FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

This study examined Social Work Interventions for Substance Abuse by Youth, Their Effectiveness and Challenges in Ekosodin, Edo State, Nigeria. Using a descriptive survey design, data were collected from youths and social workers through questionnaires and interviews. Findings revealed that peer pressure, unemployment, and family instability are key factors influencing youth substance abuse. Social work interventions such as counselling, rehabilitation, and community sensitization were identified, though their effectiveness was limited by inadequate funding, stigma, and lack of facilities. The study concludes that while social work interventions have a positive impact, stronger government support and community involvement are needed to enhance their effectiveness.

The Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy was introduced by the Nigerian government promote transparency, accountability, and efficient financial management in public institutions, including universities. This study examines the impact of TSA on the management of finances in the University of Benin, Benin City. It explores the effects of TSA on revenue generation, budgetary implementation, expenditure control, and overall financial efficiency within the university system, Using qualitative and quantitative research methods, the study collects data from university staff. financial administrators, and relevant stakeholders. Findings indicate that while TSA has improved financial discipline, reduced leakages, and enhanced accountability, it has also posed challenges Such as delays in fund disbursement and reduced financial autonomy. The study concludes that effective implementation of TSA requires strategic measures to address operational bottlenecks while ensuring sustainable financial management in higher education institutions. Recomnmendations include enhanced technological integration, Capacity building, and policy adjustments to optimize TSA's benefits in the university System.

This study seeks to critically analyze the effects of poor remuneration and workers
welfare on staff performance, the University of Benin as case study. It aims to explore the nature of remuneration of workers’ in the University of Benin, look into the effect of poor remuneration of workers on University of Benin workers’ performance, investigate the nature of workers’ welfare in the University of Benin and examines how poor workers’ welfares affect University of Benin workers’ performance. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design, which allows for the collection of quantitative data to analyze the relationship between working conditions and workers performance. The target population for this research comprises all workers of the University of Benin. These included academic and non-academic workers, as they all experience varying poor remuneration and workers’ welfare that influence their performance. The study finds out that the issue of remuneration and workers’ welfare remains a persistent challenge in Nigerian education institutions, undermining staff morale and productivity. A study find out that poor worker’s welfare contribute to low performance among academic staff. The study provided recommendations for improving the conditions of service in order to enhance workers’ morale and overall performance. The federal government in collaboration with necessary agencies and the National Assembly should put in place a parameter for increasing worker remuneration. This parameter should be base on inflation ratio, international labour remuneration system and year (s) round affairs. The federal government in collaboration with necessary agencies and the National Assembly should also set a parameter in place for increasing worker welfare.

This study investigates the nature and types of crimes associated with female inmates at the Oko Correctional Centre in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. It examines the reasons behind women’s involvement in crime, the specific crimes committed, the socio-demographic factors influencing female criminality, and the policies needed to address the issue. The study adopts a descriptive survey design, utilizing both primary and secondary data sources. A total of ninety-two (92) respondents, comprising female inmates and social welfare officers, were sampled from a population of 1,033 using the Yamane (1967) formula. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis within the framework of the Feminist/Gender Pathway Theory. Findings reveal that financial difficulties (43.5%), family problems (21.7%), peer pressure (16.3%), and lack of education (10.9%) are major drivers of female criminality. Theft (38.0%), fraud (21.7%), assault (16.3%), and prostitution (16.3%) emerged as the most prevalent crimes, predominantly motivated by economic survival. The majority of respondents were young (21–30 years), single, poorly educated, and from low socio-economic backgrounds. The study also found that 43.5% of inmates had experienced abuse or trauma, underscoring the intersection between victimization and criminal behavior. Furthermore, 78.3% of respondents considered existing policies inadequate, emphasizing the need for gender-responsive reforms. The study concludes that female criminality in Nigeria is largely a product of socio-economic deprivation, gender-based inequalities, and limited rehabilitation opportunities. It recommends government-funded vocational and educational programs, trauma-informed care, and the development of gender- specific correctional policies aimed at reintegration and crime prevention

This study examines the role of digital media in accessing information on government policies in Edo State, Nigeria. With the increasing adoption of digital platforms, governments are leveraging websites, social media, and other online tools to communicate policies to citizens. The study adopted a descriptive survey design, targeting 150 respondents, with a focus on public servants who are more actively engaged with government policy information. Data were collected using structured questionnaires covering digital media usage, access, challenges, and strategies for improvement. Findings indicate that the Edo State Government effectively disseminates policy information through digital channels, and public servants rely significantly on these platforms for updates. However, challenges such as high data costs, poor network connectivity, misinformation, and concerns about data privacy hinder optimal access. Respondents recommended improvements in internet infrastructure, digital literacy programs, and the introduction of interactive features on government platforms to enhance engagement. The study concludes that while digital media has strengthened policy visibility and awareness, strategic interventions are needed to ensure equitable access and trust among all citizens. The findings have implications for policymakers in Edo State and other regions seeking to leverage digital technologies for effective governance.

