IMPACT OF JOB INSECURITY ON THE ABILITY OF EMPLOYEES’ TO MEET SET TARGETS IN POLARIS BANK PLC, GWAGWALADA, ABUJA

This study examined the effects of job insecurity on the ability of employees to meet set targets in Polaris Bank Plc, Gwagwalada, Abuja.The study investigated how fear of unexpected sack, perceived powerlessness about employees’ job and fear of early retirement affect the ability of employees to meet set targets in Polaris Bank Plc, Gwagwalada, Abuja. The survey research design was used in the study and data was collected from primary source with the use of questionnaire. The Ordinary Least Square regression technique was the statistical tool used to test the hypotheses of the study. The findings of the study revealed that there is a significant positive relationship between job insecurity and the ability of employees to meet set targets in Polaris Bank Plc, Gwagwalada, Abuja. The study recommends that the management of the bank should ensure that employees are not treated as mere ‘use and dump slaves’ but as dignified workforce with feelings and emotions. The study concludes that fear of unexpected sack; perceived powerlessness about employees’ job has a positive significant effect on the ability of employees to meet set targets in Polaris Bank Plc, Gwagwalada, Abuja.

A CRITICAL DISCOURSE OF GIRL-CHILD MARRIAGE/SLAVERY IN SELECTED NIGERIAN FILM

Until recent past, girl-child slavery/marriage, guided by unscrupulous African culture, has posed as major practice in the Nigerian state in the 21stCentury. This cankerworm, manifesting through early marriage, money marriage, commercial sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, and other forms of abuses on the women folk, weakens women participation in economic, political, religious, and social development, thus, increases the issues of pain, suffering, sickness, and death of the people and underdevelopment to the Nigerian 5state as portrayed in Stephanie Linus Dry. Dry is a 21st century film that interrogates girl-child marriage/slavery, money marriage, discrimination, deprivation and inequality against the women. Amongst the major findings is that girl-child marriage/slavery has provided impetus for dramatic and argumentative representations by critics and dramatist over the years, yet, the menace is highly prevalent in the Nigerian state in the 21st century, mostly in the Northern regions. The study therefore aims at interrogating the cause and effects of girl-child marriage/slavery in the Nigerian state in the 21st century. To achieve this, Radical Feminism Theory and Content Analytical Methodology are used as guide. More so, the study recommends that any culture, tradition, or norm that is responsible that for girl-child marriage/slavery in the Nigerian space should be abolished for equity and development to be ascertained.

OUT OF HOME ADVERTISING AND CONSUMER BUYING BEHAVIOUR OF SELECTED FAST MOVING CONSUMER GOODS IN LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA

Fast Moving Consumer Goods are products that are required by almost all users in their day today life. The advertisements for these products need more attention in terms of creating responsiveness among the consumers for their purchase decision. However, consumers are bombarded with lots of information through multiple media like newspapers, magazines and internet but remain engaged from time to time hence lack time to update themselves. This has made it difficult for advertisers to trap consumers hence resort to outdoor messages to reach the target people. Extant studies on the out of home advertising have attempted to elucidate on the challenges of advertising and the attendant supposed solutions, conversely, most of the extant research focus more on developed countries than developing countries such as Nigeria. Hence, this study examined the effect of Out-of-Home Advertising on consumer buying behaviour of selected fast moving consumer goods in Lagos State, Nigeria. Survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study consists of individuals living in Lagos State with total number of 2,556,300 and with the sample size of 520 derived from Taro Yamane method. Data was collected using self – administered structured questionnaire and validated for a response rate of 93.4%. Cronbach Alpha reliability for major constructs had an average of 0.80. Random sampling technique was used. The data collected was analysed using simple linear regression. Findings revealed that there is a strong positive and significant relationship between Out-of-Home Advertising and consumer buying behaviour(β= 0.834; R2= 0.695; t(520) = 33.225; p>0.05). The study concludes that Out-of-Home Advertising has significant and positive effect on consumer buying behaviour and recommends that the study findings led to the recommendations that producers of fast moving consumer goods should focus more on out of home advertising such as use of billboards as opposed to other forms of media like T.V and Radio to help boost consumption and sale of their products. The study also recommends marketers of FMCGs to enhance the knowledge and awareness of consumers with regard to existence and location of billboards.

