| 1 |
Author(s):
Justina Yator Sorkaa , Susan Tor.
Page No : 1-23
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The Effect of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) on Revenue Efficiency in Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi
Abstract
Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design with a structured questionnaire used to collect data from students, teaching staff, and non-teaching staff of the university. The Institutional Theory was adopted as the theoretical framework for the study. The findings revealed that public-private partnership has a significant positive effect on internally generated revenue, cost efficiency, timeliness, and effectiveness of service delivery, and financial sustainability in the university. Specifically, PPP improves revenue collection efficiency, reduces leakages through digital systems, enhances resource utilisation, improves administrative speed, and strengthens long-term financial stability. The study also established that all the tested hypotheses were rejected, confirming the statistical significance of PPP in enhancing university performance. The study recommended that university management should strengthen partnerships with private financial institutions and ICT firms to further improve revenue generation systems, expand cost-efficient service delivery mechanisms, and enhance digital platforms for timely administrative processes, among other strategies aimed at improving overall institutional efficiency and sustainability.
Keywords: Public–Private Partnership, Revenue Efficiency, Cost Efficiency, Service Delivery, and Financial Sustainability
| 2 |
Author(s):
IGAH Sunday .
Page No : 24-46
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Populism and Democratic Backsliding in Africa: An Administrative Nightmare
Abstract
The rise of populism has become a pressing challenge to democratic governance, resulting in the gradual erosion of institutional checks and balances, judicial independence and political pluralism across both Western and African contexts. Democratic backsliding, driven by economic inequality, cultural anxiety, and declining trust in institutions, has allowed populist leaders to consolidate power, delegitimise opposition, and weaken civil liberties. This study examined populism and democratic backsliding in Africa using a purely qualitative approach, relying exclusively on secondary data sources. Guided by democratic backsliding theory, the findings reveal that in Western contexts such as the United States, Hungary, and Poland, populist leaders have exploited institutional weaknesses to centralise power, delegitimise opposition, and undermine judicial independence. Similar patterns emerge in Africa, where leaders in Zimbabwe, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Senegal have used populist rhetoric to justify constitutional amendments, restrict media freedoms, and securitise governance, thereby shrinking democratic space. In Nigeria, populist mobilisation has often been intertwined with institutional weakening. Leaders have employed anti-corruption narratives, managed economic crises, and invoked security emergencies to consolidate executive dominance and curtail civil liberties. These trends have been reinforced by selective law enforcement, contested elections, and elite party defections, which undermine political pluralism. Across all contexts, the study identifies economic inequality, cultural anxiety, and declining trust in democratic institutions as key drivers of populist appeal and its corrosive effects. The study recommends strengthening judicial independence, enhancing political accountability, promoting media literacy and civic education, and addressing socio-economic grievances to restore institutional integrity and prevent further erosion of democratic norms globally.
Keywords: Populism, Democratic Backsliding, Democracies, Institutions, Civic Education
| 3 |
Author(s):
By OGUNGBOLA, Olusiji Adebayo (Ph.D).
Page No : 47-70
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Impact of Bureaucratic Structures on Governmental Organizations’ Performance in Britain & Nigeria: A Comparative Analysis
Abstract
This study aims to examine the impact of bureaucratic structures on the governmental organizations performance. The objective of this paper is to highlight and reinforce the indispensability of the Weberian bureaucratic principles to the effective functioning of public sector organization. Content analytical approach was used as a method of research. Weber’s theorization on bureaucracy had suffered several criticisms from scholars; however, the contributions remain unassailable. Using this model as benchmark, the paper attempted an explorative expedition of the Civil service in the countries understudy and examined the extent of conformity with bureaucratic structures and operations. The paper observed that the search for efficiency in the public bureaucracy has been a very huge task with one reform committee replacing the other from 1934 to date. The noticeable features of the various reforms efforts via their reports attempts at organizational development and measures targeted at enhancing good governance and managerial capacity. Weber’s characterization (Legal-rational authority) of bureaucracy underscores the essence of these reform initiatives and it also constitutes the fulcrum of the public bureaucracy in Britain and Nigeria. The paper recommended among others, a reduction of government cabinet agencies/departments; collaboration of intergovernmental exchanges and objective implementation of the principle of federal character (Quota system) by entrenching merit while seeking to achieve proportional geo-political representation as obtainable in developed countries.
Key Words: Bureaucratic structures; Civil service; Governmental organizations’ performance; Bureaucratic decentralization and organizational development
| 4 |
Author(s):
Odey John Idiege.
