26 research outputs found
An empirical investigation of the efficiency, effectiveness and economy of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation's management of Nigeria's upstream petroleum sector.
No full textThis thesis empirically investigates how well the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) ensures value for money (VfM) in its exploitation of Nigerias oil resources. This focus on VfM distinguishes the study from other researches carried out on the performance of national oil companies (NOCs) where the common approach in the literature has been to assess performance using the metrics applicable to private oil companies. The rationale for the new approach is that the NNPC is a quasi-public sector organisation and thus its performance should be measured in the same way as that of public sector bodies and state owned enterprises (SOEs). Informed opinions on NNPCs management roles in Nigerias oil and gas upstream sector were sought from a range of relevant experts in twelve stakeholder groups involved in oil and gas upstream operations. Data were collected through the use of questionnaire and interview surveys, and further subjected to statistical analysis to determine and assess significant differences in views between respondent groups. The empirical results obtained from the questionnaires were used to draw a conclusion on the hypotheses formulated for the study. Furthermore, the findings of the interview survey were used to validate the conclusions drawn. The study revealed that the NNPC was perceived to be deficient in keeping its mandate of adding value to Nigerias hydrocarbon resources. In specific terms, the respondents were of the view that NNPC has not been able to ensure VfM in its operations because of defects in its organisational structure, administrative system, and accountability. External factors such as political interference, instability and an inappropriate legal framework against which NNPC operates have also been perceived to impede the corporations performance. The main conclusions were: firstly, it is argued that the use of conventional private sector metrics to evaluate the performance of NOCs makes it difficult to form an appropriate view on their performance. Secondly, NOCs with numerous conflicting roles as is the case with NNPC are unlikely to achieve satisfactory performance. Thirdly, the NNPC lacks the capability required to ensure multinational oil companies (MOC) conformity with operational provisions and best practice. Finally, the thesis concludes that establishing a standardised performance/benchmarking framework is an essential requirement to ensure value addition, VfM and accountability in Nigerias oil and gas operations
A theoretical and empirical investigation into the design and implementation of an appropriate tax regime: an evaluation of Nigeria's petroleum taxation arrangements.
No full textThis thesis provides a structure for understanding the various issues in the design and implementation of a petroleum tax system. Its main objective is to examine whether the Nigerian petroleum tax system is appropriately designed to achieve the benefits the country desires from its petroleum contractual arrangements. Informed by the literature reviewed, economic rent theory was adopted as a theoretical framework in the thesis. While other theories could have been applied as a framework, economic rent theory was deemed to be most appropriate because taxes levied on economic rent are not generally perceived to act as a disincentive to the initiation or continuation of business operations. Informed views on the petroleum fiscal system used in Nigeria were sought from a range of experts in the field via a large scale questionnaire. The empirical data collected were then subjected to statistical analysis to determine the overall response patterns of the respondents for each of the 58 variables surveyed. This analysis enabled tentative conclusions to be drawn about the validity of various hypotheses developed in the thesis. Further analysis was carried out to determine and critically assess statically significant responses between respondent groups. The study revealed that the Nigerian petroleum taxation system was viewed as being well-designed, insofar as it protects the interests of both the government and the international oil companies operating within Nigeria. Furthermore, the expert respondents were of the view that a majority of the measures put in place to ensure compliance with the petroleum taxation system have been effective. However, the study revealed differences in views amongst the various groups of experts to some questions which suggests that some groups may have articulated views based on partisan values. The differences suggest that the different groups may have vested interests in the petroleum taxation system. Given the role these groups play in the petroleum fiscal system in Nigeria, it is argued that these vested interests may well have negatively affected the design and operation of the petroleum fiscal system. This finding may have important implications for the future design and operation of the Nigerian petroleum taxation system. The literature reviewed and survey data analysed resulted in a number of conclusions. First, it is argued that it is very difficult to make a single petroleum tax system that serves the needs of different countries. Second, it is suggested Nigerias petroleum tax regime is predicated upon a desire to capture as much revenue as possible for the government. Third, the thesis concludes that the implementation processes of the Nigerian petroleum tax system are fundamentally weak and require further improvement. Fourth, it is also the conclusion of this thesis that the Nigerian petroleum tax system lacks the capacity for timely review. Finally, it is shown that the Nigerian petroleum tax system is sensitive to changes in tax regulations across oil producing countries
An empirical investigation of transfer pricing regulations for Nigeria with a particular emphasis on the petroleum sector.