MINORITY REVOLTS AND UPRISING IN THE NIGER DELTA

The study examined the origin of minority revolts and uprising in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria in order to ascertain the factors responsible and the actors involved. The study observed that the foundation for revolts and uprising in the Niger Delta region were laid by the colonial masters during the pre-colonial and colonial era. The study relied on secondary sources of data and the basic human needs theory as its theoretical framework. The data obtained were analysed qualitatively. Findings from the study revealed that unequal level of trade, alienation, marginalization of the aborigines etc. accounts for minority revolts and uprising in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta region. However, sustainable peace and development could return to the Niger Delta if conscious effort is made to review all existing development policies and programmes in the regions with a view to charting a new course for the people of the region. Policies and laws that will aid and accelerate development in the Niger Delta should also be given accelerated hearing and treated as an issue of national importance.

SOCIOECONOMIC INDICATORS OF SELECTED WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES AND PROSPECT FOR 2030 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA

Poverty, health inequity, high cost of food prices, high electricity tariffs among other socioeconomic challenges are common futures of West African economies. This paper examined socioeconomic indicators of the West African economy between 1995 to 2019 using the profile and trend analytic approaches. The socioeconomic indicators examined are poverty head count ratio, under-5 mortality rate, government education expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP), government health expenditure as a percentage of GDP, carbon dioxide(CO2) emission, electricity consumption (Kwh per capita), food production as a proxy for food security and real GDP. The selected West African countries include Mali, Benin, Cote d’ Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria following availability of data. Findings from the analysis revealed that the 15 West African economies are diverse across these dimensions of development. It further showed that with the exception of Nigeria (although, by far the largest economy in the region), the focused countries have performed averagely in relation to the socioeconomic indicators. Moreover, tepid economic growth (Real GDP) was observed for these countries as a result of lower commodity prices and impact of pandemics (Ebola and COVID-19), while income per capita ranged from $452 to $3,678) within the region. However, much gap is still existing towards achieving the related Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) and Targets. The policy implication of the findings inter alia is that sound socioeconomic policy framework at the regional level based on pro-development strategies is needed to improve the socioeconomic status of the West African countries for Agenda 2030 in line with the evidence from the paper. This agenda should not be divorced from structural transformation and enhanced regionalism and integration.

PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES ON THE MORALITY OF STRIKES AND NON-VIOLENCE AS CHANNELS OF SOCIAL CHANGE

From its classical roots (the Gita, Socrates, and Christ), the world has experienced many apostles of the doctrine of non-violence—effectively interpreting and using it as a social weapon for transforming society and moderating social policy formulation. For example, the efficacy of non-violence was demonstrated in India by the practical dimension (though this is less validly claimed about Africa) given to the Gita by Gandhi, in the United States by both David Thoreau and the ebullient, resilient Nobel laureate, Luther King Jnr.; they perfected and variously adapted the principles of non-violence (organized matches, strikes, sit-ins, dissenting rallies, demonstrations, etc.) to the redress perceived or real socio-political infamies of their respective era. In some way, nevertheless, modern Africa has witnessed no known more application of non-violence than in Nigeria where strike action has become the single overriding and common industrial weapon for seeking redress such that the practice seem to be losing legitimacy, respect and efficacy. And newer questions have arisen as to the moral basis of strikes. Moreover, what is the relationship or philosophical nexus between the trio of strikes, civil disobedience, and non-violence? Accordingly, by looking into extant literature on the meanings and perspectives on strikes, civil disobedience, and non-violence, this article explains, reviews, and evaluates the meaning and presuppositions of strikes and the general principle of non-violence in order to determine their moral basis, applicability, general suitability with a view to advocating or rejecting same as means of social change.

ENHANCING NIGERIA’S NATIONAL SECURITY THROUGH STATE POLICING.LESSONS FROM THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The Neighbourhood Principle presupposes that everyone in the vicinity knows each other and this makes it easier to monitor deviants in the society. Hence, the case for state policing in Nigeria in view of the upward surge in crime wave in this country. Data was obtained from secondary sources which include books, periodicals, journals, newspapers, the internet etc. Data was analyzed using the method of content analysis. The theory of social conflict (Coser, 1956) was adopted as the theoretical framework of the study. Results revealed that the success story of state policing in the United States was as a result certain factors-technology advancement, level of motivation, institutions and infrastructures, psychological and intellectual disposition of officers and even the acceptance of state policing by the society. These are all lacking in Nigeria. Thus, it was suggested in this study that the idea of state policing should be rested for now while the society works on her vital infrastructures, institutions, etc.

