed municipal, industrial, medical, and pharmaceutical wastes, creating favourable conditions for the proliferation of microorganisms, including pathogenic and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The decomposition of waste generates leachates, gases, and other pollutants that contaminate soil, groundwater, and air, leading to ecosystem degradation and increased health risks for nearby communities. Common bacterial isolates found in dumpsites include Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Enterobacter spp., Proteus spp., Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, many of which possess multidrug resistance traits. Dumpsites also serve as reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) such as blaTEM, blaSHV, blaCTX-M, mecA, tetA, tetM, sul1, and sul2, which can spread through horizontal gene transfer mechanisms. The persistence of these genes contributes significantly to antimicrobial resistance, resulting in treatment failure, increased healthcare costs, prolonged hospital stays, and higher mortality rates. Detection of ARGs is commonly achieved through culture-based methods, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), quantitative PCR, sequencing technologies, and metagenomic approaches. Effective management of dumpsites requires the adoption of engineered sanitary landfills, waste segregation, recycling, environmental monitoring, remediation strategies, and strong regulatory frameworks. Overall, improving waste management practices is essential for reducing environmental contamination, limiting the spread of antimicrobial resistance, and protecting both human health and ecosystem sustainability.
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SOCIAL PROTECTION POLICY AND WELFARE ADMINISTRATION IN NIGERIA. A STUDY OF CONTRIBUTORY PENSION SCHEME
Abstract
This study examined social protection policy and welfare administration in Nigeria, with particular focus on the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). The study was undertaken against the background of the increasing importance of pension administration in protecting workers and retirees from economic insecurity associated with old age and retirement. The study specifically examined the extent to which the Contributory Pension Scheme had contributed to the welfare of workers and retirees, determined the effect of CPS administration on access to retirement benefits, and assessed the effect of the scheme on the financial security of retirees. Three research questions and corresponding null hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted a survey research design. The population comprised 844,000 retirees receiving retirement benefits under the Contributory Pension Scheme in Nigeria. Using the Krejcie and Morgan sampling approach, a sample size of 384 respondents was determined, while 379 properly completed questionnaires were used for the final analysis. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics and the Chi-square statistical technique at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that the Contributory Pension Scheme had a significant effect on the welfare of workers and retirees in Nigeria, as the calculated Chi-square value of 429.84 exceeded the critical value of 7.815. The study also found that the administration of the CPS had a significant effect on retirees' access to retirement benefits, with a calculated Chi-square value of 321.05, which was greater than the critical value of 7.815. Furthermore, the study established that the CPS had a significant effect on the financial security of retirees, with a calculated Chi-square value of 380.30 exceeding the critical value of 7.815. The study concluded that the Contributory Pension Scheme constitutes an important instrument of social protection and welfare administration in Nigeria by providing retirement income, improving access to pension benefits and strengthening the financial security of retirees. However, the effectiveness of the scheme depends substantially on efficient administration, timely payment, adequate benefits, transparency and effective regulatory supervision. The study therefore recommended that PenCom and Pension Fund Administrators should strengthen pension administration by simplifying verification and documentation procedures, improving communication with retirees, and ensuring timely processing and payment of retirement benefits. It also recommended improved measures for ensuring the adequacy of pension benefits in the face of rising living costs.
