http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/25 The Social Sciences Sat, 04 Apr 2026 16:23:37 GMT 2026-04-04T16:23:37Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/2258 THE POLITICS OF FERTILISER PROCUREMENT AND DISTRIBUTION IN BENUE STATE, NIGERIA, 1999-2020 UGANDEN, Iveren Adoo Fertiliser procurement and distribution in Benue State has become synonymous with politics due to the prolonged involvement of government in the sector. While previous studies acknowledge the political elements of fertiliser policies, the effects of official intervention on fertiliser procurement and distribution in Benue State have not been sufficiently examined. This study was, therefore, designed to examine the effects of official intervention, the determinants of the choice of fertiliser policies and the social relations between the political elite and smallholder farmers on fertiliser procurement and distribution in Benue State, Nigeria. The political economy theories of Structural Violence and Primitive Accumulation provided the framework while the descriptive survey design was employed. Purposive sampling technique was used to select nine Local Government Areas (LGAs) with the largest farming populations. A sample size of 400 participants comprising farmers, traders, artisans, farm labourers and wage/salary earners was determined from the nine LGAs using the Taro Yamane formula. This sample was proportionally drawn from each LGA and administered with structured questionnaire: Katsina-ala (64), Ukum (63), Vandeikya (51), Gboko (68), Gwer-East (44), Gwer-West (30), Agatu (18), Oju (32) and Otukpo (30). Structured questionnaire was also administered to 34 staff of the Agricultural Department of the state Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources. In-depth interviews were conducted with two past commissioners of agriculture and one fertiliser dealer. The quantitative data were analysed with descriptive statistics, t-test, Pearson Correlation Coefficient and ANOVA at 0.05 level of probability while content analysis was utilized for qualitative data. From the data, 243 respondents (64.5%) were farmers, 197 (56%) earned below ₦200, 000 yearly, 257 (68.2) were aged 40 and below, 372 (98.7%) cultivated between 1-4 hectares, and 375 (99.47) used simple tools in cultivation. Official intervention in the form of universal subsidy (1999-2011) was characterised by direct participation of government in procurement and distribution. Under the targeted subsidy (2012-2015), government withdrew from procurement and distribution of fertilisers but retained subsidies. For the zero-subsidy method (2016 to 2020), government participation and subsidies were eliminated and private fertiliser markets were expanded. There was no significant difference in the effectiveness of forms of intervention (t-0.398), a positive correlation was found between quantity of fertilisers distributed and quantity obtained by farmers (r-0.834), a significant difference in the quantity of subsidized fertiliser desired and quantity obtained by farmers (t-12.59). ANOVA showed a significant difference in access to fertilisers between associated and non-associated farmers. The objective determinants of fertiliser policies such as market failures and the need to increase fertiliser consumption produced policies with inherent potentials for efficient distribution of the product. However, subjective factors such as political and pecuniary aims of securing and legitimising elective office, rent-seeking and arbitrage circumscribed the efficiency of fertiliser distribution. The involvement of government in the fertiliser sector created networks for rent-seeking and arbitrage which led to uneven distribution of fertilisers. Efficiency in the distribution of fertiliser could increase with the government keeping to its policy defined role of regulation and a further expansion of private fertiliser markets. Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/2258 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/2218 ALTERNATIVE PUBLIC FINANCING OPTIONS, TAX AND ECONOMIC GROWTH NEXUS IN THREE SELECTED SUBSAHARAN AFRICAN COUNTRIES, 1990-2016 ADEDEJI, Abdulfatai Adekunle The effectiveness of tax in inducing economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries remained unclear. Countries with comparable chequered economic growth rates had varying levels of Tax-to-GDP Ratios (TGDPRs). South Africa, Nigeria, and Republic of the Congo are three prominent SSA countries with unstable growth rates. With TGDPRs of 24.8% and 9.1%, respectively, South Africa and Republic of Congo experienced growth rates that rose from -0.3% and 1.0% in 1990 to 5.3% and 6.4% in 2005 before falling to 0.4% and -2.8% in 2016. Nigeria had a TGDPR of 7.6%, and its growth rate dropped from 11.8% in 1990 to 5.3% in 2005 and further to -1.6% in 2016. These countries also used Alternative