Human Capital Impact on Economic Growth in Nigeria

This study aims to examine the impact of human capital on economic growth in Nigeria. Despite all effort to improve education condition in Nigeria, there hasn’t been much encouraging improvement. This has caused a large number of the population to move abroad for studies. Most conducive tertiary institutions are owned by private individuals, the government owned universities have been overlooked and recklessly abandoned. In this study OLS multiple regression was adopted to analyze the time series data for the period of 1985-2018 to test if Average Year of Schooling (AVYS), Private Investment in Telecommunication (PIT), Capital Expenditure on Education (CEE), and Recurrent Expenditure on Education (REE) have an impact on growth in Nigeria or not. The data was derived from CBN statistical Bulletin (2018). Result showed that all the four explanatory variables have significant impact on Economic growth. However, it is therefore important for government to increase education budget annually.

Impact of Health and Agriculture Financing on Economic Growth in Nigeria

The study focused on the impact of health and agriculture financing on economic growth in Nigeria from 1981 to 2019. The study utilized the time series data which was extracted from Central Bank of Nigeria annual statistical bulletin. Unit Root test was performed with the use of Augmented Dickey-Fuller test in order to ascertain the stationarity of all the variables and they were all found to be stationary at order 1 in the two specified models (composite and disaggregated). Error Correction Model (ECM) was used to analyze the data in order to determine the speed of adjustment from the short run to the long run equilibrium state. Casualty test was used to confirm causal relationship among the variables of interests. The study revealed that Federal Government expenditure in Health sector has a significant effect on economic growth in Nigeria. Federal Government expenditure in Agricultural sector equally had a positive effect on economic growth but surprisingly not significant. Considering the disaggregated form, Federal Government capital expenditure in both Health and Agricultural sectors have positive and statistically significant effect on economic growth while Federal Government recurrent expenditure on health has a positive and statistically insignificant effect in economic. It was also revealed that there is causal relationship among the variables. Based on the findings, the study concluded that Federal Government Expenditure in Health Sectors and Agriculture Sectors have effect on economic growth in Nigeria.

Analysis of the Relationship between Currency Redenomination and Financial Transaction Costs in Nigeria

The study analyses the relationship between currency redenomination and financial sector transaction costs in Nigeria using a sample of 200 respondents from ten financial institutions. Applying the Chi-square test, the study reveals that high currency redenomination removes wasteful transactions removes user costs (difficulties arising from memorizing, calculating and carrying large sum of lowest denominations: coins and smaller notes). The results also show that currency redenomination influences inflationary pressure and currency liberalization in Nigeria. Based on the findings the study recommends the introduction of currency redenomination to facilitate the consumers' cash payment and reduce the cost incurred by producers and issuing authorities, and also make payment system more efficient and effective.

Government Expenditure on Substance Abuse and Economic Growth in Nigeria: An Analytical Approach

The study specifically examined the short and long run impact government expenditure on substance abuse prevalence and rehabilitated drug addicts on the real growth rate on the Nigeria economy. Real Growth rate was made the dependent variable while government capital expenditure, government recurrent expenditure and number of rehabilitated drug addicts stood as explanatory variables. Analysis was carried using the ARDL technique. Findings revealed that there existed, in the short run, a significant impact of government recurrent, capital expenditure and rehabilitated drug individuals on real economic growth. However, in the long run, only capital expenditure on substance abuse has significant impact on the real growth rate in the Nigeria economy. It is therefore suggested that, combating the menace of drug abuse prevalence and trafficking needs the co-operation of all. To that extent government and non-government organization at both local and international level must network to ensure effective control. Therefore, adequate funds should be made available to government organization involved in drug demand reduction activities. Employment opportunities should also be created by the government to get user/ traffickers out of the illegal business. Massive preventive drug abuse education and enlightenment that emphasize healthy life style should be embarked upon frequently.

Nexus Between Technological Innovation and Economic Growth: Evidence From Nigeria (1980-2018)

Technological innovation in developing countries is inherently identified with the transfer of technology from the advanced country via trade, FDI and importation of capital and intermediate goods, machinery and other forms of embodied technology (ETC). This is due to low investments in in-house research and development (R&D) activities by local producers, hence, the need for technology transfer and spillover. This study contributes to existing knowledge by examining the empirical short-run and the long-run relationship between technological innovation and economic growth, a case study of Nigeria using the ARDL model on annual time series data spanning from 1980-2018. The f-bound cointegration test shows a long-run relationship among the variables at 5% significant level. Overall, is the results show a positive relationship between innovation in the form of technology transfer and spillover, and economic growth at 5% level of significance. Based on these findings, we propose that technological innovation should be encouraged; however, in-house innovation activities (R&D) should be encouraged due to its peculiarity to the economic structure of the country.

