AN ASSESSMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTERNAL AUDIT ACCOUNTABILITY IN MINISTRIES/EXTRA-MINISTERIAL DEPARTMENT. (CASE STUDY OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL OF ENUGU STATE)

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

The purpose of the public sector can be viewed from two distinct and opposing perspectives: i) public sector exists to ensure equitable management and distribution of economic resources, and ii) public sector exists to provide limited range of goods and services to the populace (Guthrine, 1998; Minogrue, 2000).

The former (referred to as the traditional model of public sector management) placed emphasis on compliance with laid down rules, thus accountability (Guthrine, 1998; Owolabi, Ocansey, & Dada, 2013). This view is a contestable ideology as public sector practitioners (Morsen, 2008) and academics (Anessi-Pessina and Steccolimi, 2007) have argued that citizens’ expectations from the public sector is drifting from mere provision of services to good governance and efficiency in the provision of services (value for money). The desire to hold government accountable for results is becoming more prominent, thus, making the demand for quantitative and qualitative financial reports imperative for accountability.

In the same vein, accounting is viewed as the most critical system for maximising efficiency and minimising costs of public services (Andrews, 2002; Bruno, 2014; Jones & Browrey, 2013: Owolabi et al., 2013). Consequently, the existence and use of a good financial reporting system was regarded as key to achieving the objective of maximising efficiency in the public sector.

The imperatives of good governance demands timely reporting of the activities of government for the attainment of accountability and transparency. Audit reports keep the citizenry informed of the financial activities of the government. The auditor assesses the financial activities of the Government. The role of auditor in an economy is assurance of transparency and accountability (Adegoroye, 2008).

An audit ensures proper and effective use of public funds and the development of sound financial management. Effective operations of the functions of the Auditor –General provide the proper execution of administrative activities.  Moreover, the it is  in promoting accountability, sound financial management and the encouragement of sound internal control mechanism (Akenbor, C. & Oghoghomeh, 2011)..

TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE: A STUDY OF DEBT MANAGEMENT OFFICE (DMO) IN NIGERIA

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Total Quality Management (TQM) has become a world-wide topic in this twenty-first century; this is based on the fact that total quality management is an enhancement to the traditional way of doing business. It is a proven technique to guarantee survival in world class competition. Only by changing the actions of management will the culture and actions of an organization be transformed. Total Quality Management (TQM) can be described as a combination of participatory management and team work, produce defect-free products or customer satisfaction. TQM can also be seen as the management method (quality oriented and customer-oriented method) which provides high of view. It is a proven technique to guarantee survival in world class competition.

Benson and Savaph (1991) assert that TQM involves the whole organisation, getting organized in every department, in every activity with every single person at every level. This involves putting in place, process and system which will ensure that every aspect of its activity is aligned to satisfying customer needs and the organisation’s objectives organisation to be fully effective, every single part of it must work properly together because every person and every activity affect and in turn is affected by others.

TQM is based on a set of principles that seek to increase stakeholders' satisfaction through best use of organizational resources. But the impact of each of quality management principles on organizational effectiveness is still debated. Several studies have investigated the impact

YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT AND ITS SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS IN KANO (2011-2015) A CASE STUDY OF TARAUNI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1              Background of the Study:

Over the years, policy makers, economists, and stakeholders has been concerned on the persistent issues of unemployment due to the overwhelming effect of this occurrence on youth, economy and the nation at large.   In both the developing and developed countries, unemployment has been of immense challenge.  Despite the fact that it is a universal development, it happens frequently in developing nations with associated political, economic, social and of course emotional consequences.

The issue has been prevalent lately, cutting across all aspect of age group. It serves as one of the greatest challenges of the nation’s economic system today as the episode has continued in an alarming rate today in decades. Unemployment has thus reached such a frightening level today that is perhaps considered the most serious of the problems ravaging Nigeria and Kano State in particular; as well one that is progressively worsening as the gap  between the rapid rising group pressing for jobs and the new employment chance being created broadens.

