KASU JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIES
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ASSESSING THE MENACE OF KIDNAPPING IN CHIKUN, IGABI AND ZANGO KATAF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA
Full text linkKidnapping has escalated into significant security threats, with profound socio-economic and psychological effect on the victims of kidnapping in Chikun, Igabi and Zango Kataf Local Government areas of Kaduna State. The problem of kidnapping has taken a very dangerous dimension resulting to scores of deaths and destruction of properties worth hundreds of millions of naira. Scores of victims of kidnapping have suffered a great deal of bizarre phenomena including payment of millions of naira ransoms for their freedom from captivity. Many have sold their houses, properties and assets while others collected bank loans leading to financial bankruptcy. The study aimed to explore the underlying effects of kidnapping in vulnerable local government areas of Kaduna State. The study adopted structural functionalism theory which opines that societies develop social structures or institutions which perform specific functions and failure of one means failure of all. The quantitative method was adopted for the collection of data while the analysis was done using descriptive statistics. The findings from the effect of kidnapping showed that victims of kidnapping suffer from severe psychological trauma associated with rape of victims leading to spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Not only that, but also kidnapping results to force and early under- aged marriages and loss of lives of victims. The paper recommended that adequate victim support services, encompassing counselling, rehabilitation, and reintegration programs should be initiated by the government and non-governmental organizations to address the psychological, emotional, and physical trauma experienced by kidnapped victims and their families
EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTS OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND INFLATION ON ECONOMIC GROWTH IN NIGERIA (1980-2022)
Full text linkThis paper investigates the Effects of Unemployment and Inflation on Economic Growth in Nigeria (1980-2022). The study explores the relationships between real GDP, inflation, and unemployment, highlighting both short- and long-term effects. Real GDP (RGDP) was used as the dependent variable while Unemployment Rates (UNEM) and Inflation Rate (INF) represent the independent variables to explain how RGDP responds to changes in them. Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) unit root test, Multicollinearity Test and Bounds Test were conducted based on which Autoregressive Distributive model and Error Correction Model (ECM) were employed for estimation. Model Fit and Diagnostics R-squared indicates that about 66.3% of the variation in the change in RGDP is explained by the model. The study revealed that Economic growth (GDP) is more responsive to persistent or structural changes than to short-term volatility, highlighting the limited influence of economic shocks on output. The results also show the presence long-term equilibrium relationship among GDP, inflation, and unemployment, with a slow rate of adjustment back to equilibrium. Also, there is a limited causality between inflation and GDP and a unidirectional causality from unemployment to GDP, suggesting that while unemployment can predict GDP changes, GDP does not significantly influence unemployment. The study recommends that Government should prioritize reducing unemployment rates to sustain economic growth, ensure steady inflation management, which would benefit long-term GDP growth without creating volatility and build flexible mechanisms to adjust gradually to economic shocks
EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF DEFENSE EXPENDITURE AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN WEST AFRICA (1993-2023)
Full text linkThis study investigates the impact of defense expenditure on economic growth in selected West African countries over the period 1993–2023. Despite ongoing debates about whether military spending stimulates or hinders growth, empirical evidence on West Africa remains limited and inconclusive. Using annual panel data on a data sourced from the World Bank’s World Development Indicators (WDI), Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) military expenditure database, and IMF publications, the study applies a Discrete Threshold Regression model to capture potential non-linear effects, alongside complementary econometric techniques including panel unit root tests, cointegration analysis, and causality testing. The results reveal a heterogeneous relationship between defense expenditure and economic growth across countries and income thresholds. Specifically, while moderate defense spending appears to support growth through enhanced security and investment confidence, excessive allocations crowd out productive investment and dampen long-term economic performance. The findings underscore the dual role of defense expenditure as both a necessity for national stability and a potential burden on scarce fiscal resources. Policy implications highlight the need for balanced military budgets, improved defense efficiency, and stronger regional cooperation to ensure that defense spending complements rather than constrains growth. This study contributes to the literature by offering fresh empirical insights and policy directions for harmonizing defense and development objectives in West Africa
CAN TAXING THE INFORMAL SECTOR IMPROVE REVENUE GENERATION IN SELECTED NORTH CENTRAL STATES IN NIGERIA?