Why do Logging Firms Reject Environmental Labeling in Central Africa? A Case Study of Forest Certification in Cameroon

This article aims to understand why extractive firms in the industrial logging industry in central Africa are reluctant to certify or label their activities. The methodology is based on three empirical case studies of logging companies in Cameroon: one opposed to certification and labeling (the model), the other is in the process of being certified (intermediate case) and the last is certified (negative case). The preferred option followed by this study was to avoid the copying of the first case by prospecting an intermediate case. The "negative" case permitted the model to be saturated. The comparative analysis of data collected highlighted some key obstacles to the commitment to environmental labeling: corruption, low turnover, high certification cost and the source of capital.

Digital Finance and the Future of Nigerian Banking System: A Review

Digital finance is a type of financial service that employs digital products like personal computers, the internet, mobile phones, cards linked to a digital payment system. Innovations in the digital world cannot be divorced from Nigerian financial services most notably the banking sector. Therefore, it means that banking industry cannot but embrace digital innovations in their services delivery. Hence, there is a need to review the impact of digital finance in the Nigerian banking sector. Desk research method was used to examine how innovations in the digital world could impact the future financial service delivery in the Nigerian banking sector. From the review, it was that the digital world is quickly changing and this impacts banking in all ramification. It is recommended that the banking industry should try to keep pace with the digital innovations, for them to be able to meet up the demands of their digitally-savvy customers.

Employee Commitment and Job Performance in Federal University Dutsin-ma, Katsina State

Employee commitment and job performance are considered to be an issue in Federal University Dutsin-ma to achieve high employee performance. The objective of this study is to study the employee commitment in relation to the performance of FUDMA Staff. The study investigated the impact of three dimensions of employee commitment-continuance, normative and affective commitments on employee Job performance. The researcher adopted a descriptive survey research design; total sample of 299 were selected using convenience sampling technique. Questionnaires were used to collect the data. Both Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficients and Multiple Regression Analysis using SPSS were used to analyze the data. The results show that there is a significant relationship between continuance commitment and Job performance. As unexpected, the relationships between normative and affective commitment are not supported. The paper recommends the University to consider provision of incentives and conducive atmosphere that will enable employees to have affection for their jobs.

The Effect of Real Exchange Rate Changes on External Trade Balance in Sudan: Testing J-Curve Hypothesis

The current research article analyzes the impact of changes in real exchange rate upon external trade balance of Sudan during the period 1978-2017. It employs Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach, impulse response functions and Granger causality test. The empirical findings indicate that exchange rate devaluations have no impact on the merchandize trade balance, thus evidence in favor of the J-curve pattern was not found. Granger causality test runs one-way from trade ratio to real exchange rate and not the other way. Thus, the results can be considered as an additional contribution to evidence stated in literature that focused a vibrant range of economies. These findings are appropriate for policy making in Sudan as well as in various developing countries since the focal point is major trade balance deficit.

Impact of State Government Revenues on Infrastructural Development in Bauchi State Nigeria

The study examines the impact made by the efforts of Bauchi State Government in the development of infrastructure represented by the level of capital expenditure incurred through the utilization of the state’s revenues. Secondary data was obtained from the government’s Annual Financial Statements for the period 2006 to 2018. Ordinary Least Square regression was employed as the technique of analysis. The findings of the study revealed that share of allocation received from the federation account as well as debt both had a positive and significant influence in the provision of infrastructure while internally generated revenue, showed a negative and significant relationship. Other receipts comprising of contributions from Local Governments for the execution of joint projects as well as local and foreign grants and assistance received indicated a positive but insignificant relationship. The study recommends that policy makers should ensure a reasonable allocation of federation account revenues towards capital projects implementation. Efforts at the mobilization of internally generated revenue and grants should be intensified with funds realized used along with funding drawn from the Local Governments as well as proceeds of debts raised towards the provision of the infrastructural needs of the state.