Accountability is a fundamental pillar of good governance and economic development. This study examined the role of accountability in economic development within Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. The research aims to assess the current state of accountability, its impact on economic initiatives, public perceptions of government officials' accountability, existing mechanisms for ensuring transparency, and challenges impeding effective governance. A structured questionnaire was administered to 300 respondents, and data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation. Findings reveal that accountability within Oredo LGA is low, with a mean score of 2.32 for the general level of accountability and 1.88 for government transparency. Town hall meetings and public engagement scored 2.26, indicating limited opportunities for citizen participation in governance. The study found strong agreement that accountability significantly influences economic development initiatives (Mean = 4.67), while lack of accountability negatively impacts government-led programs (Mean = 4.48). However, confidence in officials' ability to manage public funds effectively was low (Mean = 2.68), and government accountability in cases of resource mismanagement also received a low rating (Mean = 2.67). Corruption was identified as a major hindrance to accountability (Mean = 4.66). Respondents recognized the existence of monitoring mechanisms (Mean = 4.1) but emphasized the need for stronger anti-corruption laws (Mean = 4.66) and enhanced transparency measures (Mean = 4.66). Major challenges to accountability include political influence (Mean = 4.51), lack of financial transparency (Mean = 4.58), and weak enforcement of laws (Mean = 4.61). The study concludes that weak accountability structures undermine economic development in Oredo LGA. Strengthening anti-corruption laws, increasing public transparency, enforcing legal frameworks, and fostering civic engagement are recommended to improve governance and economic growth in the region. This research provides valuable insights into local governance challenges and offers practical recommendations for enhancing accountability in Oredo Local
Government Area of Edo State.

In some advanced countries, property tax is seen as a major source of revenue, this is not the case in Nigeria. The main aim of this study was to examine the willingness of property owners to pay property tax in Benin City. Specific objectives were to ascertain the level of awareness of property tax by residents; determine the percentage of property owners that pay property tax; determine the correlation between respondents’ awareness of property tax and their compliance; and ascertain the significance of the relationship between public governance quality and property tax compliance. The hypothesis was also proposed namely: property tax payers’ compliance has no significant relationship with laws made by the government that is seen to provide citizens with basic amenities. A combination of stratified sampling technique and simple random sampling technique was used to administer questionnaires to 400 respondents in Benin City. Simple percentage, Likert’s scale analysis, Pearson Product Correlation technique, and chi-square test were deployed in data analyses and interpretation. The result showed that majority of the sampled respondents 56% were male while 44% were female while majority of the respondents 220 (55%) were also married. It was also found that majority of respondents (80%) were aware of the existence of property tax and just 55% of them had paid. The study also showed that there is a moderately positive relation between property tax compliance and property tax awareness, with a correlation coefficient of 0.58. At 95% level of confidence, it was established that there is significant relationship between government transparency and property tax compliance. Also that public governance quality in general promotes willingness to comply
with property tax by property owners. It was recommended that government must provide public services such as security, good roads that satisfy the expectations of the property owners; that the government should engage in enlightenment campaigns concerning what property tax is; and that the government should be transparent about how revenue acquired through property tax is spent as this would motivate and cause the property owners to be willing to pay property tax.

This study focuses on evaluating the causes of intimate partner violence in Ovia North East Local Government Area, Edo State, and five research questions were formulated to guide the study. The study employed a descriptive research design. The population for the study comprised of seven thousand six hundred and seventy-nine (7,679) residence in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State. Random sampling techniques were used in the selection of respondents, the sample size was made up of two hundred (200) randomly selected respondents from Ovia North East Local Government Area in Edo state. The findings show that domestic violence can adversely affect the physiological, psychological, emotional, financial, wellbeing of a victim and any witness when the crime is carried out. It was observed that domestic violence can lead to death of victim in most severe cases, majority of the respondent
agreed that the education of a girl child can be disrupted or harshly affected thereby causing depression, loss of interest in school activities and even the abuse of hard drugs amongst others and It is observed that social workers are capable of sensitizing the general public about the cases of domestic violence and its effect and educating them on how to report cases of domestic violence as the protection against domestic violence is a very important in the achievement of a healthy family and society at large. This work also recommended that Seminars should be organized to enlighten girl child on the disadvantages of cohabiting with a partner and rehabilitation centers should be built, adequately structured and equipped with well trained
professionals from every related field of concern in order to enhance the behaviours of the perpetrator

This work studied women participation in community development with special emphasis on Egor Local Government Area, Edo State. The exercise was carried out due to the observed lag in women participation in community development all over the country. The work had four key objectives which it sought to realize. These include: to ascertain the barriers to women participation in agriculture within the local government, to ascertain the impact of low level of education on women participation in community development, to determine how to enhance women participation in the politics of Egor Local Government Area and finally to identify ways of empowering the women for optimal participation in the overall development of the communities. The researcher made use of both primary and secondary sources of data to generate data used for the study. These data were presented in tables and analysed using simple percentage. The researcher found out the various barriers to women participation in community development to include cultural practices, low level of women education, poverty among the rural women and violent that characterize the country’s politics. It is therefore recommended that cultural practices that deny women free access to community development should be abrogated; Government should provide modern farm implements to the rural women farmers and also educate them on how to use these implements to enhance productivity; girl child education should be made free and also compulsory at least at secondary school levels. The study also recommend that social workers should be ready to actively participate in the involvement of women participation in community
development.

This study examines the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in monitoring political party campaign financing in Nigeria, with particular reference to Edo State. The research explores the extent to which INEC fulfills its constitutional mandate of ensuring transparency, accountability, and compliance with electoral laws governing political financing. It identifies key challenges faced by the Commission, including inadequate legal enforcement mechanisms, limited financial and human resources, lack of political will, weak inter-agency collaboration, and the pervasive influence of money in politics. Using a mixed-method approach comprising
questionnaires, , and document analysis, the study assesses the effectiveness of INEC’s monitoring framework and the level of compliance among political parties in Edo State. Findings reveal that despite existing regulations, campaign financing in Nigeria remains largely opaque and under-regulated, thereby undermining the integrity of the electoral process. The study recommends strengthening INEC’s institutional capacity, revising electoral laws to include stricter sanctions for violations, enhancing transparency through digital financial tracking systems, and promoting civic education on campaign finance ethics. These measures are essential for fostering credible elections and deepening democratic governance in Nigeria