AN INVESTIGATION OF FACTORS AFFECTING CONSTRUCTION COST IN THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY – ABUJA, NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1             Background of the Study

The construction industry contributes to the socio-economic growth of any nation by improving the quality of life and providing infrastructures such as roads, hospitals, schools, and other basic facilities. Hence, it is imperative that construction projects be completed within the scheduled time, within the budgeted cost, and meet the anticipated quality. However, being a complex industry, it is faced with severe problems of cost (Abdul-Rahman, Memon & Abd Karim, 2013).

Cost is a common problem in both the developed and the developing nations, making it difficult to complete many projects within budget. Being a common problem, Allahaim & Liu (2012) reported that costs affect 90% of construction projects. However, the majority of developing countries experience cost overruns exceeding 100% of the initial budget. The argument in the construction industry on how to reduce or totally remove cost overruns from projects has been ongoing among built-environment professionals, project owners, and users for the past 70 years. There is, however, no substantial improvement or significant solution in mitigating its detrimental effects (Allahaim & Liu, 2012).

The growing need for construction of all types coupled with a tight monetary supply has provided the construction industry with a big challenge to cut cost. 

According to Mendelson & Greenfield (2006), the dwindling fortune of nations economies around the world have geared up the participants in these sectors (the clients in particular) to take up the challenge of ensuring efficient use of their resources to obtain value for money in terms of performance.

The total cost of construction in normal circumstances is expected to be the sum of the following costs: Materials, Labour, Site Overheads, Equipment/Plant, Head office Cost and Profit but in many parts of the world particularly in Nigeria, there are other costs.   These costs according to Mbachu and Nkado (2004) have obvious negative implications for the key stakeholders in particular, and the construction industry in general.

To the clients, high cost implies added costs over and above those initially agreed upon at the onset, resulting in less returns on investment. To the end users, the added costs are passed on as higher rental / lease costs or prices.  To the consultants, it means inability to deliver value - for - money and could tarnish their reputation and result in loss of confidence reposed on them by clients.

To the contractors, it implies loss of profit through penalties for non-completion, and negative word of mouth that could jeopardize their chances of winning further contracts, if at fault.

PROJECT ON SAVIGNY’S THEORY OF VOLKSGEIST AND ITS RELEVANCE IN CONTEMPORARY TIMES

Friedrich Carl von Savigny (21 February 1779 – 25 October 1861) was a famous 19th-century jurist and historian.Savigny was born at Frankfurt, of a family recorded in the history of Lorraine, deriving its name from the castle of Savigny near Charmes in the valley of the Moselle. Left an orphan at the age of 13, Savigny was brought up by a guardian until, in 1795, he entered the University of Marburg, where, though in poor health, he studied under Professors Anton Bauer and Philipp Friedrich Weiss, the former a pioneer in the reform of the German criminal law, the latter distinguished for his knowledge of medieval jurisprudence. After the fashion of German students, Savigny visited several universities, notably Jena, Leipzig and Halle; and returning to Marburg, took his doctor's degree in 1800. At Marburg he lectured as Privatdozent on criminal law and the Pandects.In 1803 Savigny published Das Recht des Besitzes ("The law of possession"). Thibaut hailed it as a masterpiece which brought the old uncritical study of Roman law to an end.In 1808 Savigny was appointed ordinary professor of Roman law at Landshut. He remained in this position for a year and a half. In 1810 he was appointed to the chair of Roman law at the new University of Berlin, chiefly at the instance of Wilhelm von Humboldt.Savigny belongs to the historical school of jurists, founded by Gustav Hugo, and served a role in its consolidation. The works for which Savigny is best known are the Recht des Besitzes and the Beruf unserer Zeit für Gesetzgebung. According to Jhering "with the Recht des Besitzes the juridical method of the Romans was regained, and modern jurisprudence born." It was seen as a great advance both in results and method, and rendered obsolete a large body of literature.