Page No : 71-92
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Enhancing Operational Readiness through Manpower Training and Development: Evidence from the Nigerian Air Force (2005–2022)
Abstract
The effectiveness of every military organization depends largely on the quality of its manpower, making continuous training and development indispensable for operational readiness and national security. This study examined manpower training and development in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) between 2005 and 2022, with particular emphasis on the Air Training Command (ATC). The study sought to assess the adequacy of existing training programmes, identify the major challenges confronting manpower development, and determine how these challenges affect the operational effectiveness of the NAF. Guided by Human Capital Theory, the study adopted a survey research design employing both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data were collected from personnel of the Headquarters Air Training Command, Kaduna, through structured questionnaires and key informant interviews involving senior officers, trainers, and subject-matter experts.
The findings revealed that although the Nigerian Air Force has established institutional frameworks for manpower training, significant constraints continue to undermine their effectiveness. The major challenges identified include inadequate funding, obsolete training curricula, insufficient training facilities and equipment, shortage of qualified instructors, weak policy implementation, and inadequate monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. These challenges have contributed to reduced operational readiness, poor adaptation to emerging military technologies, underutilisation of specialised personnel, and diminished combat effectiveness. The study further established that existing training reforms have recorded only moderate success due to structural and institutional deficiencies.
The study concludes that effective manpower training and development remain strategic imperatives for strengthening the operational capability of the Nigerian Air Force in an increasingly complex security environment. It recommends increased and sustainable budgetary allocation for training, periodic curriculum review to reflect emerging technologies and modern warfare, upgrading of training infrastructure, recruitment and retention of specialised instructors, strengthened monitoring and evaluation systems, and enhanced collaboration with international military training institutions. Implementing these measures would significantly improve personnel competence, organisational performance, and Nigeria's overall national security architecture.
Keywords: Manpower Training, Human Capital Development, Nigerian Air Force, Air Training Command, Military Training, National Security.
| 5 |
Author(s):
BABA Andrew Gaiya.
Page No : 92-107
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Banditry and Agricultural Displacement: Examining the Collapse of Food Systems in Kaduna State, Nigeria
Abstract
Kaduna State in north-western Nigeria has experienced an escalating wave of armed banditry since 2015, with devastating consequences for agricultural production and rural food systems. This paper examines the nexus between banditry, agricultural displacement, and the systemic collapse of food security in Kaduna State. Drawing on a synthesis of peer-reviewed literature, institutional reports, and field-based studies, the paper argues that organised armed banditry has rendered vast farmlands inaccessible, displaced hundreds of thousands of farming households, disrupted rural supply chains, and precipitated acute and chronic food insecurity across the state. The paper adopts the conflict theory and the sustainable livelihoods approach as complementary theoretical frameworks. Key findings indicate that Kaduna State recorded numerous bandit attacks, leading to the abandonment of thousands of hectares of arable land, particularly in Birnin-Gwari and kajuru local government areas. The collapse of food systems is traced through four interrelated dimensions: production disruption, supply chain breakdown, market dysfunction, and nutritional vulnerability. The paper concludes with policy recommendations emphasising integrated security-agriculture frameworks, community-based early warning systems, and IDP livelihood rehabilitation.
Keywords: Banditry, agricultural displacement, food security, internally displaced persons, food systems collapse
| 6 |
Author(s):
FORTUNE Ojochetule Yusufu , ALHASSAN Yakubu Adeku, MAIWADA Simon Zagana.
Page No : 108-125
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Climate Change and Environmental Governance in Kogi State: Assessing Flood Control Policies and Community Resilience
Abstract
Climate change has emerged as one of the most pressing environmental challenges confronting developing societies, particularly in vulnerable regions where weak environmental governance and inadequate disaster management systems intensify the impact of natural hazards. Kogi State remains one of the most flood-prone states in the country, experiencing devastating flood disasters that have affected lives, livelihoods, infrastructure, agriculture, and socioeconomic development. This study examines climate change and environmental governance in Kogi State with emphasis on assessing flood control policies and community resilience strategies. The study adopted a qualitative document analysis method using secondary sources of data such as government reports, journal articles, policy documents, publications from environmental agencies, and relevant literature on climate governance and disaster management. Findings from the study reveal that although federal, state, and local authorities have introduced several flood control policies and environmental management initiatives, implementation has remained weak due to inadequate funding, poor coordination among agencies, corruption, insufficient public awareness, and lack of effective community participation. The study further reveals that local communities in Kogi State have developed various resilience mechanisms, including local adaptation practices, community support networks, temporary migration, and indigenous coping strategies to reduce flood vulnerability. The study recommends enhanced collaboration between government agencies, non-governmental organizations, traditional institutions, and local residents to strengthen disaster preparedness and promote long-term environmental sustainability in Kogi State.