The issue of unemployment amongst youth is very evident and  apparent in Kano state  and Nigeria at large. The national unemployment rates for Nigeria between 2000 to  2009 as stated by National Bureau of Statistics (2010), was ranked at a percentages of 31. 1% in 2000, 13. 6% in 2001, 12. 6% in 2002, 14. 8% in 2003, 13. 4% in 2004, 11. 9% in 2005, 13. 7% in 2006, 14. 6% in 2007, 14. 9% in 2008 and 19. 7% in 2009 with more than 20 million graduates unemployed in Nigeria. These detail don't depict our society in the positive way as regards to the employment of human resources because in a country like Britain 2% rate of unemployment of the labour force is considered very high (cited in Okafor, 2011).

It suffices to say that progressively,  the nation’s ability to employ its own population has diminished in spite of her vast natural resources. The level of unemployment continue to soar high on a upward trend each year, as opposed on its neighbours countries that  have less resources.

 As asserted by Anameza, (2000), Nigeria prospect about measurable development or for enhancing the welfare for its citizenry is in shambles unless it improves on massive employment for its graduates.  Continuously enhancing employment and productivity as reported by the World Bank (1993) has been cardinal to the performances of the so-called “Asian Tigers” and Japan.  It means that lack of aforementioned will definitely retard Nigeria chances.

This generally portrays that unemployment is influenced by a number of issues among which are corruption, fumble for resources, lack of political will and so on. As such, the escalating  rate of unemployment has negative effect on  youth from a wide range of socio- economic cluster for  both the educated and the less educated one and it has mainly stricken a considerable fraction of the youth from lowly backgrounds and less education within the societies and Kano state is not an exemption. The outcomes of unemployment can be so devastating to the extent to which it can cripple the economy of a state. It brings about low productivity, wastage of resources, youth violence and youth restiveness, which set the state background without feasible development.

A TECHNICAL REPORT ON STUDENT’S INDUSTRIAL WORKING EXPERIENCE SCHEME (SIWES)

            CHAPTER ONE

1.0                                                                                                                 INTRODUCTION

The student industrial work experience scheme (SIWES) is a skill acquisition programme designed for the tertiary institutions as a complementary programme to the theoretical education, laboratory and workshop practices engaged in by students in the tertiary institutions, which by industrial standards are inadequate to serve the practical needs of the industries.  Students are exposed to  industrial work situation they are likely to meet after graduation.  The practices are to idealistic and therefore necessitate that the students be exposed to actual life practice, which is a far departure from academic instructional, laboratory and workshop practices.  The scheme also afford the student the opportunity to familiarize, expose to the needed experience in handling equipment and machineries that are not available in their institutions. 

Before the establishment of the scheme, it was a great concern that the industrialist and graduate of higher institutions lacked adequate practical background studies preparatory in employment in the industries. Thus, the theoretical education was not responsive to the need of the employer of labour.

It is against this background that the rationale for initiating and designing the scheme by industrial training fund during the formative year of 1973/74 was introduced to acquaint the students with the skills of handling the employer’s equipment and machinery.

The ITF has accepted the challenges to bridge the gap between theory and practice.  The SIWES programme was effectively taken over by the ITF in 1985 with funding being solely born by the federal government. 

WE ARE A VIRTUAL ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT

ABOUT US

Researchshelf is not a university, polytechnic neither is it college of education and we never intend to be one. 

Researchshelf is an international virtual academic environment built for students of higher institutions to boost their performance and also to assist researchers, readers and lecturers ease their research quest. 

We all know that Internet is a place most people roam in a never ending spiral without getting exactly what they want and as the proverbial saying goes, time and tide wait for no one. In view of this assertion, we have painstakingly carried out researches and still researching to shelf digital/e-content materials in their appropriate places and departments for students, lecturers, readers and other researchers to download, thus ease their stress of roaming online.  Therefore, researchshelf is a final bus stop for students, lecturers, researchers and readers to have all their academic and research needs met with little or no effort.