A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS IMPLICATION OF THE DETENTION AND CLOSED TRIALS OF TERRORISTS UNDER THE TERRORISM ACT 2013

CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.0.0   Introduction

The origin of "human rights" lies in the nature of human beings[1]. Human rights belong to every member of the human family. This is regardless of sex, political opinion, race, socio-economic group, nationality, sexual orientation, or any other status.   They are rights that are inherent to all human beings. Human rights are all universal, interrelated, interdependent, and indivisible.[2] They are universal because they apply to all people simply based on being human. They are inalienable since a person seeking them does not take the rights away to exercise their rights whether one likes them or not. They are only limited in certain tightly defined circumstances and some rights, such as the prohibition on torture and slavery are never limited.[3] They are indivisible since one does not choose or handpick which rights they want to honor or dishonor. Many rights depend on each other to be meaningful, for example, the right to fair trial would be meaningless without the prohibition on discrimination, and the right to free speech must go hand in hand with the right to assemble peacefully.

1.1.0    Background to the Study

Indefinite detention violates the constitution and bills of rights of most coun­tries, as well as a number of international treaties[4]. Norms, of course, are subject to interpretation. The case-law provides concrete illustration and further devel­opment of the codified norms.

In the context of the “terrorism” some countries have adopted legislation allowing the indefinite detention of terrorism suspects. Particularly worrisome are certain pieces of legislation adopted in countries that are bound by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and the American Convention on Human Rights[5].

In the United Kingdom the 11 Muslim detainees in the Belmarsh prison case, most of whom have been held since December 2001, successfully chal­lenged their indefinite detention without trail and obtained a favourable ruling from the House of Lords on 16 December 2004, which reversed the Court of Appeal find­ing of October 2002 that indefinite detention was compatible with the United Kingdom’s human rights obligations[6].

It is now up to the British Parliament to repeal or modify Article 23 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act of 2001 (ATCSA), which the Lords have ruled to be incompatible with the British Human Rights Act and with the European Convention on Human Rights.

 

In par­ticular, the Lords found that indefinite detention and closed trails discriminates on the grounds of nationality (Article 14 of the ECHR), because it applies only to foreign nation­als suspected of terrorism, notwithstanding a comparable threat from terrorism suspects holding United Kingdom nationality. 

DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE IN ISLAMIC LAW: PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS

CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.0.0   Introduction

In many societies particularly in Nigeria, marriage is regarded as a prominent prerequisite for the establishment of a legitimate family[1]. However, where a country is inhabited by people of different cultures and religions, it will also witness application of different systems of law[2] pertaining to their respective customs and this reflects mostly in the forms of their ceremonies including marriage and even the dissolution. Nigeria is among such countries because about half of the population in the country is Muslim, followed by a large percentage of Christian, and a minority population of traditional religious practitioners and atheists[3].

Islamic Marriage is marriage conducted according to the tenets of Islamic law. Like customary law marriage, no certificate is issued. It is also not limited to one man and one woman. Indeed, a man can marry as many as four wives provided he is capable of meeting the requirements and conditions stipulated under Islamic Law.  This research work, takes an in depth look at dissolution of marriage in Islamic Law: Problems and Prospects. 

1.1.0    Background to the Study

Marriage customs vary in Islamic majority societies. The Hanafi, Hanbali, and Maliki Islamic Jurisprudence Schools all posit marriage is recommendatory, while the Shafi Islamic Jurisprudence School considers marriage to be (mubah) preferable[4]. The general principle of the aforementioned dictates center on the Prophet Muhammad and his efforts to enjoin his followers to marry. The Qur’an says:

“And among His signs is this, which He created for you mates from among yourselves that you may dwell in tranquility with them, and He has put love and mercy between your hearts.

Undoubtedly in these are signs for those who reflect.” (30:21), and “And Allah has made for you your mates of your own nature, and made for you, out of them, sons and daughters and grandchildren, and provided for you sustenance of the best.” (16:72). Islamic law dictates that marriage cannot be forced  and is recognized as a contract [5]. As written in the Qur’an, it is also lawful for a Muslim man to take up to four wives, provided he treats them equally: “If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or that which your right hands possess. That will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice.”

THE IMPLICATIONS OF TRUMP’S RECOGNITION OF JERUSALEM ON ISRAEL CAPITAL FOR GLOBAL POLITICS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1  Background to the Study

Donald Trump’s Jerusalem decision implies certain latent precursors of an alarming shift in the U.S. foreign policy toward the most protracted conflict in the Middle East. In his short address at the White House, Trump eagerly asserted that “while previous Presidents have made this a major campaign promise, they failed to deliver. Today, I am delivering,” in reference to the Jerusalem Embassy Act, which had been passed by the 104th Congress on October 23, 1995.