Public Financing Options (APFOs) such as Public Debt (PD), seigniorage, and Total Natural Resource Rents (TNRR), which could shape the tax-growth nexus pattern. Existing studies had focused primarily on the tax-growth nexus in SSA but paid little attention to the influence of APFOs. This study was, therefore, designed to examine the effect of APFOs on tax-growth nexus in three selected SSA countries. The Endogenous Growth Theory provided the framework. A Two-Stage Least Squares method was deployed to address potential endogeneity issues among the variables. The method allowed for the interaction of APFOs in the tax-growth nexus, such that high PD accumulation could reduce tax revenue necessary to facilitate growth, and high reliance on seigniorage and TNRR could stifle tax mobilisation efforts and lead to low growth. A simulation was used to investigate how APFOs might affect the tax-growth nexus. The data which covered 1990 to 2016 were sourced from the World Development Indicators, International Centre for Tax and Development, and the Monetary Authorities database of the three countries. All estimates were validated at α≤0.05. Tax and PD interaction had significant negative effect on growth in South Africa (- 0.004, p=0.01), Nigeria (-0.002, p=0.01) and Republic of Congo (-0.002, p=0.01), suggesting that PD reduced the effectiveness of tax in financing growth. The interaction between tax and seigniorage had no discernible impact on growth in South Africa and Republic of Congo but had a significant negative effect on growth in Nigeria (-0.02, p=0.004), suggesting that seigniorage significantly reduced the effectiveness of tax in fostering economic growth in Nigeria. Tax and TNRR interaction significantly impacted growth in South Africa (-0.03, p=0.00) and Republic of Congo (-0.005, p=0.00), while it had negligible effect in Nigeria. The simulation results showed that a higher PD resulted in higher taxes and slower growth in the three countries. A higher seigniorage increased tax and growth in the three countries. A higher TNRR increased growth but lowered taxes in Nigeria and Republic of Congo but not in South Africa. The impact of taxes on economic growth was weakened by public debt, seigniorage, and total natural resource rents in sub-Saharan African countries. In order to encourage taxdriven economic growth across all countries, these Alternative Public Financing Options should be used with caution. Sat, 01 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/2218 2023-07-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/2216 KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF RETIREMENT PLANNING AMONG CIVIL SERVANTS IN THE KADUNA METROPOLIS, NIGERIA ZOM, Hannatu Ibrahim Retirement Planning (RP) mitigates hardship and frustration faced by would-be retirees. Ineffective RP among Nigerian civil servants is one of the leading causes of severe hardship, frustration, and even pre-mature death after retirement. Previous studies on pension issues have not paid adequate attention to RP. There is a dearth of literature on the extent of knowledge of retirement planning and preparedness of civil servants for post-work life among potential retirees in the civil service. This study was, therefore, designed to investigate knowledge, attitude and practice associated with RP among civil servants in the Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria. The Voluntary Social Action theory of Talcott Parsons and Exchange theory of George Homans provided the theoretical framework, while the cross-sectional survey design was adopted. Data were generated using both quantitative and qualitative methods. The Kaduna Metropolis was purposively selected due to high population density of civil servants in the state. Civil servants were clustered into 14 ministries. A total sample of 321 civil servants was drawn using Yamane’s (1967) sample size determination formula. Simple random sampling was used to administer copies of a structured questionnaire to civil servants with less than 10 years to retirement. In-depth interviews were conducted with five executives of the Civil Service Union, civil servants from the State Pension Board and directors of Ministries. The quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi Square at p≤0.05, while the qualitative data were content-analysed. The respondents’ age was 48.57±2.34 years; 57.0% were male, with 62.9% married. The Knowledge of RP (38%) was low. The knowledge of Retirement Planning was significantly associated with ministries (χ2=284.83), age (χ2=192.87), education (χ2=273.72) and grade level (χ2=215.40). Only 22.7% of respondents had positive attitude towards RP and this was also significantly related to ministries (χ2=320.25), age (χ2=294.90), education (χ2=303.48) and grade level (χ2=322.79). Less than 31.2% had started RP practice and this was significantly related to ministries (χ2=215.17), education (χ2=210.97), income level (χ2=23.94) and years of service before retirement (χ2=18.83). Perceived mismanagement of pension funds 57.9% and poor income 50.5% adversely affected RP practices. The absence of timely retirement counseling and low financial literacy were challenges of Retirement Planning. Poor salary, lack of entrepreneurial skills, motivation, and saving culture affected Retirement Planning. Furthermore, huge social burden such as family responsibilities and the lack of trust in government negatively also affected their RP. Inadequate knowledge, attitude and practice of retirement planning among civil servants in the Kaduna Metropolis affected their retirement preparations, thereby making them potentially vulnerable to post-retirement stress. State Governments, pension unions, trade unions and other pension authorities should educate civil servants early enough about the importance of Retirement Planning through seminars, counseling and workshops. Tue, 01 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/2216 2023-08-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/2214 KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PREDICTORS OF CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING UPTAKE AMONG WOMEN IN OYO STATE, NIGERIA OWOLABI, Gbonjubola Oludayo Cervical Cancer (CC), a preventable malignant tumour in women’s cervixes, is one of the most common causes of maternal deaths in developing countries. Despite its preventability through regular Cervical Cancer Screening (CCS), it is the second most common cancer responsible for gynaecological morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. Studies on CC have largely focused on its biomedical contexts, with little attention paid to the social contexts affecting the knowledge and attitudes towards the uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening (CCS). This study, therefore, investigated the awareness, knowledge, attitudes, perceptions of risks, and the socio-cultural factors influencing the uptake of CCS among women in Oyo State, Nigeria. The Health Belief Model was adopted, while the mixed methods, comprising a crosssectional survey design, was utilised. Oyo State was purposively selected based on the availability of a functional cancer registry. Two Local Government Areas (LGAs) were randomly selected from each of the three senatorial districts. Using Leslie Kish’s (1965) formula, a sample of 960 respondents was determined based on the projected 2019 population of these LGAs. A questionnaire on the socio-economic, attitude, knowledge, perception of the risk factors, and accessibility to screening centres and health workers was systematically administered to women (aged 20-60 years) in the selected LGAs - Oluyole (189), Oyo West (126), Irepo (109), Ogbomosho North (178), Ibarapa-North (91) and Ibadan South-West (267) LGAs. Questionnaire was proportionally administered based on the LGAs’ population. In-depth interviews were conducted with six community leaders, six women and eight religious leaders. Key informant interviews were conducted with four physicians and 12 nurses\midwives. Three focus group discussions were held with married men. The quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi square and multiple regression at p≤0.05, while the qualitative data were content-analysed. The respondents’ age was 34.67±11.91 years, 86.0% earned below ₦45,000 monthly, and 65.3% were married. Awareness of CC was low (38.0%) based on the misconception of its causes, and it varied by income (χ2=14.92), education (χ2=36.77) and employment (χ2=54.87) status. Knowledge about the causes of CC was poor, as 49.3% had knowledge about its symptoms. Socio-cultural factors jointly predicted uptake of CCS (R=0.21, R2 =0.05, Adjusted R2=0.04, (F (4,929) =10.90). Knowledge of CC insignificantly contributed to CCS uptake (β=0.02). Perceived benefit (β=0.54), perceived severity (β=-0.02) and cervical cancer risk perception (β=0.21), independently contributed to the uptake of CCS. More than half (60.0%) had negative attitude towards CCS uptake. Womanhood (62.6%), promiscuity (56.3%), smoking habit (53.7%), and family history (47.0%) were the reported risk factors for CC. A majority of the male discussants associated jejere enu ileomo with prostitution. The use of herbs, role of diviners, spousal support, and religious beliefs influenced uptake of CCS. The cost of CCS, location of CCS centres, fear of stigmatisation, and perceived pains limited CCS uptake. Poor knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer negatively influenced attitudes towards cervical cancer screening among women in Oyo State, Nigeria. A multi-stakeholder holistic framework to motivate positive awareness and uptake of cervical cancer screening is recommended. Thu, 01 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/2214 2023-06-01T00:00:00Z