Full text linkMany developing countries are currently grappling with chronic fiscal deficits that hinder their ability to finance essential public expenditures. To address this challenge, several governments have turned to taxing the informal sector as a viable revenue source. The present study investigates can taxing the informal sector contributes to revenue generation of Nigeria. To accomplish this objective, the researchers administered 448 throuugh Likert scale structured questionnaires to participants within the selected North central states (Abuja, Kogi, and Nigger). Responses were presented and summarized using descriptive statistical tools and regression to ascertained the result. The findings demonstrated that taxing the informal sector would significantly increase government revenue and contribute positively to the economic development. The study concludes that there a positive and significant influence of informal sector on revenue generation. Based on the conclusion, it recommended that measures to strengthen revenue generation among informal sector operators is to intensified and effective monitoring by auditing informal businesses. Also, reduction of multiple and overlapping taxation; and supportive reforms to facilitate voluntary compliance and sustainable revenue mobilization. Policy maker and government ought to show accountability and transparency in order to build trust in the informal sector business for tax remittance and compliance
EXPLORING THE OIL PRICES AND UNEMPLOYMENT NEXUS IN SELECTED SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN COUNTRIES
Full text linkThis study aims to provide an empirical answer to the question of whether increase in oil price affects unemployment rate in some of the Sub-Saharan African countries namely Botswana. Burkina Faso, Burundi, Ethiopia, Ghana, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mauritania, Rwanda, Togo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Tanzania. The data for this study was secondary and was collected from African Development Indicators (ADI), International Energy Agency (IEA), International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Development Indicators (WDI), Energy Information Administration (EIA) of United State and United Nations Statistical Division (UNSD). This study covers the period of 1992 to 2021 of the 16 sub–Saharan African selected major oil importing countries. The model was estimated using panel ARDL PMG method. The results reveal that increase in oil price has a significant positive impact on the unemployment rate in the sixteen selected sub-Saharan African oil importing countries. The policy implication is that policy makers/ government need to consider investment and provision of alternative energy sources with the objective to reduce the cost of production of firms is recommended
GOVERNANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE OFF-GRID ELECTRIFICATION: A TRANSITION MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE FROM NIGERIA
Full text linkMost energy-transition research overlooks how governance shapes community renewable energy initiatives in rural developing contexts. This study applies Transition Management (TM) to examine governance arrangements for off-grid electrification in Nigeria. Using a qualitative case study approach, data were collected through 24 semi-structured interviews with regulators, ministries, agencies, community actors, and researchers, as well as documentary evidence. Thematic analysis mapped empirical patterns to core TM dimensions, including transition arena composition, visioning and pathway development, coordination, market support, and business models. Findings reveal that the transition arena is dominated by federal actors, with limited involvement of communities, NGOs, private developers, and sub-national governments. Additionally, unclear institutional mandates and inconsistently implemented incentives erode legitimacy, community ownership, and investor confidence. The study proposes a governance roadmap featuring broadened participation, clearer role definitions, time-consistent incentive frameworks, and cooperative ownership models. The paper contributes to energy transition scholarship by adapting TM to a rural African context and providing actionable policy mechanisms for accelerating community-scale renewable transition
CRITICAL REVIEW OF ADVANCED DECISION-MAKING FRAMEWORKS/TECHNIQUES AVAILABLE TO MANAGERS IN BUSINESSES
Full text linkThe chief objectives of this study are to contribute to the existing knowledge and literature by conceptually reviewing some of the advanced decision-making frameworks and techniques available for supporting managers of establishment in their decision-making responsibilities and to investigate the extent of their utilization by business managers. Thus, various frameworks in decision making (such as the Analytic Hierarchy Process, DELPHI Method, Cynefin Framework, Decision Matrix Analysis, SMART, and MAUT, among others) were conceptually reviewed and found to be capable of supporting managers in resolving complex decision problems. The survey approach allowed the study to utilize primary data sources (mainly structured interviews and questionnaires) to retrieve pertinent data from managers of the ten randomly selected and notable enterprises in Nigeria. With the employment of T-Test Statistics in SPSS (ver. 25), the study found that there is limited familiarity and application of aforementioned advanced decision-making frameworks by managers of business enterprises in Nigeria – who instead were majorly familiar with the application of conventional decision approaches such as SWOT, PESTLE, et cetera. This explains the recommendation proffered by the study – for the sponsorship of business managers to on-the-job training, such as courses, workshops, conferences, seminars, webinars, symposiums, and other professional decision skills training, especially on those that would train and polish their skill on modern utilization of advanced decision making frameworks for solving decision problem in a complex environment
INVESTMENT CLIMATE REFORM AS A CATALYST FOR INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA: MYTH OR REALITY?