No full textThis research critically investigates the adoption and implementation of transfer pricing regulations in Nigeria with a particular emphasis on the petroleum sector. It opportunely chose Nigeria as a case study of transfer pricing issues in developing countries as Nigeria was devising and implementing its own transfer pricing regulation. In early 2012, Nigeria issued draft transfer pricing regulations for consultation with a view to publishing them at the end of the same year. In order to gauge the reaction of the stakeholders in Nigeria to the adoption and implementation of transfer pricing regulations and other related issues, a questionnaire was designed and administered to 140 respondents from eight different stakeholders groups including Nigerian tax authority, multinational companies in the petroleum sector and other organisations involved in tax matters. The questionnaire elicited their views on the (i) form of adoption of transfer pricing regulations; (ii) motive behind the adoption of the regulations; (iii) administrative resource capacity of the Nigerian tax authority; (iv) barriers that might hinder successful implementation of the regulations; and (v) needs for guidance and support. Institutional theory and resource-based view were employed as a theoretical lens through which to guide the study and to provide a platform against which to analyse the responses to the questionnaire and the interviews. The analysis of the responses to the questionnaire was thus undertaken subsequent to the adoption of the transfer pricing system which enabled informed reflection and critical analysis to be carried out on the results of the analysis. In addition, interviews with 16 experts were conducted subsequent to the issue and preliminary analysis of the responses to the questionnaire in order to gauge their reaction to the views being expressed by the respondents. This enabled a reflective analysis to be undertaken when assessing the information content emerging from the responses. The findings of the study indicate that the OECD transfer pricing framework, which is the transfer pricing system of choice amongst the developed countries, is not the most preferred framework for the regulation of transfer pricing in Nigeria. It also reveals that whilst the Nigerian tax authority has the administrative capacity to develop a transfer pricing team and other necessary platforms for the adoption and implementation of transfer pricing regulations, the lack of sufficient transfer pricing experts, political will and inadequate comparable information are the major potential barriers that might hinder the successful implementation of transfer pricing regulations in Nigeria. These findings should enable policy makers and other stakeholders in Nigeria to review their transfer pricing policies and find a way to overcome the identified potential barriers. This thesis is the first of its kind to empirically investigate the transfer pricing regulations in Nigeria with a particular emphasis on the petroleum sector. It also further establishes the use of institutional theory and resource-based view framework in transfer pricing studies and especially, by extending its application to the adoption and implementation of transfer pricing regulations with a particular emphasis on the petroleum sector
An Empirical Investigation of the Regulatory Governance Practice of Nigeria’s Downstream Petroleum Sector
No full textTIJJANI, G.M., 2014. An empirical investigation of the regulatory governance practice of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector
Decision-usefulness of oil and gas historical cost and supplementary present value disclosures - A revisit of the misspecification hypothesis
No full textThis paper revisits the historical cost versus present value measures/value-relevance controversy: a consideration of whether historical cost and present value disclosures provide comparable decision-useful information
The Four Domains Model of Artificial Intelligence in Surgical Education: Adapting Applications to Trainee Level
No full textSince the inception of modern medicine, surgical trainees have benefitted from coaching and feedback from senior surgeons. In the high-demand operating room environment, granular feedback is often limited by time constraints. Artificial intelligence (AI) represents a novel frontier in surgical education in that it may be able to provide reliable, objective, and comprehensive feedback in an automated manner. While prior studies have given broad overviews of AI in surgical training, there has been no study to our knowledge that has codified the myriad applications and offered guidance for which applications best suit trainees at various levels of surgical education. We aim to describe four key domains under which surgical training AI applications can be classified. We define which applications would best suit junior, intermediate, and experienced surgeons by matching their educational needs. The four domains include: enhanced simulation (realistic and safe training environment), real time visual cues (guidance for safe planes of dissection and steps of the operation), automated performance metrics (analyzing kinematic data with immediate feedback and potential improvements in operative efficiency and surgical technique), and surgical decision-making (utilizing metacognition to develop surgical gestalt). Each of these tenants represents a key step in surgical trainees’ development, from practicing technical skills on high fidelity models as a junior trainee to more advanced surgical decision-making as an advanced practitioner. We aim to provide a comprehensive framework for surgical mentors, training programs, and trainees in order to maximize benefits with the use of AI technologies
Effect of Celiac Disease on Outcomes After Posterior Lumbar Fusion: A Matched Cohort Study.
No full textOBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze if celiac disease (CD) is associated with increased postoperative complications following single-level posterior lumbar fusion (PLF).
METHODS: A retrospective database review was performed using the PearlDiver dataset. The study population included all patients older than 18 years who underwent elective PLF with diagnosis of CD using International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. Study patients were compared with controls for 90-day medical complications and 2-year surgical complications including 5-year reoperation rates. A multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the independent effect of CD on the postoperative outcomes.
RESULTS: A total of 909 patients with CD and 4483 patients in the matched control group who underwent primary single-level PLF were included in this study. CD patients had a significantly increased risk of 90-day emergency department (ED) visit (OR 1.28; P = 0.020). CD patients also demonstrated higher rates of 2-year pseudarthrosis and instrument failure, but they were statistically comparable (P \u3e 0.05). There was no difference in 5-year reoperation rate. There were also no significant differences in 90-day medical complication rate and 2-year surgical complication rate between the two groups. In addition, there were no differences in procedure cost and 90-day cost.
CONCLUSIONS: For CD patients undergoing PLF, the current study demonstrated increased rate of 90-day ED visit. Our findings may be useful for patient counseling and surgical planning for those with this condition
No Difference in Two-Year Revisions Between Hybrid Fusion and Two-Level Anterior Discectomy and Fusion: A National Database Study.
No full textSTUDY DESIGN: Retrospective Cohort.
OBJECTIVE: This study utilized a large national database to compare two-year revision rates, in addition to complications and costs, of hybrid surgery (HS) compared to two-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).
METHODS: This study used the PearlDiver Mariner dataset selecting for patients aged 18 and older who had at least 90-day active longitudinal follow-up who underwent two-level ACDF or two-level Hybrid surgery (single level ACDF and single level CDA). Patients with prior spinal trauma, infection, cancer, or posterior fusion were excluded. Primary outcomes measures were 90-day major and minor medical complications, ED visits, readmissions, as well as two-year revisions. Patients were also assessed for postoperative dysphagia, incidental durotomy, vascular injury, 90-day surgical site, and implant complications. Additionally, hospitalization and postoperative costs were evaluated.
RESULTS: There were 4570 two-level ACDF surgeries and 888 hybrid surgeries. After matching the cohorts, no statistical differences in demographics were found. There were no differences in reoperation rates at all measured time points nor 2-year complications. HS had a lower incidence of major (1.6% vs 3.1%,
CONCLUSION: Hybrid surgery is a safe and effective surgical treatment for cervical disease in appropriately selected patients