In its policy statement of the United States, the law stated that a) Jerusalem should remain an undivided city in which the rights of every ethnic and religious group are protected; b) Jerusalem should be recognized as the capital of the State of Israel; and c) the United States Embassy in Israel should be established in Jerusalem no later than May 31, 1999. However, Presidents Bill Clinton, George Bush Jr., and Barack Obama signed periodic waivers every six month to delay the implementation of the law. Back in June 2017, Trump grudgingly signed his first six-month waiver taking into consideration the counsel of his son-in-law and would-be architect of a new peace initiative, Jared Kushner, who “argued that to move the embassy then might strangle the effort before the administration had established relationships in the region.”

Trump’s narrative of achievement and self-praise also entails several political and security dilemmas beneath his declared commitment to fulfilling his electoral pledges, catering to his extreme right and evangelical base, and solidifying his drive for political isolationism under the banner of serving “America first”.

Still, his tunnel-vision allegiance to his right wing and evangelical supporters raises serious questions: to what extent did Trump really take the U.S. strategic interests to heart by honoring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wish or securing the Israeli interests? Most Arab governments are deeply consumed by civil wars in Yemen, Syria, and Libya and other domestic challenges of the premise of the 2011 social uprisings.

Was Trump’s decision a diplomatic imperative or a timely correction of America’s strategy in the Middle East when risk current management indicators usher to more alarming crises vis-à-vis ISIL’s power in Syria, growing Iranian influence in Yemen, Iraq, and Lebanon, violent infighting and return of slavery and human trafficking in Libya, or the open-ended nuclear threats of North Korea?

Trump’s with his egocentrism and showmanship tendencies, he has displayed “the ethos of a confident dealmaker who's willing to gamble to mix things up even with a miscalculated undiplomatic formula for the Israeli-Palestinian intractable conflict. 

BROADCASTING IN NIGERIA: ROLE OF REGULATORY AGENCIES AND REGULATIONS IN ENTHRONING A FREE AND FAIR MEDIA

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

2.1  Introduction  

Much was said in the first chapter about the necessity to take into account as regards to broadcasting in Nigeria;  a role of regulatory agencies and regulations  in enthroning free and fair media. This chapter deals with a review of various literatures and theoretical framework. Pertinently, this chapter used more of secondary data from text books, journals, government gazettes and previous related works.

2.2  Conceptual Framework

2.2.1 Historical Background

For the perspicacity of this work, a brief incursion into the past of broadcasting in Nigeria will suffice at this juncture. Beitang (2006) states: With the natural backdrop of three vegetation zones and a varied colourful topography, Nigeria has an impressive historical location, traditional festivals and durbars, which provide a rich tapestry and backdrop for Broadcasting (television and radio production). There is also a rich multi-cultural setting of about 400 indigenous cultures to fertilise creation and creativity in the area of programming.

The coming of BBC Empire service in 1932 marked the beginning of broadcasting in Nigeria. The Empire service which utilized radio signal Re-diffusion Service, RDS, was designed to enhance economic, political and cultural relationship between Britain and its colonies. The outfit became Nigeria Broadcasting service (NBS) in 1951.

   Furthermore, ordinance No. 39 of 1956 enabled the conversion of NBS to Nigerian Broadcasting

Corporation NBC, in April 1, 1957.  The same act provided for the external service of NBC, the Voice of Nigeria, which began operation in January 1, 1962. However, the three regions established TV stations as follows: West (WNTV: 1959); East (ENBS-TV: 1960); and North (RKTV: 1962).  

In 1979, all the regional radio stations came under one umbrella: Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (Betiang 2006). Prior to that time the regional TV stations were harmonized to become Nigerian Television Authority  (NTA) in 1976 (Owuamalam, 2006).   All along the ownership, control and operation of broadcasting in Nigeria were preserved exclusively for the various governments – Federal, Regional, and State (Media Rights Agenda, MRA, 2001).  In 1992, the Deregulation of Broadcasting Decree No.38 was promulgated by the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida. 

IMPACT OF COMMUNICATION IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ORGANIZATIONS IN NIGERIA: A CASE STUDY OF CUSTODIAN HOTEL GOMBE

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1  Introduction  

This chapter reviews related literature on the subject and also explores the theoretical framework guiding the research; which is the systems theory founded by the German biologist Ludwig von Bertalanffy (1950) and the stakeholder approach to internal communication by Welch and Jackson (2007).

