Journal of Governance and Development (JGD)
The Journal of Governance and Development (JGD) (Formerly known as Jurnal Rekayasa) is an international, multidisciplinary journal published by the School of Government, College of Law, Government and International Studies (COLGIS), Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM). A manuscript submitted to the Editorial Board for consideration must be an original unpublished work, not under consideration for publication elsewhere. The JGD provides a venue for sharing and discussion of problems and issues in the developing world. It considers theoretical and empirical articles that deal with the governance and developmental issues from interrelated disciplinary viewpoints. The journal welcomes contributions from scholars from the humanities and social sciences with a research interest in the developing world. Journal of Governance and Development (JGD) is publication fully funded by Universiti Utara Malaysia.
ORGANIZATIONAL INCLUSIVENESS: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF GLOBAL TRENDS AND GAPS
This research aimed to present a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the scholarly landscape on organizational inclusiveness across disciplines. Thematic structures, intellectual networks, and geographic trends were mapped using VOSviewer considering 1,308 open-access articles indexed in Scopus from 1988 to 2025. The results showed that there was a sharp increase in publications after 2020 driven by technological advancements, market pressures, and a growing global commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The five main thematic clusters identified were inclusive pedagogy, social justice, organizational governance, digital transformation, and mental well-being. The analysis also reported the dominance of research from Global North and the low contribution from the South. Several research focused on the corporate and education sectors, with limited attention to non-profit, community, and value-based organizations. A future analysis agenda was proposed to address conceptual fragmentation, geographic disparities, and developing issues, including intersectionality, belonging, and institutional transformation. The results contributed to building a more inclusive and contextual understanding of organizational practices.
Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND CROSS-ORGANIZATIONAL INTEROPERABILITY IN ELECTRONIC-BASED GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS
Digital transformation in government is reshaping the way public institutions deliver services, manage data, and interact with citizens. In Indonesia, the push toward an integrated electronic government system has been hindered by fragmented institutional behaviors and limited interoperability across ministries. This study addresses the gap by analyzing how organizational structures and interministerial dynamics affect system integration within Indonesia’s national digital governance framework. This research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative strategies. Qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews and document analysis to explore institutional behaviors and coordination mechanisms. Quantitatively, interoperability maturity was measured across four dimensions: technical, semantic, organizational, and legal, using network analysis mapping to visualize interministerial relationships and data exchange structures. The study focuses on three key ministries: The Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Bureaucratic Reform, and the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology. Findings reveal asymmetries in the maturity of interoperability among ministries. While legal and organizational dimensions show moderate alignment, semantic and technical interoperability remain underdeveloped. The Ministry of Communication and Information leads in technical and semantic areas, whereas the Ministry of Home Affairs demonstrates weaker integration. These disparities reflect autopoietic tendencies where ministries operate through self-referential logic, hindering systemic coordination. Interview data support the presence of loose coupling, symbolic compliance, and institutional path dependency that obstruct integration efforts. The research integrates systems theory and institutional theory to argue that digital transformation requires structural coupling between autonomous government systems. Without shared standards, semantic alignment, and cross-sectoral governance mechanisms, integration efforts risk being superficial. The study proposes the establishment of a National Interoperability Council to facilitate coordinated digital governance, mediate inter-agency challenges, and foster accountability. These findings offer both theoretical contributions and policy recommendations for building a more responsive and integrated digital government in Indonesia.