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Job Satisfaction And Teachers' Performance In Public Secondary Schools In Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
Abstract
This study examined the relationship between job satisfaction and teachers' performance in public secondary schools in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Five specific dimensions of job satisfaction were investigated, namely salary and remuneration satisfaction, working conditions satisfaction, supervision and interpersonal relations satisfaction, recognition and professional growth satisfaction, and job security satisfaction. The study adopted a correlational survey design. The population comprised 5,400 public secondary school teachers across the state's six education zones, from which a sample of 380 teachers was drawn using the Taro Yamane formula and a multi-stage sampling technique combining stratified and simple random sampling. A structured instrument, the Job Satisfaction and Teachers' Performance Questionnaire (JSTPQ), was validated by experts and trial-tested for reliability (Cronbach's Alpha = 0.82). Research questions were answered using mean and standard deviation against a criterion mean of 2.50, while the five null hypotheses were tested using the Chi-square statistic at the 0.05 level of significance, based on 365 validly retrieved responses (96.1% return rate). All five dimensions of job satisfaction were found to have a statistically significant relationship with teachers' performance, with supervision and interpersonal relations satisfaction showing both the highest descriptive rating (grand mean = 2.80) and the strongest statistical association (χ² = 40.127), while salary and remuneration satisfaction recorded the lowest descriptive rating (grand mean = 2.46) despite remaining significantly related to performance. The study concludes that job satisfaction is a significant, multi-dimensional determinant of teachers' performance in Akwa Ibom State, and recommends that education authorities pursue a comprehensive strategy combining remuneration reform, supervisory training, and structured recognition mechanisms rather than relying on any single intervention.
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Marketing Information Technology and Customer-Centred Performance in the Nigerian Banking Sector: Evidence From First Bank Nigeria Plc, Uyo Branch
Abstract
This study examined marketing information technology and customer-centred performance in the Nigerian banking sector, using First Bank Nigeria Plc, Uyo Branch, as a case study. Three objectives guided the study: to determine the relationship between marketing information systems and customer relationship management performance; to assess the effect of information technology infrastructure on service delivery performance; and to evaluate the influence of electronic marketing channels on customer acquisition and retention. A descriptive survey design was adopted, with a sample of 78 staff drawn from a population of 96 using the Taro Yamane formula and simple random sampling. Data were collected using a structured, validated questionnaire (Cronbach's alpha = 0.81) and analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson Product Moment Correlation, and simple linear regression. Findings showed that marketing information systems were significantly and positively related to customer relationship management performance (r = .647, p < .001); information technology infrastructure had a significant positive effect on service delivery performance, accounting for approximately 51% of its variance (R² = .507, β = .582, p < .001); and electronic marketing channels were significantly and positively related to customer acquisition and retention (r = .598, p < .001). The study concludes that marketing information technology constitutes a critical, measurable driver of customer-centred performance in service-oriented banking operations, and recommends sustained investment in technology infrastructure, structured staff capacity development, and institutionalised customer data analytics.
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E-GOVERNANCE AND SERVICE DELIVERY IN THE NIGERIAN CIVIL SERVICE: AN ASSESSMENT OF THE AKWA IBOM STATE CIVIL SERVICE
Abstract
This study examined e-administration and service delivery in the Akwa Ibom State Civil Service, focusing on the electronic payroll system and digitization of official records. The study was motivated by persistent administrative challenges, including ghost workers, payroll irregularities, delays in information retrieval, poor record management, and inefficiencies associated with manual administrative processes. The study was anchored on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), which emphasized perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use as determinants of technology acceptance. A survey research design was adopted. The study focused on staff of the Akwa Ibom State Ministries of Finance and Education, with a population of 853 employees. A sample of 265 respondents was selected using stratified, purposive, and simple random sampling techniques. Data were collected through a structured four-point Likert-scale questionnaire. The instrument was validated by experts, while a pilot test involving 30 respondents produced a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.906. Data were analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation, with hypotheses tested at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed a weak negative relationship between the electronic payroll system and reduction of ghost workers (r = −0.36), indicating limited impact on payroll irregularities. Digitization of official records also showed a weak positive relationship with information management (r = 0.16), suggesting modest improvements in record storage, retrieval, preservation, and accessibility. The study concluded that e-administration had contributed to administrative modernization but remained constrained by inadequate infrastructure, limited staff capacity, incomplete data integration, and implementation challenges. Based on the findings, the study recommended among others for stronger system integration, regular audits, improved ICT infrastructure, and continuous staff training to enhance e-administration and service delivery.