2.2  Conceptual Framework

According to Reinchel and Ramney (2007), a conceptual framework is a set of broad ideas and principals taken from relevant fields of enquiry and used to structure a subsequent presentation. Additionally, Guba and Lincoln (2009) posit conceptual framework as a research tool intended to assist a researcher to develop awareness and understanding of the situation under scrutiny and to communicate this. Thus for this study to effectively assess the impact of communication in the management of organizations in Nigeria, the following concept are discussed for clear understanding;  .

2.2.1 The Role of Communication in Organization

Communications of clearly stated goals are the paths to achievement in any organization and the best way to begin developing employee talent (Nelson, 2007). The flow of information in an organization can be a powerful tool in motivating its workforce and retaining excising and new customers. It can therefore be seen that open communication also gives a measure of control over the work environment and allows for the improvement of each individual working situation.

BROADCASTING IN NIGERIA: ROLE OF REGULATORY AGENCIES AND REGULATIONS IN ENTHRONING A FREE AND FAIR MEDIA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1              Background to the Study

Broadcasting started in Nigeria as a relay of the British Empire services with the radio broadcasting in 1936. Before the fourth decade of the 20th Century, the British colonialists had depended on the print media for publicity and propaganda and they later added radio to their arsenal of information dissemination (Raufu, 2011).

The pattern of operation was not indigenous, and on this the station began operations with the establishment of a relay station in Victoria Island, Lagos which disseminated broadcast information to major towns in Nigeria via the wired wireless otherwise known as Rediffussion (Owuamalam, 2006).   In 1956  with the establishment of what came to be known as Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), broadcasting was incorporated under law and operated under the policies of the Federal Ministry of information.

The provisions of this law, called 1956 Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation Ordinance  stated that the corporation could carry on all such activities as may appear requisite, advantageous or convenient” and could erect, maintain wire distribution services. This law thus became the first in the nation’s history to provide the legal platform for the establishment of broadcast media in Nigeria (Udoakah, 2006).

It was not until a hundred years after the first newspaper- “Iwe Irohin Fun Awon Egba “ was read on the streets of Abeokuta, that Nigerians began to view motion pictures on tube with the establishment of the first Television station in Nigeria, and black Africa Known as Western Nigeria Television (NNTV).

This station beamed the first signals on the 31st of October 1959; thereby buttressing the allusion of Otunba et al (2005) that print media is a century older than Nigerian TV, just as it is 70 years ahead of Radio.  Since Western government of Obafemi Awolowo established the WNTV in 1959, broadcasting has continued to grow in leaps and bounds.

Primarily the multiplicity of broadcast stations is linked to the balkanization of the nation into smaller units by successful governments over the years. A major boost for the growth and development of broadcasting in Nigeria was the deregulation of broadcast media landscape, via the promulgation of Decree no 38 of 1992 (now act of parliament) establishing the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC). Hitherto, broadcast media ownership had remained an exclusive preserve of the state, as prescribed by the constitution. Section 39 (2) of 1999 Nigerian constitution explains and stipulates who can own the different media in Nigeria. It reads in parts: “Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1)b of this section, every person shall be entitled to own, establish and operate any medium for the dissemination of information, ideas and opinion” (Okunna, 2005 ).

ADMISSIBILITY OF EVIDENCE OF A CHILD UNDER NIGERIAN LAW: A CASE OF REVIEW

CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.0.0    Introduction  

Issues relating to competence and compellability of child evidence in Nigerian law of evidence are though becoming a recurrence and popular with the availability of case laws and statutes regulating the subject matter, yet it is not out of point to assert that it has not received its deserved attention[1].

However, the law of evidence remains the channel for proper regulation of the legal process and evidence has been defined as any specie of proof or probative matters legally presented at the trial of an issue, by the act of the parties and through the medium of witness records, documents, exhibits, concrete objects for the purpose of inducing belief in the mind of the court or judiciary as to their contention[2].

At Common Law, it is not all evidence given in court that may be held admissible, for instance before a child can give evidence which will be admitted, such child must be and compellable witness. Therefore, a proper attention will be given to the definition and meaning of competence and compellability, its nature and principles and the position it occupies in the law of evidence[3].