GREEN INNOVATION: MANAGING POST-TIN MINING LAND (ABANG TIMAH UNTUK BUDISA) IN JELUTUNG VILLAGE, BANGKA BELITUNG
This article discusses green innovation in post-tin mining land management in Jelutung Village, Bangka Belitung. The long-standing illegal mining in this area has caused significant environmental damage, leading to numerous abandoned mining pits. The innovation "Abang Timah Untuk Budisa" was launched to revitalize these lands through rice cultivation. This program aims not only to address land degradation issues but also to enhance local food security. This study employs a descriptive qualitative method, focusing on the policy implementation process using Edward III's analysis theory. The results indicate that this innovation can meet the food needs of some residents of Jelutung Village and help fill some of the abandoned mining pits. Challenges faced during the implementation of this innovation included limited availability of fertilizers and agricultural facilities, which were addressed by utilizing manure and other management techniques. Overall, the "Abang Timah Untuk Budisa" innovation successfully transformed the former mining lands into productive areas, supported food security, and provided economic benefits to the community. This study employs a qualitative method because the problem presents a general description of the issue, along with a proposed solution. The conclusion is that the problem is about preserving the environment for future generations, so everyone must strive to maintain it. This innovation has also gained national recognition, receiving awards from Menpan RB and Mendagri as one of the top 45 innovations in Indonesia.
THE POLITICS OF FAKE NEWS AND SUSTAINING NIGERIA’S DEMOCRACY: 2023 GENERAL ELECTIONS IN RETROSPECT
Information and its authenticity are necessary for a viable political system. This is because once ‘political’ news about certain issues or situations in the polity is not trusted or deemed as false, the importance of such information may be treated by the public with nonchalance. This study examines the implications of misinformation during the just-concluded 2023 general elections in Nigeria and the extent to which it has created distrust in the minds of the masses regarding the information the government disseminated to the public. It adopts the conspiracy perspective on fake news as a theoretical guide to show the prevailing situation in the nation. Data for this paper will be retrieved from secondary sources, specifically those with relevant information on the 2023 elections. These will be explained using the discourse analysis method of data analysis. Findings from the study reveal that misinformation regarding candidates and the election umpire was peddled during the 2023 general elections. This led to low voter turnout in some parts of the country. The study suggests that the government take stringent sanctions against those involved in spreading unverified news to control the damage of such information on the polity.
NIGERIA’S POLITICAL ECONOMY IN THE POST-SUBSIDY ERA: AN ASSESSMENT OF STRUCTURAL CONSTRAINTS TO NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Since the rise of the nation-state and global trade, natural resources have significantly shaped national economies and played a key role in determining economic growth and power. In Africa, however, the presence of resources and wealth has often failed to translate into sustainable development. Nigeria, despite its vast oil reserves, remains trapped in underdevelopment due to systemic inefficiencies and over-reliance on crude oil. This study examines Nigeria’s post-subsidy political economy, with a focus on the 2023 fuel subsidy removal under the Tinubu administration. Although intended to spur growth and attract investment, the policy has coincided with rising poverty, inflation, and economic stagnation. The research explicitly examines how Nigeria’s reliance on oil revenue, corruption, and import dependence affects economic diversification, stability, and development. It also examines the relationships between unemployment, inequality, insecurity, and their combined impact on Nigeria’s socio-economic development. Drawing on resource curse and conflict theory, and employing a mixed-methods approach, the study identifies political and administrative corruption, as well as low productivity, as key structural barriers to economic transformation. It argues that political corruption erodes institutional capacity, while unproductivity stems from poor resource usage and lack of diversification. The study recommends institutional reform, particularly in fiscal oversight, to bridge the gap between policy goals and developmental outcomes in resource-rich states like Nigeria. By offering a critical reappraisal of Nigeria’s resource governance, this study contributes new insights into the persistent gap between policy intentions and developmental outcomes in resource-rich states.
WOMAN MOBILIZATION IN NIGERIAN POLITICS: A HISTORICAL REVIEW
Many Nigerian women are deeply concerned about the low level of women's political mobilization in Nigeria over the decades. To address this issue, this study investigates the causes of the low level of women's political participation in Nigerian politics. This paper employed a case study design, focusing on historical antecedents and a time frame from 1999 to the present. As a form of methodology, the research uses secondary sources from the internet, government publications, newspapers, journals, and pertinent textbooks. The findings of this study are that socioeconomic variables cause low levels of women’s mobilization in political activities in Nigeria, the nation's cultural heritage, historical legacies, and instructional design considerations. The study highlights how important it is to deal with the issues that support women's subordination in Nigeria's political structure. As a result, the study concludes that all religious statutes, customs, and ordinances that hinder women's political mobilization must be changed, and that explicit implementation guidance must be provided. The need to foster greater mobilization efforts and empowerment motivated the whole essential of women's political mobilization in Nigeria due to long years of neglect.
