On the development of residential property price indices for Nigeria

This work focuses on the development of house price indices for Nigeria, and the estimates of the Nigerian Residential Property Price Indices on housing characteristics are presented. Four main methods of index construction were considered, these are hedonic regression, repeat-sales, stratification and central price tendency methods. It was discovered that econometric methods like hedonic and repeat sales were constraints in constructing residential property price indices for Nigeria by the nature of the data available. Hence, the central price tendency and the sale-based stratification methods which are internationally used measures were applied to the available zonal-level dataset from a survey of selected urban cities from the six geopolitical zones of the country. While the central price tendency was used to track changes in the price of the median residential dwelling sold from one period to another and the zonal shares of residential property prices, the sale-based approach was used to estimate the trends in the year-on-year growth rate of residential property price indices and the zone-wise price indices. On the whole, the results show a reflection of changes in the composition of residential dwellings sold in Nigeria from 2010 to 2012. The need for housing policy that will empower a comprehensive documentation of all attributes of price determinants for evaluation of residential property in Nigeria was emphasized

The balance sheet channel of monetary policy transmission: Evidence from Nigeria

This paper assesses the existence of a balance sheet channel of monetary policy transmission in Nigeria by examining whether variation in the official interest rate, with respect to the 2007- 2008 global financial crisis, feeds through to the deposit money banks (DMBs) balance sheets, and ultimately reflects in output and prices. Using quarterly macroeconomic data and stock from 2002 to 2012, the study employs an ordinary least squares (OLS) and autoregressive (VAR) framework to investigate the linkages between policy, DMB balance sheet, output and price. The results reveal the existence of a balance sheet channel in Nigeria with a significant impact of DMBs balance sheet composition on output growth and price. However, output and price did not react homogeneously to changes in monetary policy variations due to the global financial crisis

Investigating the dynamics of bank credit in Nigeria: The role of bank consolidation

This paper examines the dynamics of deposit money banks (DMB) credit and the role of consolidation in credit growth in Nigeria using vector error correction model and Granger causality test. The empirical investigation involved DMBs that have maintained a unique name and some market characteristics before and after the 2004 banking sector consolidation. Using quarterly data from 1999Q1 - 2013Q2 of the selected DMBs, the results show a positive relationship between post-consolidation credit supply growth and the real gross domestic product. The results also show that despite the onesided positive causality from credit supply to economic growth, the total contribution of the consolidated credit growth to real activity was not significant. The paper, therefore, recommends that in order to improve the credit channel of monetary policy transmission, policy makers should take into account how the banks react to such policies

Empirical Assessment of the Efficiency of the Nigerian Tax System

This study investigated the efficiency of the Nigerian tax system. In order to direct the job, two research hypotheses were formulated. The hypotheses were -stated thus, economic activities have no significant positive relationship on direct taxes (proxied by the Petroleum Profit Tax - PPT) and economic activities have no significant positive relationship on the amount of money taken in indirect taxes (mirrored by the Customs and Excise Duty-DUTY) of the Nigerian government. Ex-post facto research design was adopted for this study. Secondary data on the major variables were collected from the various issues of statistical bulletin of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) spanning from 1970-2013. Data collected were analyzed using Ordinary Least square multiple regression analysis. Results of the findings revealed that there existed a significant difference between economic activities and direct taxes proxy PPT and there existed a significant relationship between economic activities and indirect taxes proxy customs and excise duties taxes. It was therefore recommended that the government should withdraw from several economic activities that the private sector is able and willing to provide more efficiently. There is also the need to streamline the quantum and sequencing of implementation of public sector projects. Finally, a significant reduction in public waste evidenced by the large number of abandoned projects all over the country will effectively contain the fiscal problems. Keywords: Direct taxes, efficiency, indirect taxes, tax syste

Literacy for Resource Management and Effective Management of Universal Basic Education (UBE) in Nigeria

The research investigated the effect of literacy for resource management on the effective management of Universal Basic Education in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria. The hypotheses formulated were analyzed using one way Analysis of variance (ANOVA). Te instrument developed was validated using testretest reliability method and the reliability coefficient of .73, .85 and .77 were obtained. Literacy in personnel management significantly affects effective management of UBE. Also Administrator’s literacy in plantmanagement has great effect on effective management of UBE. But administrators’ literacy in financial management has no effect on theeffective management of UBE. Based on the findings of the study it wasrecommended that for effective management of UBE, the head teachers bemade to undertake training in personnel and school plant managements

The significance of motivation in student-centred learning : a reflective case study

The theoretical underpinnings of student-centred learning suggest motivation to be an integral component. However, lack of clarification of what is involved in motivation in education often results in unchallenged assumptions that fail to recognise that what motivates some students may alienate others. This case study, using socio-cognitive motivational theory to analyse previously collected data, derives three fuzzy propositions which, collectively, suggest that motivation interacts with the whole cycle of episodes in the teachinglearning process. It argues that the development of the higherlevel cognitive competencies that are implied by the term, student-centred learning, must integrate motivational constructs such as goal orientation, volition, interest and attributions into pedagogical practices

Resource Control and Grassroots Development in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

In every society, economic development is an important part of social living, especially the specific economic activities of government in ensuring the development of that society. But then integrated effort towards this development will be incomplete where cognizance of the existing resources and ways of tapping as well as equitably allocating the resources is undermined. For some time now. this has reflected in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria and the inequitable allocation of the resources especially to the areas of their derivation has led to the constraints in developmental efforts and consequently deterioration in the lives of the rural dwellers. The effects of this have been marginalization and unsavory reactions from the affected communities and these have led to national insecurity. This paper examines these issues in the context of resource control, causes of agitation for control of resources by the Niger Delta dwellers, the contending trend of uneasiness in the nation and actions that can be taken by the government to ensure grassroots development in the area, thus pulling an end to the insecurity of lives and property in that region, and the nation as a whole

Epistemological access through lecture materials in multiple modes and language varieties: the role of ideologies and multilingual literacy practices in student evaluations of such materials at a South African University

This paper seeks to address the ways in which ideology and literacy practices shape the responses of students to an ongoing initiative at the University of the Western Cape aimed at diversifying options for epistemological access, specifically the language varieties and the modes in which parts of the curriculum for a third year linguistics module are delivered. Students’ responses to the materials in English and in two varieties of Afrikaans and isiXhosa (as mediated in writing vs orally) are determined, and used as basis to problematize decisions on language variety and mode in language diversification initiatives in Higher Education in South Africa. The findings of the paper are juxtaposed against particular group interests in the educational use of a language as well as differences in the affordances and impact of different modes of language use. The paper suggests that beyond the euphoria of using languages other than English in South African Higher Education, several issues (such as entrenched language practices, beliefs and language management orientations) require attention if the goals of transformation in this sector are to be attained