Also worthy of addressing is who child is in law? And the conditions which such child must satisfy before he or she becomes a competent and compellable witness. Importantly, as giving of evidence by a child may have some negative effects, it has been advocated that there should be a systemized way of receiving a child’s evidence with proper consideration of the situation of the child and determination of whether the child is induced by a third party[4].

1.1.0    Background to the Study

Nigeria’s judicial process which adopts the adversarial system will be incomplete without the common practice of calling witnesses. The burden of proof as to any particular fact lies on that person who wishes the court to believe in its existence[5] unless the law provides otherwise. The court does not make a practice of granting a relief not sought.[6] In any event, it is trite that wrongful admission of inadmissible evidence is not of itself a ground for the reversal of any decision. Similarly, the wrongful exclusion of admissible evidence is not of itself a ground for the reversal of any decision.

A RESEARCH PROPOSAL ON THE EFFECTS OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT ON EMPLOYEE PRODUCTION IN PRIVATE COMPANY (BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACO)

INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study

Human capital can be regarded as the prime asset of an organization and businesses need to invest in that asset to ensure their survival and growth. The organization should ensure that, it obtains and retains skilled, committed and well-motivated workforce it needs. This means taking steps to assess and satisfy future people needs and to enhance and develop the inherent capacities of people- their contributions, potential and employability- by providing learning and continuous development opportunities (Agnes, 2010).

Global competition has caused organizations to focus on every aspect of their operations, questioning how each function and process can contribute to strategic goals. Training departments are also under pressure to demonstrate their organizational value in the same terms Steed, (2000), this is because organizations spend a considerable time, effort and money in training and developing their employees, but the benefits from these efforts are not clearly visible in organizations in terms of improved productivity (Appiah, 2010).

To make development useful, it should be well planned and systematically implemented. The capacity of staff in a firm influences the ability to achieve the desired targets particularly in performance driven enterprises. Human resource is recognized as a critical resource for success. In order to sustain productivity of the organization, it is important to optimize the contribution of employees towards achievement of the aims and goals of an organization (Cole, 2002).

Beardwell and Hidden (2004) consider development as a planned process to modify attitude, knowledge or skill behavior through learning experiences to achieve effective performance in an activity or range of activities.

Corporations are offering a variety of development programs to meet their organizational needs. These include content on IT and systems, processes, procedures and business practices, industry-specific trainings, managerial or supervisory development, interpersonal skills, compliance, sales, executive development, basic skills, new employee orientation, customer service and quality.   Development is a long term education process utilizing a systematic and organized procedure by which managerial personnel learn conceptual and theoretical knowledge for general purpose.

BROADCASTING IN NIGERIA: ROLE OF REGULATORY AGENCIES AND REGULATIONS IN ENTHRONING A FREE AND FAIR MEDIA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1              Background to the Study

Broadcasting started in Nigeria as a relay of the British Empire services with the radio broadcasting in 1936. Before the fourth decade of the 20th Century, the British colonialists had depended on the print media for publicity and propaganda and they later added radio to their arsenal of information dissemination (Raufu, 2011).

The pattern of operation was not indigenous, and on this the station began operations with the establishment of a relay station in Victoria Island, Lagos which disseminated broadcast information to major towns in Nigeria via the wired wireless otherwise known as Rediffussion (Owuamalam, 2006).   In 1956  with the establishment of what came to be known as Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), broadcasting was incorporated under law and operated under the policies of the Federal Ministry of information.

The provisions of this law, called 1956 Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation Ordinance  stated that the corporation could carry on all such activities as may appear requisite, advantageous or convenient” and could erect, maintain wire distribution services. This law thus became the first in the nation’s history to provide the legal platform for the establishment of broadcast media in Nigeria (Udoakah, 2006).

It was not until a hundred years after the first newspaper- “Iwe Irohin Fun Awon Egba “ was read on the streets of Abeokuta, that Nigerians began to view motion pictures on tube with the establishment of the first Television station in Nigeria, and black Africa Known as Western Nigeria Television (NNTV).

This station beamed the first signals on the 31st of October 1959; thereby buttressing the allusion of Otunba et al (2005) that print media is a century older than Nigerian TV, just as it is 70 years ahead of Radio.  Since Western government of Obafemi Awolowo established the WNTV in 1959, broadcasting has continued to grow in leaps and bounds.