A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF RESEARCH ON DIGITAL MATURITY: RESEARCH STREAMS, INFLUENTIAL WORKS AND FUTURE RESEARCH PATHS
This research aims to analyze bibliometrics regarding digital maturity. Digital maturity is the level of an organization's ability to utilize digital technology effectively to achieve its strategic goals. The method used in this research is qualitative research with a literature study approach. The data found was obtained and analyzed in as many as 579 documents. This research also uses VOSviewer to map and analyze data. The results of the analysis show that global trends show a significant increase in the number of publications from 2014 to 2023, reflecting increasing interest and focus in digital maturity research. China is the country that contributes the most research publications. Meanwhile, 2023 will be the highest publication year. Peng, G. is the most prolific author with 4 documents. Research trends show increasing focus throughout the decade. The increasing emphasis on digital maturity reflects a paradigm shift in understanding and dealing with the challenges and opportunities faced by society in this digital era.
ASSESSMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVANT RECRUITMENT FOR INDIGENOUS PAPUANS IN SORONG
This research explores the evaluation of the recruitment of State Civil Apparatus for Indigenous Papuans in Sorong City and the obstacles experienced by the government in recruiting State Civil Apparatus for Indigenous Papuans. The recruitment process for civil servants and state civil servants must be adjusted to three indicators: job analysis, workload analysis, and needs analysis. The novelty of this research is unique because it involves Indigenous Papuans actively in the design and implementation of the recruitment process, giving them a greater role in decisions regarding human resources in the Sorong City government. The method used in this research uses a qualitative-descriptive approach. Data sources were taken from documentary observations and interviews. The findings of this research indicate that the recruitment of State Civil Apparatus for Indigenous Papuans in developing human resources for civil servants in Sorong City is in accordance with government policy and is regulated in Law Number 21 of 2001 concerning Special Autonomy for Papua. Therefore, with the government policy in place so far, the recruitment system for State Civil Apparatus (ASN) for Indigenous Papuans (OAP) is 80 percent and for non-Indigenous Papuans, 20 percent. Then, develop a welfare and justice monitoring mechanism that focuses on Indigenous Papuans who have been recruited to ensure that they get their rights and are treated fairly in the work environment. The obstacles experienced in the recruitment system for State Civil Apparatus (ASN) are the government's budget, human resources, and inadequate infrastructure.
IMPEDIMENTS TO EFFECTIVE SOCIAL SERVICE DELIVERY IN CONFLICT-AFFECTED COMMUNITIES: AN ASSESSMENT OF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT GAPS AMONG SOCIAL WORKERS IN GONGULONG COMMUNITY, JERE, BORNO STATE, NIGERIA
The paper examines the impediments associated with effective social service delivery in the Gongulong community, a conflict-affected area in Jere, Borno State, Nigeria. The paper focuses on training and development gaps among social workers in the Gongulong community. The paper adopted a survey design and collected data from 200 social workers who were randomly selected. These workers were selected from Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), government organizations, and independent practitioners. A structured questionnaire was utilized in the data collection, and the data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The data identified the existing competencies, challenges, and professional development needs among social workers in the Gongulong community. Findings from the study identified significant gaps in key areas of social work practice, including counseling, ethical decision-making, case management, report writing and crisis intervention. Many of the participants reported low proficiency in these areas, which highlights a critical training and development need. Many limitations to accessing professional development and training were identified in this paper, including lack of organizational support, the existence of time constraints, and limited funding. The social workers expressed a strong interest in advanced degree opportunities, mentorship programs, and in-person workshops in terms of preferred training types. The relevance of continuous professional development and training that would enhance the skills and confidence of social workers in conflict-affected areas has been underscored by the paper. The paper's findings equally stress the institutionalization of context-specific professional development and training initiatives that may address peculiar community needs and emerging challenges in social work practice. The paper recommended targeted training and context-specific capacity building, collaborative learning and technology-enhanced training, and organizational and financial support for professional development.