Putting into cognizance some online activities of students that reduce their learning abilities and performance all in the name of having fun, Researchershelf has integrated a community (virtual academic environment) whereby students and all interested participants can meet each other from all over the world and from various departments and institutions, brainstorming on academic issues and at the same time have fun through chats with emojis, online IQ test games thereby making learning fun and boosting performance.

Assignment: Case Study of Substantive Public Policies in Nigeria on Education

INTRODUCTION

Educational policy in Nigeria has passed through two significant stages, the colonial and post independence eras. In line with Millennium Development goals (MDGs), the Federal Government of Nigeria launched a new educational policy in 2004, which has among other features, the Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme (Mkpa, 2008).

The Federal Government of Nigeria launched a new educational policy in 2004, which has among other features, the Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme. The primary target of the UBE aspect of this new educational policy was ensuring that every Nigerian child acquires a minimum of 9 years basic education. Given the unstable and consequently unreliable socioeconomic realities in Nigeria, one cannot but wonder how far the UBE programme can go in meeting its target and achieving its set objectives. In every society, including the very advanced ones of Europe and America, education has remained the major social structure for capacity building. As such if Nigeria must compete favourably with other societies in today’s globalized world in the area of skilled manpower capable of effecting desired societal change, the issue of education must be accorded utmost priority. Given that basic education provides the foundation for any educational pursuit, it becomes necessary for the basic education programme to be given fundamental attention (Adenipekun, 2006).

Education is the process of acquiring new values and skills for the purpose of effective functioning in the society. It involves a pedagogical process, which if properly carried out should lead to the maturing of the person who has received it, to the extent that he is in a position to think and act meaningfully and in relevant interaction with members of society to their mutual benefit (Nwadiani, 2007).

OBJECTIVE OF THE POLICY

The major objective of the policy is to wipe out illiteracy and ensure the acquisition of functional skills for alleviation of poverty.

The specific objectives are as follow;

1.      Development in the entire citizenry a strong consciousness for education and a strong commitment to its vigorous promotion. -

2.      At the end of 9 years of continuous education, every child should have acquired appropriate and relevant skills and values and be employable in order to contribute his/her quota to national development. 

Assignment: Distinguish between a leader and a manager

INTRODUCTION

Katz, (2005).  defined the management as exercising direction of a group or organization through executive, administrative, and supervisory positions. Katz thought that management responsibilities are usually tasked-oriented, and it involves developing staff, mentoring persons with high potential, and resolving conflicts while maintaining ethics and discipline (Katz, 2005). Kappa (1991) states that the aim from a good management is to provide services to the community in an efficient and sustainable manner. Moreover, Kotter (2001), defined the management as a job which takes care of planning, organizing, budgeting, coordinating and monitoring activities for group or organization. Northouse (2007), defined the management as a process by which definite set objectives are achieved through the efficient use of resources.

Thus, Management in general is a process that is used to achieve organizational goals. Managers focus on formal directing and controlling of their assistants, resources, structures, and systems (Kotter, 2001). Managers aim to reach short term goals, avoid any risks, and establish standardization to improve efficiency (Kotterman, 2006). The employees follow a manager’s direction in exchange for being paid a salary, known as a transactional style (Kotter, 2001).

Research shows that being an effective manager depends upon three special skill sets: technical, human and conceptual. The technical skill refers to the proficiency in a specific type of work. This may include competencies within a specialized field, or the ability to use appropriate tools and techniques. Human skill refers to the ability to work with people, which allow a manager to assist group members to complete a task. Conceptual skill refers to the ability to work with ideas (Katz, 2005). In addition, an effective manager needs to have specific qualities like: good communication; organizational; negotiation; and delegation skills (Kappa, 2001).