Keywords: Climate change; environmental governance; flood control policies; community resilience
| 7 |
Author(s):
OGBEIDE Frederick, Ph.D..
Page No : 126-144
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Human Resource Management and Public Sector Reform in Nigeria: Exploring Innovative Solution for Public Sector Governance
Abstract
This article discuses human resource management and public sector reform in Nigeria; exploring innovative solution for public sector governance. There is no gainsaying the fact that Nigeria's public sector faces significant challenges such as corruption and inefficiencies, necessitating innovative solutions for improved service delivery. It is in the light of the above, this study aims at examining the roles of Human Resource (HR) as well as innovative solutions for public sector governance and its challenges. The research design was qualitative. The data were collected using secondary source, in which a thorough literature review of academic articles, books, and reports related to the study were explored and the study situated on the New Public Management Theory. The study posited that to enhance service delivery, transparency, efficiency and effectiveness in the governance of public sector, and citizen engagement, the public service needs to leverage on digitalization technologies and e-governance platforms, utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) for smart solutions, building a culture of innovation within government through talent development and collaboration. The paper suggested that government should make deliberate effort to build public trust, adequately fund innovations in the service, ensure collaboration with private interests and make regulatory frameworks flexible and adaptable. The study concludes that Unless HR is involved at the heart of this process to ensure that key people management issues are addressed, public service reform and plans will remain frustrated.
Keywords: Efficiency, Human Resource Management, Innovative Solution, Public Sector Reform, Public Sector Governance.
| 8 |
Author(s):
OMACHI Philip John.
Page No : 145-162
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Public Awareness Campaigns and Road Safety Compliance among Commercial Drivers in Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State: A Study of Radio Corps Marshal Program
Abstract
Road traffic crashes (RTCs) remain a major public health and developmental challenge globally, with low- and middle-income countries bearing the greatest burden. It is on the basis of this that this study assessed the influence of the Radio Corps Marshal Programme on road safety compliance among commercial drivers in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State between 2020 and 2025. Specifically, the study examined level of awareness of the Radio Corps Marshal Programme among commercial drivers in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State; and also identified the extent to which the Radio Corps Marshal Programme has influenced compliance with road safety regulations among commercial drivers in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna the Guided by Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory, the study gathered both primary and secondary data using a descriptive survey design. Findings revealed that while awareness of the programme was relatively high, actual compliance with road safety regulations remained inconsistent. Exposure to the programme improved knowledge of traffic rules and shaped positive attitudes toward safe driving, but behavioural change was constrained by economic pressures, weak enforcement, and institutional challenges. The study concludes that the Radio Corps Marshal Programme has contributed to raising awareness and influencing attitudes but requires stronger integration with enforcement, improved message delivery, and enhanced stakeholder collaboration to achieve sustained compliance. The study recommends strengthening the programme’s content, expanding its reach, and combining public education with consistent enforcement to reduce crashes and improve passenger safety.
Keywords: Road traffic crashes, Commercial drivers, Radio Corps Marshal Programme., Public awareness campaigns, Road safety compliance.
| 9 |
Author(s):
ERHIRHIE, Benjamin PhD.
Page No : 163-176
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The JAPA Effect: Brain Drain and Capacity Gaps Nigeria’s Federal Civil Service 2019 – 2025
Abstract
Nigeria’s Federal Civil Service faces accelerated brain drain as mid-career officers resign for opportunities abroad a trend termed “Japa”. This article investigates how the phenomenon creates capacity gaps that undermine public sector reforms. Integrating Push-Pull Theory, Human Capital Theory and Institutional Theory, we argue that, “Japa” is not merely staff attrition but a loss of state capacity. Secondary data and administrative records from 2019-2025 show exits are highest among technical cadres, driven by domestic Push factors of wage decline and promotion delays and international Pull factors from new UK/Canada immigration policies. Each exit represents a loss of 10-15 years of public sector human capital investment. The absence of structured succession mechanism means institutional memory disappear with departing officers creating voids that delay budget implement action and digitalization under FCSSIP25. The study conclude that, the civil service is experiencing a hollowing out of its core expertise. Policy responses must move beyond ad-hoc circulars to structural reforms; scares skills allowances, specialist career paths and inflation – indexed compensation without these Japa will continue to erode the government’s ability to deliver services and implement policy.
Key word: Brain drain, civil service reform; institutional memory; Nigeria; public administration.
| 10 |
Author(s):
DASER Sunday David.
