FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

This paper examines the linkage between civil service reforms and human resources development in Nigeria, a case study of Oyo State Civil Service Commission. A descriptive survey method was adopted for this study by taking a sample from a population and generalizing the result on the whole population. The study was designed to analyze civil service and human resource development in the Nigeria civil service with particular emphasis on civil service commission. The results of the study revealed that successive reforms in Nigeria improve administrative and operational performance of the civil service, contribute to efficiency and effectiveness of civil servants and most importantly, Civil service reform has significant impact on human resources in Nigeria. However, the findings revealed that the various reforms did not take adequate care of civil service reward and compensation and Failure of most of the reforms to take care of staff training needs affect the effectiveness of reforms. Nevertheless, it can be concluded that Eradication of excessive political interference, Proper implementation of the provisions of various reforms, and taking care of staff training need in future reforms would enhance effective human resource in Nigerian civil service.

This study assesses the public perception of selected Christian Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) in Human Development Activities in Lagos State. Its main objective is to examine the public perception of the socioeconomic empowerment contributions of Christian FBOs towards community members in Lagos state. A cross-sectional (one-time) survey was adopted, where adult male and female members of ten (10) targeted Pentecostal ‘Prosperity Gospel Preaching’ Churches in Lagos state selected purposively were focused open. Questionnaire and in-depth interview were the instruments used to collect both quantitative and qualitative data from the respondents including on the spot observatory assessment to verify the respondents’ claims. Accidental sampling and stratified random sampling were used during the distribution of the questionnaire, where the targeted Churches were further stratified into branches for easy accessibility, the branches purposively selected, and the questionnaires administered to the worshippers/members as they are available. The study reviewed a few relevant theoretical orientations namely, social exchange theory; human development approach; and open system theory. Chi-square statistical method, percentage analysis, and charts were the methods of data analysis. The major findings include: the public perceive the Church to be satisfactorily committed to the socioeconomic empowerment of the wellbeing of the members and the needy but there is room for improvement; with empirical evidences the Church has contributed in assisting the needy to have access to education, health care facilities, and empowered the needy to gain access to means of income and livelihood; among others. The study therefore recommended thus: that government should seek out ways to partner with the Christian FBOs so as to sustain the complementary roles played by the Church in contributing to the socioeconomic wellbeing of the people; the Christian FBOs should intensify their humanitarian efforts as the population of the poor and the needy are on the increase amidst the worsening socioeconomic situation in Nigeria; some of the Christian FBOs who are not yet committed to the socioeconomic empowerment of the needy should rise to the call and fulfill their corporate social responsibility to the people; the Church should dissociate herself from flamboyant and luxurious lifestyle and focus on its evangelization mission which includes assisting the poor; inter alia.

This study, titled Exploring Feminism and the Decline of Women’s Participation in Nigerian Politics, investigates the systemic and historical factors contributing to the underrepresentation of women in Nigerian political leadership, despite their significant demographic presence. Utilizing a feminist theoretical framework, the research examines the interplay of patriarchy, colonial legacies, and socio-cultural barriers that have marginalized women since Nigeria’s independence in 1960. Despite constitutional guarantees of non-discrimination and international commitments like the Maputo Protocol, women occupy only 5.2% of seats in the National Assembly as of 2023, with only 381 female candidates among 4,259 in the 2023 elections. Conducted in Ovia North East Local Government Area, Edo State, the study employed a survey research design with a sample of 120 respondents, using a structured questionnaire analyzed via SPSS for frequency and percentage distributions. Findings reveal low social acceptance of women’s political roles, with women constituting about 60% of the electorate but holding less than 20% of political offices. Historical data indicate a shift from pre-colonial gender balance to post-colonial patriarchal entrenchment, with challenges including inadequate knowledge of political rights (71.67% agreement), family responsibilities (74.17%), cultural stereotypes (64.17%), financial constraints (74.16%), and gender inequality (65%). Proposed measures to enhance participation include eliminating discrimination (77.5%), ensuring equal opportunities (85%), creating harassment-free environments (76.67%), empowering women through human resource development (80.84%), and building NGO coalitions (84.16%). The study aligns with existing literature highlighting patriarchy and resource gaps as key barriers while recommending policy reforms, economic empowerment, and advocacy to achieve gender parity in Nigerian politics. This research contributes to feminist discourse and provides actionable insights for policymakers, civil society, and stakeholders to foster inclusive governance and advance gender equality in Nigeria.

This study examined the effect of elite fragmentation on party cohesion within Nigeria’s multiparty political system. The research traced how divisions among political elites manifesting in factionalism, ideological inconsistencies, personal rivalry, defection, and power struggles shape the stability and internal unity of political parties. Using a survey design and a structured questionnaire, data were collected from respondents across selected political institutions and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including regression techniques. The findings showed that elite fragmentation significantly weakens party cohesion by promoting internal crises, reducing organizational discipline, and increasing the likelihood of defections and parallel party structures. The study also revealed that elite competition for influence often undermines party ideology and policy consistency, leading to unstable electoral alliances and reduced public confidence. It concludes that Nigeria’s multiparty system is highly vulnerable to elite-driven instability, which compromises effective party functioning and broader democratic consolidation. The study recommends strengthening internal party democracy, enforcing clearer party rules, and promoting ideological clarity to reduce elite-induced fragmentation and enhance party cohesion

Underdevelopment in Nigeria has been attributed to numerous factors, both internal and external, which continue to hinder the nation’s socio-economic progress. Overcoming these challenges is a very necessary topic for both the general public and the government. It is essential for sustainable development and national growth. The study seeks to explain and understand the root causes of underdevelopment in Nigeria and examine its effect on society and the state. It also explores possible pathways for overcoming these challenges, drawing insights from scholarly suggestions and recommendations, empirical research, and past studies. The research adopts a qualitative approach, relying on secondary data from academic articles, books, government and international bodies reports, and publicized works. Through the use of theories like the Modernization theory, the Dependency theory, and the Human Development theory, we are able to understand the causes of and solutions to underdevelopment. Finding reveal that corruption, weak institutions, and the structural nature of Nigeria's economy has contributed significantly to underdevelopment. External factors such as unequal trade relations, foreign aid dependency, and the colonial legacy further compound the problem. All these have hindered development efforts, and continue to make life hard for citizens, while moving the state backwards.