NON-STATE ACTORS AND ELECTION MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN NIGERIA: ISSUES AND WAY FORWARD
Elections are a fundamental principle in any democratic setting. Notwithstanding, the electoral management process in Nigeria has been blighted with several anomalies and conspiracies. To strengthen the election management process, the roles of the non-state players seem essential in realizing these purposes. The primary objective of this study is to identify the institutional and legal framework available for non-state actor involvement in the election administration process in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic using the case study approach to probe into the operations of the Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth, and Advancement (YIAGA-Africa). This study adopted the primary and secondary research methods while the research design was qualitative. Primary data were obtained directly through the interviews, while journals, articles, textbooks, periodicals, and the internet formed the secondary basis. The total population for this study was one hundred and forty-seven (147) purposively sampled respondents. The qualitative data results were presented in thematic forms. The study revealed that, indeed, there exists a legal and institutional framework for non-state actors’ involvement in the election management process in Nigeria; however, this remains deficient as a palpable imbalance pervades the legal framework. The study recommends that the National Assembly work out modalities, make new laws, and address misconceptions in the institutional and legal framework for non-state actors to give them a smoother operational environment in the election management process.
PATRIOTIC LEADERSHIP AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE UNITED STATES AND NIGERIA - INSIGHTS AND LESSONS
Patriotic leadership is integral to a country’s development and is desirous for effective state-society interactions. Such leadership is often characterized by selflessness, legitimacy, dedication to service, and efficient administration of resources, both human and natural. This paper examines the import of patriotic leadership to national development in the America and Nigeria’s context. The paper employs a historical and descriptive investigative approach with an element of comparative design. It utilizes relevant data collected from documentary sources, which were analysed qualitatively within the framework of Lucian Pye’s modernization theory. From the analysis, it became obvious that America’s history abounds with leaders who, in their private and public lives, have worked assiduously to attain national unity, liberty, equality, and civic rights, hence facilitating national development. In contrast, Nigeria lacks patriotic leaders instilled with vision and commitment to genuine national development. Besides, patriotism and commitment to leadership are ingrained in American culture, which are conducive to national development. In contrast, Nigeria has yet to reach such heights in its political history, with leaders often prioritizing ethnic and regional interests over national interests antagonistic to national development. Consequently, the paper recommends, among others, that for Nigeria to match up with its America counterpart, its political leadership class must undergo a total attitudinal reorientation to embrace national interest and commitment to patriotism and national consciousness. The study offers valuable insights for improving political leadership in Nigeria, emphasizing the need for a nationalistic leadership approach to foster development.
AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMME AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA: ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF THE ANCHOR BORROWERS PROGRAMME
The Anchor Borrower Programme (ABP) was introduced in 2015 by the Federal Government of Nigeria to provide loans for farmers, create jobs, increase agricultural productivity, and create employment to ensure national development. The study employed ordinary least squares regression analysis to examine the program’s impact on national development. The explanatory variables considered include employment in agriculture, food export bill, and food import bill, while the dependent variable is gross domestic product (GDP). The findings revealed that the Food Import Bill, which was 0.2694 (27%) before the program, reduced to 0.0102 (1.02) after the program. Also, the country’s food export bill, which was 0.2884 (28%) before the program, was reduced to (1.7). In contrast, employment in agriculture, which was -0.0534 (-5.3) before the program, further deteriorated to -0.8200 (-82%) after the anchor borrowers’ program. This implies that the anchor borrow program failed to meet the desired expectations. Other findings of the study identified late disbursement of loans to non-farmers, disbursement of funds during off-farming seasons, ineffective loan recovery mechanisms, diversion of loans for non-agricultural purposes, insecurity challenges, and climatic conditions as some of the factors that militate against the efficacy of the program. The paper, therefore, recommends the inclusion of community leaders in identifying agricultural practitioners for loan disbursement and recovery, prompt disbursement of funds, the supply of farm equipment and seedlings rather than cash, and the inclusion of insurance coverage to mitigate the effects of other risks associated with insecurity and climatic trajectories.