Full text linkThe study examines the degree at which investment climate reforms perform a catalytic role for inclusive development in Nigeria. In the last two decades, a number of policy reforms which targeted improved ease of doing business, foreign direct investment attraction as well as stimulation of growth in the private sector have been pursued by the national government of Nigeria. Nonetheless, the real impact of such moves on reducing poverty, creating employment and equitable access to economic opportunities remains questionable/undesirable. Using descriptive statistics and regression methodology, the study investigates the relationship between regulatory improvements like efficient business registration, tax incentives including reforms in financial sector and measures of inclusive development across different socioeconomic groups and regions within Nigeria. From the findings, a modest economic benefit and investors’ confidence growth have been achieved, but the distribution of such gains remains uneven. The study unveiled factors like structural bottlenecks, weak institutional capacity, and regional disparities continue to limit the trickle-down effects of such reforms. Hence, a more targeted and integrated policy approach are proposed as effective response to the critical question: Are Nigeria’s investment climate reforms a genuine engine of inclusive growth or just a well-crafted myth
IMPACT OF NATIONAL HOME-GROWN SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAM ON POVERTY REDUCTION IN SOBA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, KADUNA STATE NIGERIA
Full text linkThis paper assesses the impact of National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) on poverty in Soba Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The study utilizes across sectional survey data collected from a sample of 187 service providers in the study area in 2023 both before the engagement in the programme and during the programme, while Foster Greerand Thorbecke poverty index and logit regression were employed in the data analyses. The study used 2 poverty lines (Z) of $2.15 and #369, which are the poverty thresholds recommended by the World Bank (2020) and National Bureau of Statistics (2019) respectively. The results of the computed FGT indices suggest that poverty status of service providers was higher before the programme (0.850) than during the programe (0.075). However, the result from the logit regression showed that household size is the only significant determinant of poverty among the selected service providers with P-values of 0.056. Accordingly, the study recommends the need for periodic review of the contract agreement for the actors’ budget to reflect the current inflationary situation and also, the project should be on a contract basis lasting for a minimum of 2 to 3 years. Moreover, the study recommends the need for consistency of the programme, as the study found that it used to be suspended for some weeks before it later continued
THE IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING ON SHARES VALUE OF LISTED INDUSTRIAL GOODS COMPANIES IN NIGERIA
Full text linkIn recent years, stakeholders have consistently clamored for increased disclosure of information in the financial statements essential for economic and social decisions. This demand is based on the growing uneasiness about a firm’s wealth valuation which relied partial information as a result of not valuing information on non-physical assets, as well as on other non-financial information. Hence, this study examines the impact of environmental reporting on shares value of listed industrial goods companies in Nigeria. This study adopted ex post facto research design. The population of this study consisted of 13 industrial goods companies listed on the Nigeria Exchange Group (NEG) as at 2020. In view of the nature of the model used in the study, filters were employed to arrive at an adjusted population of 11 companies in Nigeria. Data for the study was extracted from the published annual financial statements of industrial goods companies, covering a period of ten (10) years from 2011 to 2020. The shares value was measured by regressing Tobin’s Q, and descriptive statistics was used. The study found statistical evidence that environmental reporting has significant and positive influence on shares value, the study concluded that voluntary environmental reporting is a viable reporting strategy for increasing the value and information content of annual reports of industrial goods companies in Nigeria. the study recommended that the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria should make the disclosure of environmental information mandatory in the industrial goods sector because it leads to improvement in the information content of financial reports and increases the market performance of the companies