Considering the dynamic nature of 1external debts and infrastructure 1development in Nigeria from 1981 to 2020 and the country's ever-increasing debt, this study was necessary. In particular, it examined how external debt dynamics and debt servicing impacted infrastructure development in Nigeria, and how the country's external debt stock related to infrastructure expansion. Drawing from the Neoclassical Growth Model, the Harrods-Domar 1Economic Growth Model, and the Two-Gap Model, the study sought to comprehend the workings of Nigeria's foreign debt and infrastructure development. The analysis relied on 1secondary data sourced from the 1World Development Indicator, 2020. We used ARDL, ADF, and Ordinary 1Least Square (OLS) to conduct the regression analysis. The E-views software, specifically edition 8.0, was used to analyze the data. Foreign loan servicing has a 1small negative impact on infrastructure1 development, as shown by the results. Therefore, our government must diversify our economy away from its reliance on oil if we are to lessen the blow of falling oil revenues, which usually force us to take on more debt.

The purpose of this research study is to examine social work intervention with women experiencing intimate partner violence in Ogbe community in Oredo Local GovernmentArea. Three research questions and three research hypotheses guided the study. Toachieve this, the questionnaire survey research design was adopted. The study focused on four areas in Oredo Local Government Area which includes: Oba place, Samuel Ogbemuida stadium, Ring road and Plymouth road hence, population consists of 100. Aclosed ended Questionnaire type was use, tittle: social work intervention with women experiencing intimate partner violence was used to collect data from the participants. The descriptive statistics of frequency counts and percentage were used to analyze the demographic data and questionnaire. Research findings showed that intimate partner violence has a great effect on women in Ogbe community in Oredo Local Government Area, which has in turn led to their poor performance. To this end, the researcher recommended that strategies should be put in place for improving women knowledge such as social workers should put in counseling programs for women who has experienced intimate partner violence and also programs for their partner to prevent intimate violence and lastly, social worker through the government should implement policies to reduce the incidence of intimate partner violence.

This research investigates the relationship between currency hoarding and the effectiveness of monetary policy in Nigeria. Using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model, we find that currency hoarding and monetary policy both have positive associations with aggregate consumption. However, the study does not conclude that currency hoarding affects the effectiveness of monetary policy on consumption. This complex interplay calls for nuanced policy measures, including tailored strategies for diverse currency hoarding motivations and improved communication to optimize policy outcomes.

This study examines the role of the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX), in promoting capital formation within the Nigerian economy. The research evaluates how the issuance of securities and market capitalization influence gross fixed capital formation (GFCF), which serves as a proxy for investment. Annual time series data spanning from 1985 to 2023 were analyzed using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model to capture both short-run and long-run dynamics between the stock market and capital formation. The results reveal evidence of a long-run equilibrium relationship among the variables, confirming that the stock market have significant implications for capital formation in Nigeria. However, the direction of these effects is mixed. The issuance of securities exhibits a positive but statistically weak short-run impact, while its lagged values show negative and significant effects, suggesting that funds raised through new issues are not always efficiently channelled into productive investments. Similarly, market capitalization exerts a negative long-run influence on capital formation, indicating that growth in the market’s value has not consistently translated into real sector investment. In contrast, domestic credit exerts a strong positive effect on capital formation, while the real lending rate shows a significant negative effect, underscoring the importance of credit availability and affordable borrowing costs for investment growth. The study concludes that the Nigerian Stock Exchange plays a vital, role in mobilizing long-term funds for productive investment. It recommends that regulators strengthen market transparency, deepen public participation, promote broader access to financing instruments and ensuring macroeconomic stability to enhance the stock market’s capacity to support sustainable capital formation and economic growth in Nigeria.

This study investigate the effect of intra-government relations on local government administration in Nigeria, with Oredo and Ovia North East Local Government Area as case study. The investigation was informed by the fact that the management of intergovernmental relations, especially state-local government relations, is among the most contested issues in the 1999 Constitution. The contention is made more complex by the letters of the Constitution which makes the institution of local government, especially its establishments, structure, composition, finance and functions, a residual matter for state government. Applying the
Systems Theory, the study explored the relationship between the state and local government councils, and how this affected the survival, independence, functions and conditions of existence of both tiers in a federal structure that is sub-system dominant. The methodology for the study covers both the primary and secondary sources of data collection. The analysis of primary data, elicited through interviews, was mainly descriptive and qualitative. Content analysis was used in the interpretation of secondary data. On the basis of data presented and analyzed, the following findings were made; the constitutional and legal framework guiding state-local government relations is not only skewed in favour of the state, it completely subjugates the institution of local government to the state government. Secondly, state institutions, agencies and commissions are used by the state government to exercise stringent control over local government functionaries. This study recommends, attitudinal change in the behaviour and conduct of those who operate the institutions of government at both state and local government levels. Both Federal and State governments have to include local government authorities in their programmes that affect rural development. In order words, decisions should not be composed on local Government.