Copyright (c) 2024 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
AN EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROVISION OF LAND USE POLICY FOR BUILDING HOUSES IN RURAL BANGLADESH
The paper provides a comprehensive evaluation of the national land use policy in Bangladesh, highlighting the gaps in implementation and the need for strategic improvements for building houses using minimum agricultural land in rural areas of Bangladesh. The main objectives of the policy evaluation research are to explore the extent of the intervention of the National Land Use Policy 2001 that has achieved the objective of minimum use of agricultural land, to determine whether the authority has made the rural people aware of building model houses, multistorey buildings, and planned residential areas in the village and finally to find out the critical factors for effective implementation of national land use policy. It has been used as a mixed evaluation research method with both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data were collected online using a semistructured questionnaire and checklist for respondent interviews. The main results of the policy evaluation revealed that the objectives of the policy are not achieved and effectively implemented for numerous reasons as such, the implementers are reluctant to implement and make aware the villagers, responsible implementing agencies are not fully well-defined, people are unaware and do not know about the policy, lack of village development planning and design, overpopulation and segregation of families, poverty, lack of monitoring by the ministry, unorganized urbanization and industrialization, local political influence, absence of land zoning and union parishad are unwilling to enforce their laws, etc. To implement the policy effectively, a joint effort of the local government bodies, local communities, and all local administration departments would be required, and each organization’s role would be well classified, and payment or loan support would be transferred to the rural people of Bangladesh.
REVAMPING THE CONDITIONS OF AWAITING TRIAL INMATES IN NIGERIA: EXPERIENCE FROM KWARA STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES
The paper aims to gauge the perceptions of awaiting trial inmates across correctional facilities in Kwara State, Nigeria. This research also intends to uncover the state or conditions of inmates awaiting trial in relation to the statutory functions of correctional services as stipulated in the Nigerian 1979, 1989, and 1999 constitutions as amended, as well as other reforms on the criminal justice act. The methodology adopted for this research purpose was the descriptive survey design method. Data collection procedures consisted of both primary and secondary materials sources. Principal information was collected by administering questionnaire forms to inmates awaiting trial, while the secondary data consisted of the internet, websites, journals published theses, etc. The study revealed that corruption, favoritism, poor hygiene, hard labor, and health issues have major challenges across correctional facilities. It was also discovered that there are no clear-cut differences in the treatment and handling of convicted criminals from inmates awaiting trial in correctional facilities. The study recommended improvement in conditions of service for correctional officers. It also advocates for the adoption of information and communications technology (ICT) within correctional facilities, and there should be segregation of convicted criminals from awaiting trial inmates, among other recommendations. This study will no doubt contribute to existing knowledge in criminal justice systems and will help countries know the antecedent effect of increased awaiting trial on correctional facilities, their staff, state security, and government expenditure and, finally, how it could be addressed.
INTEGRATING SERVICE LEARNING IN HIGHER EDUCATION FOR ENHANCED ENVIRONMENTAL CONSCIOUSNESS IN YAN, KEDAH
The Service-Learning Malaysia (SULAM) initiative is a credit-bearing program that focuses on experiential learning to enable students to work with faculty to solve community problems using the knowledge and skills they gained from their academic disciplines. SULAM projects carried out for the Environmental Administration Group A course in the Development Management Program at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) during Semester A222 were conducted in collaboration with the community in the district of Kampung Singkir Darat, Yan, Kedah. The objective of these projects was to address environmental issues faced by the community. The methodology used in this project was designed based on the data obtained from SULAM activities, which explores various aspects including methods of implementation, evaluation and documentation. The findings of the projects helped to improve the knowledge and skills of the students, enabling them to become exceptional graduates and responsible citizens. However, there were challenges faced during the SULAM projects, including communication barriers and resource constraints. To overcome these challenges, the students and faculty had to come up with creative solutions, such as using technology to communicate with the community and leveraging local resources to complete the projects. Overall, the SULAM initiative serves as a great example of how experiential learning can be used to solve real-world problems and create a positive impact on society.