EFFECTS OF THE MANAGEMENT OF FINISHED GOODS INVENTORY ON THE SALES VOLUME OF 7UP BOTTLING COMPANY, NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA

The challenge of keeping finished goods inventory at optimum levels has been a major issue that has affected the sales volume of 7UP Bottling Company Plc. This study examined the effects of the management of finished goods inventory and the sales volume of 7UP Bottling Company in North Central, Nigeria. The study examined how forecasting demand, product handling as well product planning and warehouse management impact on the sales volume of7UP Bottling Company in North-Central Nigeria. The study adopted a combination of survey, explanatory and exploratory research, which involved the use of primary data for analysis. The data collection exercise involved a focus group discussion (FGD) with different targeted group of customers. The total population of study was eight one (81) management staff of Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc in North Central, Nigeria and a sample size of sixty seven (67) was drawn using Taro Yamane’s sample size technique.The hypotheses were formulated in null form in line with the objectives of the study and the ordinary Least Squares (O.L.S) method of regression was employed for the analysis of the data collected. Findings revealed that there is a positive significant relationship between management of finished goods inventory and sales volume at (B = 1.896, t = 10.6, Sig = .000, P <.05) in 7UP Bottling Company in North Central, Nigeria. The study therefore recommends that the management of Seven Up Bottling Company Plc should implement the use of queuing systems (i.e. FIFO or LIFO) in the management of its warehouse because the system helps to reduce costs generated as a result of storage of excessive amount of unsold products.

IMPACT OF DOMESTIC DEBT ON PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN NIGERIA (2000-2019)

This study examined the impact of domestic debt on private sector investment and economic growth in Nigeria, covering the period 2000-2019. The causal research design was employed. Unit root and cointegrated tests were carried out and the unit root test results showed that the variables were non-stationary at level but became stationary after first differencing. Cointegration test results revealed that the variables are cointegrated meaning that they have long-run equilibrium relationship. Using the ordinary least squares (OLS) method to estimate the specified multiple regression models, findings showed that domestic debt and interest on domestic debt negatively and significantly impacted on private sector investment and economic growth in Nigeria during the period under consideration. The negative impact of domestic debt on private sector investment indicates that government domestic borrowing crowd-out private sector investment. In lieu of the fact that government borrowing (especially domestic borrowing) stifles (crowd-out) private sector investment and retards economic growth in Nigeria, it is recommended that since government borrowing especially through the money market is exerting adverse effects on private sector investment and economic growth, government should endeavor to borrow domestically through the capital market by further developing the Nigerian equity and bond markets in order to enable these markets have the capacity to provide the needed funds. Also, to avoid stunt economic growth and crowding-out effect of government borrowing, government should endeavor to put in place fiscal prudent measures that would favor the private investor by discouraging high government spending in areas that don’t have direct positive impact on private sector investment growth and economic growth.

IMPACT OF CYBERCRIME ON SELECTED SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SMEs) IN THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERTIARY (FCT)

The internet brings so many opportunities for economic, social, and other activities. On the other hand, internet activities have created cybercrimes which have been a major challenge to the business environment, especially the small and medium enterprises. Therefore, this study examined the impact of cybercrimes on small and medium enterprise's activities in the Federal Capital Tertiary (FCT). The study used structured questionnaires, a population of two thousand, eight hundred and twenty-five (2825) Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Federal Capital Tertiary, and a sample size of three hundred and fifty (350). The study used the mean of descriptive analysis and Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) for the estimation of the mean values of the cybercrime indicators (Hacking and Spamming cybercrimes (HSC), Cyber Theft and Identity Theft Cybercrimes (CTITC), Financial Fraud and Laundering Cybercrimes (FFLC) and Website Cloning Cybercrimes (WECC)). However, the mean ratings of the various responses were calculated and were used to answer the research questions. The mean of 1, 2, 3, and 4 is 2.50 for this study; a mean rating of 2.51 or above was regarded as significant while a mean rating less than 2.50 was regarded as insignificant in explaining the changes in the variables under study. Also, the study findings revealed that hacking and spamming cybercrimes (HSC), cyber theft and identity theft cybercrimes (CTITC), financial fraud and laundering cybercrimes (FFLC) and website cloning cybercrimes (WECC) have a negative impact on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) activities in Federal Capital Tertiary (FCT). Therefore, the study recommended that the government and all concerned agencies should design measures in controlling and preventing hacking, spamming, financial fraud, and laundering cybercrimes since these are the major cybercrimes affecting SME activities. And also, there need for increased literacy for SMEs to mitigate against hacking, spamming, financial fraud, laundering, and website cloning