Page No : 177-186
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Reconciling Innovation and Accountability: Artificial Intelligence Adoption and Public Sector Reform in Nigeria
Abstract
It’s a common assumption in the debates about public sector reform that innovation and accountability are contradictory – that faster decision-making enabled by technology must be at the expense of oversight and answerability to citizens. This paper challenges this assumption in the context of the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in Nigeria’s public administration using Socio-Technical Systems (STS) theory and the responsible-AI principles as articulated by the OECD (2019), UNESCO (2021) and European Commission (2023). Based on survey data from 200 public-sector and policy-adjacent professionals in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT, n = 108) and Plateau State (n = 92) and analysed using a 15-item Likert instrument (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.78), the paper finds that 83.5% of respondents perceive AI-driven innovation and institutional accountability as compatible rather than competing objectives, and 72% dismiss the proposition that ethical safeguards hamper innovation. However, respondents identified a measurable discrepancy between endorsement at the level of principle of responsible AI use (means above 4.40) and confidence in adherence to the principle in operation (means 3.88-4.04), with a statistically significant difference between FCT and Plateau respondents on accountability-in-practice (chi-square = 18.37, df = 4, p < 0.01). In the paper, we argue that this pattern reframes the challenge of reforming the public sector: the objective is not to balance innovation and accountability but to close an institutional-design gap through intentional coordination of technical adoption and administrative reform. It proposes a convergent reform agenda on procurement policy, civil service capacity building and inter-governmental coordination and makes recommendations for public administration reform bodies at federal and sub-national levels.
Keywords: Public sector reform; artificial intelligence; accountability; innovation; public administration; Nigeria.
| 11 |
Author(s):
AGUIYI, Ebelechukwu Obiageli-Jacinta, AGUIYI, Chukwuebuka C.
Page No : 187-203
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Corruption and Public Service Delivery in Nigeria: Assessing the Effect of Accountability Deficits on Governance and Development Outcomes in Anambra State Civil Service Commission
Abstract
Corruption remains a major challenge to effective public service delivery and sustainable development in Nigeria, particularly where weak accountability mechanisms create opportunities for the misuse of public resources and administrative authority. This study examined corruption and public service delivery in Nigeria, with particular focus on the effect of accountability deficits on governance and development outcomes in the Anambra State Civil Service Commission, Awka. The study adopted a descriptive survey design and obtained primary data through a structured questionnaire administered to respondents in the Anambra State Civil Service Commission. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and simple linear regression. The descriptive results, based on 367 respondents, showed generally positive perceptions of the existence of accountability-related challenges and their implications for governance and development outcomes, although responses varied across the six questionnaire items. The regression analysis revealed a weak positive relationship between poor accountability and governance and development outcomes. The study concludes that accountability deficits constitute a significant institutional factor in governance and development outcomes, although other institutional, administrative, financial, political, and organizational factors also contribute to these outcomes. The study recommends strengthening internal accountability, enhancing transparency in public-resource management, improving the capacity and independence of internal audit and monitoring units, and enforcing appropriate sanctions for accountability violations. These measures are expected to reduce opportunities for corruption, improve institutional effectiveness, and enhance public service delivery in Anambra State.
Keywords: Corruption, accountability deficits, governance, development outcomes, public service delivery.
| 12 |
Author(s):
VICTORIA Nkechi Azu, PhD.
Page No : 204-223
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Women’s Participation in Peacebuilding and its Implication for National Development in Nigeria
Abstract
This paper explored the intricate relationship between gender and peacebuilding and its impact on national development. The study was necessitated by the consideration that women's participation in decision-making and peace negotiations is essential for a more inclusive and durable agreements. However significant challenges such as gender norms, inequalities, and power dynamics intersect to influence peace processes, hindering full inclusion of women and the promotion of gender equality in peacebuilding efforts. Excluding women from peace effort denies the society the benefits derivable from exploring women’s unique potentials in establishing social justice which is indispensable for development. The objectives of the study include among others to examine the dynamics of gendered approaches to peace building; interrogate the specific role of women in peace building, assess the challenges to gender-inclusive peacebuilding in Nigeria, as well as its impact on national development. The Feminist Peace and Conflict theory was adopted. Data was sourced basically from secondary sources through desk research; while employing qualitative method based on content analysis to interpret and analyse data. Findings showed that women are effective in grassroot mobilization, identifying early warning signs, advocate for inclusive peace agenda, psychologically restore and re-integrate victims, while implication for development include higher rate of negociation success, effective intervention, greater political legitimacy, sustainable recovery etc. Recommendations include: peace building programmes to be planned and implemented on the basis of gender; stakeholders should prioritise conflict-sensitive gender work to enable both women and men meet their needs; provide adequate security for women peace builders and whistle blowers.
Keywords: Gender, Peace building, Development, War, Conflict