PROTECTION OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL LAND AND FOOD (PLP2B) AS AN INDONESIAN STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs): BANYUWANGI AGRARIAN CONFLICT STUDY, INDONESIA
Agrarian conflict is inevitable, considering that Indonesia is known as an agricultural country. One of the agrarian conflicts that takes place continuously is the conflict that occurred in Banyuwangi, namely between PT. Bumi Sari with the Farmers Pillar of Pakel Village. This conflict involves the Company and civil society. The purpose of this study is to analyze the authority of the Banyuwangi local government in realizing the Protection of Agricultural Land and Food (PLP2B) in reducing agrarian conflicts as an effort to create Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Banyuwangi, Indonesia. This study actualizes the juridical normative model with the types of statute approach and conceptual approach. The study consisted of primary data and secondary data. Primary data comprises PLP2B, SPPN, PPA, and Regional Government Law, while secondary data contains various journls and books. Data analysis includes data collection, data reduction, and conclusions drawn. The data analysis of this study uses the theory of autonomy. Concluding uses an inductive pattern (generalization). The study results stated that after enacting the Job Creation Law, which imposed PSN (National Strategic Program), it could precede PLP2B in running a program. The Banyuwangi local government has the authority to ratify the PLP2B Law through the function of regional autonomy as an implication of the concept of decentralization in Indonesia’s government system. The Banyuwangi Regency government should optimize this function to create regulations or programs that have a relationship or correlation with the resolution of agrarian conflicts.
IMPACT OF SOCIAL POLICY ON CPI IN MALAYSIA BETWEEN 2005-2023
The social policy that the government in Malaysia implemented had positive influences on the local community and economy in Malaysia as well, which focused on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the idea that the trend would change if social policy were made. A study focused on the effect of social policy specified in Malaysia’s education, health, and housing areas on CPI. This study used the quantitative method based on the model of ordinary least squares (OLS), and CPI (Y) was the dependent variable, while government education spending (X1), government health spending (X2), and government housing spending (X3) were the independent variables. According to the results of this research, it seems that there was a positive impact of social policy on the CPI, but no significant social policy that the Malaysian government implemented had a determined power over the CPI. Most country research on the impact of social policy on CPI was also insignificant, based on the previous studies. These findings found that CPI was affected by other factors apart from social policy as well and need to be studied as potential factors in the future, as there was a slight significance. To emphasize this study, ARMA is the best-suggested way to analyse the trend of CPI in Malaysia.
RIDING THE DIGITAL WAVES: READINESS OF SMALL ENTREPRENEURS IN ADOPTING DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES
Malaysia business environment was predominantly made up of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which indicates a total of 1,151,339 SMEs that represent 97.2 percent of total business establishments. The SMEs created employment accounted for 7.25 million workforces, which indicates 48 percent of total employment in the year 2020. The unexpected outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has presented a notable challenge for numerous SMEs, particularly in developing nations that have been slower in implementing digitalization strategies. Without exception, SMEs in Malaysia are currently facing ongoing challenges in their efforts to undertake digital transformation. Despite the considerable advantages derived from the digitised economy, small and financially constrained SMEs continued to lag due to internal resource and information deficiencies, skills gaps, and challenges related to securing financing. Hence, this study aims to investigate the digital transformation phenomenon and the challenges faced by SMEs following the COVID-19 pandemic so that the government can provide the necessary support for SMEs’ digital transformation.
EFFECTIVENESS OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 70 OR THE NATIONAL TASK FORCE TO END LOCAL COMMUNIST ARMED CONFLICT: EXPERIENCES ON THE POVERTY REDUCTION, LIVELIHOOD, AND EMPLOYMENT CLUSTER OF THE SELECTED COMMUNITIES IN KIBAWE, BUKIDNON, PHILIPPINES
This study examines the experiences of the selected communities in the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF- ELCAC) Poverty Reduction, Livelihoods, and Employment Cluster of Executive Order No. 70. It utilized qualitative research through the phenomenology approach as it studied the experiences of the selected communities in Kibawe, Bukidnon. It employed thematic analysis in this investigation to assess the study’s focus group discussion. The study concludes that the whole-of-the-nation approach of the government was an effective tool for the government to uplift the living conditions of the selected communities by reducing poverty through livelihood and employment programs, penetrating the most insurgency-vulnerable areas in the municipality, and increasing the representation of the selected communities in the local government units through their representatives. These programs and projects under NTF-ELCAC PRLEC have had a political, social, and economic impact on the lives of the selected communities by reducing poverty, providing work opportunities for the communities, and helping them to become self-reliant without revolting against the government.
