14 research outputs found
Appraising the Role of African Union: the New Partnership for Africa’s Development in Conflict prevention and Management in Africa
No full textAbstract
The New Partnership for Africa’s Development is the latest in a long line of initiatives or framework intended by African leaders to place African continent on a path of growth and sustainable development. The development challenges that face Africa are enormous and varied. Th e crisis of political instability, bad governance, lack of peace and security, poverty and diseases like HIV/AIDs. NEPAD recognized peace and security as condition for good governance and sustainable development. Therefore, in absence of peace and security, democracy and good governance cannot strive and where there is no good governance, we cannot witness sustainable development. This paper argues that peace and security has been elusive in much of Africa. The failure of the Organisation of African Unity to ensure peace and security in Africa and to address Africa’s post-cold war legion of challenges, the successor organisation, the African Union and its attendant development programme, the NEPAD were established. The first issue which is critical to NEPAD is, solving armed conflict and civil unrest on the continent. Currently, twenty percent of the people of Africa are living in condition of conflict. These conditions cause terrible suffering and hold back economic development in the affected countries. The extent of conflict is so great that the whole continent is affected and this creates a major barrier to inward investment. On the resolution, NEPAD is in a position to make considerable progress. It was learnt in Sierra Lone that with concentrated international eff ort, conflict can be successfully ended and institutions of a properly functioning state can begin to be rebuilt. The paper therefore examines the origin of the NEPAD, NEPAD and challenges of peace and security in Africa and involvement of AU/NEPAD in Darfur and Cote D’Ivoire crises. It further discusses the AU/NEPAD conflict mechanisms for conflict prevention, management and resolution and draw conclusion.</jats:p
Ensuring good governance through parliamentary control of administrative agencies: A critique
No full textParliamentary institutions are central to most systems of government but their role within the structure of government varies from one country to another. Not only are there differences in terms of their specific powers, but also in measure of power/influence exercised within the framework of normative rules or legal system of a nation to guarantee good governance. The objectives of this paper are to overview parliaments around the world vis-à-vis their control of administrative agencies, especially in Britain and United States of America and to highlight the forms of control that the Nigerian National Assembly exerts on the administrative agencies. The writers rely on published and unpublished materials such as textbooks; articles in journals, conferences and work shop documents, law reports; newspapers; magazine; and internet facility. The paper concluded that the parliamentary control of administrative agencies depends largely on the type of parliamentary system being practiced either uni-cameral or bi-cameral legislature or even presidential or parliamentary. It is suggested that care must be taken not only to ensure that the electorates choose their proper representatives to National or State Assembly, but there should equally be good electoral laws to ensure that, the choice of the people are not defeated as a result of electoral fraud because the failure or success of a state depends largely on the nature of its legislators.Key words: Legislature, Good Governance, Oversight, Impeachment, Investigatio
African Peer Review Mechanism and Crisis of Good Governance in Africa
No full textThe transformation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) into the African Union (AU) in July 2002 at the Heads of State Summit in Durban, South Africa increased hopes for the African continent as it grappled with a broad range of challenges. These hopes were further bolstered with the adoption of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) as the AU’s framework for development. NEPAD recognises governance, peace and security as central precondition for development. The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) by which African countries are judged on their compliance with stated norms of governance is a remarkable innovation designed to facilitate the delivery not only of good governance but also peace and security. Moreover, security within the context of a new African Union has taken on a broader meaning since the end of the cold war from a traditional state-centric and ideologically- inspired concept to encompassing a human security approach. From this holistic perspective, the threats to human security in Africa remain a challenge for the AU and NEPAD. Similarly, failure to manage Africa’s diverse peoples and resources has resulted in devastating conflicts across the continent. While governance and security are not the only challenges in Africa, it seems clear that the process towards the continent’s renewal would need to proceed on a sound governance and security base. Moreover, as the dominantinstitutions and programmers representing the collective vision of the continent, success in dealing with Africa’s security and governance issue will largely depend on the AU/NEPAD and its programmes that is, APRM. Keywords: NEPAD, peer review mechanism,good governanc
POROSITY OF UGANDA BORDERS AND TRANSNATIONAL CRIMES: EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY CRIME MANAGEMENT MECHANISMS
No full textThe East Africa community which was reinstated by the East African countries in 2000 after its establishment in 1967 and collapsed in 1977 has underscored the importance of peace and security in order to ensure a successful process of regional integration regarding the control of cross border crimes. In order to enhance cooperation in fighting cross border crimes, a council on Interstate security has been established and some key areas of focus are implementation of the protocol on illicit drug trafficking; small arms and light weapons management programme; and Cooperation in police matters. The thrust of this paper are therefore to trace the evolution of the East African Community and to examine the nature of transnational crimes across Uganda borders. The paper further highlights the porosity situation of Uganda borders and some strategies or mechanisms employed by the East African Community States to address the challenges posed by informal trades in East Africa Community countries borders. The writers relied on primary sources like Charters, Conventions, Treaties and protocols; and secondary sources which include textbook, theses, articles in journals, newspapers and internet facilities. The paper concluded that the East Africa Community states should try into integrate informal trades along their borders to formal trades instead of a faith accompli effort to eliminate informal trades
