ESUT JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

THE IMPACT OF BUDGET PADDING ON INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH EAST GEOPOLITICAL ZONE OF NIGERIA

Uloma Bridget Egwuagu — 2026-03-31

This study investigated the impact of budget padding on infrastructure development in Nigeria, using the South East geopolitical zone as a case study. The objectives were to examine the extent to which budget padding affects the timely execution and quality of infrastructure projects and to assess the relationship between budget padding practices and the misallocation or diversion of public funds meant for infrastructural development in the region. A descriptive survey research design was adopted to gather data from a cross-section of stakeholders including government officials, legislators, contractors, civil society members, and community leaders across Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states. Using a multistage sampling technique, 200 respondents were selected, and data were collected through structured questionnaires. Simple percentages and linear regression analysis were employed to analyze the data and test the hypotheses. The findings revealed a significant relationship between budget padding and the diversion of public funds, as well as its negative impact on the timely execution and quality of infrastructure projects in the South East. The study concluded that budget padding undermines infrastructure delivery by enabling the misallocation of resources and promoting fiscal indiscipline. It recommends enhanced oversight by anti-corruption agencies, civil society, and the National Assembly, alongside strict legal sanctions against individuals found guilty of budget manipulation.

Does Financial Openness Matter for International Capital Mobility in ECOWAS?

Richard O Ojike — 2026-03-31

Low savings mobilization in Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) nations negatively affects their ability to fund domestic investments. Looking beyond the domestic savings to fund the high demand for domestic investments in ECOWAS countries, this study investigated the influence of financial openness on international capital mobility in ECOWAS countries from 1986 to 2023. The model framework was based on the Feldstein-Horioka saving-investment correlation technique for measuring international capital mobility. Using the augmented mean group (AMG), the study found that de jure financial openness has an increasing influence on international capital mobility in ECOWAS, while de facto financial openness has an insignificant effect. The country-specific results show that de jure financial openness has an increasing effect on international capital mobility in Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo but a discouraging influence in Nigeria. The de facto financial openness exhibited an increasing influence on international capital mobility in Côte d’Ivoire and Sierra Leone and a discouraging influence in Benin. The study recommends that ECOWAS countries strengthen their de jure financial openness to increase their access to foreign capital for domestic investment financing. The increase in de jure financial openness should be implemented cautiously to minimize unanticipated negative consequences.

Democratic Governance and Educational Development in Nigeria

Martin Onwudinjo Ugada — 2026-03-31

This paper examines democratic governance and educational development in Nigeria. Focus on Ebonyi State (2015-2024). The research objective was to ascertain how democratic governance had influenced education in Ebonyi State. The population of the study was 1,503 with a sample size of 316. The descriptive survey research design was applied because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. Both primary and secondary sources were used to elicit data which were analysed by means of simple percentages, frequencies and mean scores, while the chi-square statistical tool was applied in the test of hypothesis. With chi-square value (280.87) > critical value (2.733) democratic governance has not significantly influenced educational development in Ebonyi State. The study, therefore, recommended that Ebonyi State government should endeavour to employ the funds budgeted for education in the state to that purpose so as to exterminate illiteracy, ignorance and poverty in the state. This goal can be achieved through effective democratic governance.

Accelerating Creativity as a Pinnacle of Professional Practice in Accountancy, Early Childhood Education and Psychology in Nigeria

Chinyere J Ugboaku — 2026-03-31

The study investigated the role of creativity in professional practice among three distinct fields in Nigeria- Accountancy, Early Childhood Education and Psychology- aiming to assess the levels of creative application, perception and challenges across the professions. a descriptive survey design was employed, involving 150 participants (50 from each profession) aged 30 to 60 years. Data were collected using a researcher- developed instrument, the creativity in professional practice questionnaire (CPPQ), comprising 16 likert-scale items. The reliability of the instrument was confirmed with a Cronbach’s alpha of de .76. Descriptive statistics and inferential analyses, including one-way ANOVA and independent t-tests, were used to test four null hypotheses at a 0.05 significance level. Results indicated that Early Childhood Educators reported the highest average creativity score (M-4.29), followed by Psychologists (M=3.91) and Accountants (M=3.40). ANOVA revealed a statistically significant difference in creativity application across professions (f(2,147)=9.86,p<0.001). Also, no significant difference was observed on years of experience (t-1.32,p<0.0188). Professional-specific barriers were also statistically significant (f(2,147)=6.45,p<.0.002), similarly, significant differences were found across age groups (f(2,147)=5.27, p<0.006) groups with younger professionals (ages 30-40) showing greater creative engagement. However, Accountants’ citing regulatory restrictions, psychologists citing institutional rigidity and educators noting lack of instructional materials. The study concludes that creativity is a vital but unevenly distributed professional skill in Nigeria. It recommends that professional bodies and policymakers incorporate creativity-enhancing strategies into training, workplace practice and national development plans to foster innovation across sectors.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND WORK ENGAGMENT AMONG NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY LECTURERS

Leonard N. Ezeh — 2026-03-31

This study examined the relationship between emotional intelligence and work engagement among Lecturers at Nnamdi Azikiwe University and the moderating role of psychological capital in this relationship. A total of 273 academic staff conveniently sampled from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, participated in the study. Correlational design and multiple regression statistics were adopted for the study. Work Engagement Scale, Emotional Intelligence Scale, and Psychological Capital Questionnaire were individually administered to the respondents. The findings showed that a significant positive relationship exist between emotional intelligence and work engagement suggesting that lecturers with higher levels of emotional intelligence tended to exhibit greater dedication, vigor, and absorption in their work. Also psychological capital had a significant relationship with work engagement and moderated relationship between emotional intelligence and work engagement. It was recommended that universities should prioritize creating a conducive work environment that supports academic staff through provision of adequate physical resources, ensuring fair workload distribution, and promoting a positive organizational culture.