MACROECONOMIC EFFECT OF COVID-19 ON A CONSUMING OIL ECONOMY: EVIDENCE FROM NIGERIA

Joseph Fefa, Bridget N. Mile & Victor U. Ijirshar

Department of Economics

 Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria

ABSTRACT       

This study examines the macroeconomic effect of COVID-19 on the Nigerian consuming oil economy. Descriptive tests and correlation analysis were used for data analysis. The study found that the COVID-19 pandemic has portended severe economic consequences on the Nigerian economy leading to unprecedented oil price crash and lower demand which resulted in negative effects on key macroeconomic variables in the country. The COVID 19 pandemic has also exerted negative effect on the exchange rate, real growth rate, consumer price indices, and unemployment in the country. Therefore, the study recommends for the full implementation of the Nigeria “Economic Sustainability Plan” to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Nigeria’s economy. The study further recommends that the Nigerian government should support agricultural production with the aim of diversifying her economy to improve export potentials and also engage SMEs through granting of soft loans with extended moratorium or grants to SMEs.

Keywords: COVID-19, Consumer price index, Crude oil price, Exchange rate, and real growth rate

JEL Classification:        E31, I15, O47, O24

EX-MILITARY GENERALS IN CRUDE POLITICS OF CRUDE OIL IN NIGERIA: IMPACT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, NATIONAL COHESION AND STABILITY EFFORTS

Irechukwu, Nnameziri Sunday

Department Of Political Science Faulty Of Social Sciences

Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State

ABSTRACT

The paper examined the issues of political system failures, ideological aberration, and absence of constitutional democracy and abuse of the rule of law critically. It touch lighted the way and manners politics of the Oil crude characterize by divisive programmes, hate  and non-inclusion affected Nigeria development efforts, past and  present and state from its legitimate responsibilities of security of lives, properties and sovereignty. It argued that interest in the oil-crude mono-economy and huge revenue income accruing promoted selfish power grasp corruption and inability of the leaders to consolidate and utilize the concepts, of strength in abundance and diversity of: natural, material and human resources, especially, the Youth potentials. These constituted further impediments to efforts to diversify the mono-cultured oil economy and interest for science and appropriate technology to move the nation forward and to discourage the essence of incompatibles, especially, of political agenda between the north and the south. The paper emphasized that sustainable activities of the ex-military Generals in Nigeria’s political power tussles and economic policies’ constitute a clog and impediment to efforts to promote national cohesion and stability. Frustration aggression theory is considered more appropriate to the study as it explained cause and implication on socio-economic struggles, multi-dimensional development processes, and attainments of peace and unity of any nations, developing or developed. Survey method of examination is utilized through literature reviews. It’s further opinion of the paper that development can only thrive where crude politics is not existence and where there is peaceful environment; hence, it is a matter of decision, good planning and execution among leaders. 

NEGATIVE SEXUAL EXPERIENCES AS PREDICTORS OF DEPRESSION AMONG WOMEN

Mgbenkemdi Ejike. H& Aboh Uche J

Department of Psychology

Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Agbani Enugu

                                                                     Email:iamejike@yahoo.co.uk & james.aboh@esut.edu.ng

ABSTRACT

This study investigated negative sexual experiences as predictors of depression among women. A total of 107 participants comprising 62 female nurses and 45 female administrative staff of Federal Neuropsychiatric hospital Enugu using available sampling techniques were drawn for the study. Two sets of instruments were used namely; SES – Sexual Experiences Survey (Koss, Gidyez & Wisniewski, 1987); and CES-D – Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (Rudloff, 1977). A cross-sectional design was adopted; while hierarchical multiple regression analysis was applied as a statistic to test the hypothesis which stated that negative sexual experiences would significantly predict depression among women. The result showed that a strong positive correlation was observed between negative sexual experiences and depression among women r(107) = .47at p<.001. Meaning the increase in negative sexual experiences would equally bring about an increase in depression among women. Further, negative sexual experiences accounted for an additional 25.5% (ΔR2= 17.7%) variation in depression and this change in R2was significant, F(10, 96) = 3.29, p<.001) and the relationship between variables were strong(R =.51). However, only negative sexual experiences significantly and positively predicted depression β = .45, t(96) = 4.77, p<.001. It was concluded that the most important predictor of depression among women was negative sexual experiences which predicted strongly and remarkably depression among women. The findings were discussed in relation to pieces of literature reviewed and suggestions made.

Keywords: Negative Sexual experiences, Nurses, Administrative Staff, Depression and women

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, DEVELOPMENT AND NEW PUBLIC MANAGEMENT: EMERGENCE AND PRINCIPLES

Dominic Shimawua

Department of Public Administration,

Faculty of Management Science, Veritas University, Abuja

Email: dshimawua@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

New Public Management refers to a set of reforms that have come to radically redefine the nature of public sector organizations. Being inspired by a broad management ideology the reforms have brought forward ideas about ‘real’ organizations – i.e. having clear and unique identity, being able to plan and carry out rational decisions, and having well-defined boundaries and hierarchical structures. These ideas go hand in hand with rationales of administration of public sector organizations which can be seen both as transformative in the process of introduction of NPM and as an outcome of this process. However, there are few criticisms of the doctrines of NPM from the political perspective and few of the developing countries have become successful in public sector reform. This paper attempts to pinpoint the emergence, principles and criticisms of NPM considering its principles.

Keywords: Public Administration, New Public Management, Principles, Efficiency