Curbing religious extremism of Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria: Judicial interventionism and human rights absolutism
No full text
GENDER DISCRIMINATION UNDER THE NIGERIAN LEGAL SYSTEM: AN APPRAISAL
No full textDespite the existence of constitutional provisions and commitments of regional and international human rights conventions, the rights of female are grossly violated and devalued in Nigeria and many African countries. The establishment of structures of inequality has generated gender discrimination against women. Although, women play vital roles in nation development, they do not have equal share of land, credit, education, employment, and political power with men. Fundamentally, women have been subjected to domination by men as a result of persisting cultural stereotype, abuse of religious and traditional practices, patriarchal societal structures in which economic, political and social powers are dominated by men. This article examines the concept of female gender discrimination and empowerment, its background and its causes in Nigeria. This study reveals that in spite of the existence of various legal frameworks protecting women against discrimination, the practices continue in Nigeria. It further reveals that Islamic law protects women\u27s rights in Quran and Sunnah contrary to some expressed negative opinions. To accomplish the thrust of this study, the writers employed primary and secondary sources like international, national and regional instruments on human rights, Nigerian Constitution, Quran and Sunnah. Others are text books, journals and internet. The study recommends for the abrogation of practices that discriminate against women, amendment of provisions of Nigerian legislations that discriminate against women and to restructure some federal agencies that discriminate against women folk
East African Community Common Market Protocol On Free Movement Of Labour In Burundi: Prospects And Challenges
No full textThe five EAC countries as a way of moving forward with integration process, jointly established a Common Market which would provide for free movement of factors of production such as people, goods, services, money, labour, right of establishment and right to residence of the EAC citizens within EAC member states. This will be in addition to free movement of goods under the Custom Union. The protocol on the establishment of EAC Common Market entered into force on 1st July 2010, following ratification by all the five partner states and this protocol was signed by Heads of States on 20th November 2009, coinciding with 10th anniversary celebrations of the revived Community. The objectives of this paper are therefore to trace the evolution of East African Community Common Market Protocol, to examine the provisions on free movement of labour in East African Community, legal provisions on Common Market Protocol, prospects and challenges of Common Market Protocol on the free movement of labour in Burundi. The writers relied on published and unpublished materials like Treaty for the Establishment of East African Community 1999, Protocol on the Establishment of the East African Community Common Market 2009, Protocol on the Establishment of East African Community Custom Union 1999, text books and articles in journals. Others are Newspapers and Internet materials. The writers recommended that for effective free movement of labour in Burundi, there is need for elimination/adjustment of domestic laws to fit in EAC-CMP, there is need for increase on infrastructure investment in order to reduce the cost of doing business and facilitate efficiency in production, transportation and delivery of goods and services to the people of East Africa, need for promotion of joint border regular meetings and Sensitisation of Burundians about Common Market Protocol
Gender differences in a selected Year 9 recommended English textbook
No full textContext: The study examines gender representation in a Year 9 English textbook used at Vera Grace College, Lagos, where the author observed gender biases and stereotypes that potentially influenced students' perceptions of career choices and domestic roles. The context is a diverse classroom with students from various socio-cultural and religious backgrounds.
Aims: The main aim of the study was to explore and understand the presence and impact of gender differences in the selected English textbook on Year 9 students' perceptions. The research specifically sought to uncover whether the textbook influenced students' choices of careers, domestic roles, and games, and to evaluate the effectiveness of implementing gender-neutral teaching strategies in altering these perceptions.
Methods: The study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative data. It involved the use of reflective journals, close-ended questionnaires, essay tests, and textbook analysis. To address the identified gender biases, the researcher implemented a series of action plans over four weeks, which included designing gender-neutral instructional materials, engaging students in balanced activities, inviting resource persons from various professions, and conducting interviews and questionnaires before and after the interventions to assess changes in perceptions.
Findings: The study revealed that the textbook in question portrayed careers and activities in a gender-biased manner, leading to stereotypical perceptions among students. For instance, male students predominantly chose careers like engineering and law, while female students preferred nurturing roles like nursing. Post-intervention, the students showed improved understanding and acceptance of gender-neutral career options and roles. The interventions positively influenced the students, as all participants recognized that nursing could be a profession for both males and females, and they began to see sports and domestic chores as gender-neutral.
Implications: The study suggests that teachers might benefit from being vigilant about the gender biases present in textbooks and should consider using supplementary gender-neutral resources. Individual teachers could use similar intervention strategies, such as gender-neutral materials and inviting diverse role models, to challenge gender stereotypes in their classrooms. This could potentially broaden students' perspectives on career choices and roles beyond traditional gender expectations