RURAL BANDITRY AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN SOUTHWEST NIGERIA (2017-2022): A STUDY OF OYO AND ONDO STATES
Government in an ideal society strives to promptly crush security challenges like banditry with a view to safeguarding human rights of the people but regrettably the reverse is the case in Nigeria. This study investigated the effect of rural banditry on human rights in Oyo and Ondo States, Nigeria. The study adopted descriptive survey research design and quantitative method using self-structured questionnaire to collect data. A total of 400 respondents were sampled adopting stratified random sampling technique while ANOVA analysis was used to test the research hypotheses of the study. The study revealed that rural banditry activities violated the freedom of movement, rights to privacy, property, human dignity, liberty and security of life, among other civil and political rights of the people in Oyo and Ondo States. It also disclosed that rural banditry grossly violated the freedom of religion, rights to education, property as well as social and cultural rights of the people in Oyo and Ondo States. The study concluded that rural banditry activities like kidnapping, robbery, village raids, hostage and ransom taking, maiming and murder, among others severely impacted on the rights of people in both Oyo and Ondo States. The study recommended that government should establish special court to try and swiftly deal with the cases of banditry while Amotekun security outfit, which was established to confront the menace should be empowered through intensive training and supply of adequate and modern weapons and equipment.
STRATEGIES FOR EFFECTIVE POLICY IMPLEMENTATION IN NIGERIA: A CASE OF FEDERAL CHARACTER PRINCIPLE
The implementation of policies by the government appears to be ineffective in using the Federal Character Principle (FCP) as a case study. The FCP, which was enacted to guarantee the distribution of employment in Nigeria’s public service, appears to not be achieving its goal as the disparity in the distribution of employment remains inherent in the civil service. Disparity perfectly describes the distribution of employment in the Nigerian civil service, regardless of the enactment of the FCP. Subsequently, this paper endeavours to investigate techniques that would guarantee the viable implementation of the FCP in Nigeria’s civil service. The paper sourced its data from secondary sources and relevant documents. The paper revealed that strategies that can ensure the FCP can be effectively implemented include the application of a Tribunal, the inclusion of civil society in the implementation of the enabling laws and ensuring that officers of the commission are not appointed based on party affiliation. The paper recommends that sanctions should be used for defaulters of the policy.
DEMOCRACY, FEDERALISM AND GOVERNANCE IN NIGERIA
Nigeria became one of the federal societies under the supervision of the British colonial government in 1954. Federalism and democracy ceased when the military government usurped and suspended the Republican Constitution in 1966. The periods of military rule witnessed over-centralization of power at the centre, while the federating states became Lilliputians. The usurpation of jurisdictional competencies and centralization of power made the federating states and local governments default on their socio-economic responsibilities. The paper aims to elucidate the intricate relationship between federalism and democracy in Nigeria, shedding light on the repercussions of their erosion during military rule. Through a comprehensive review of historical events and constitutional changes, this study examined the consequences of over-centralization and jurisdictional encroachments during military governance. The paper revealed that the institutionalization of federalism once embraced without due consideration, led to detrimental adjustments and crises during military rule, significantly impeding socio-economic and political development. The paper concluded that democracy and federalism are twins ‘brothers’ and will remain relevant and last long when Nigerian leaders, particularly elected representatives, undertake constitutional reforms that prioritized power devolution to states and local governments. This adjustment, rooted in justice and fairness, will rejuvenate the symbiotic relationship between democracy and federalism, ensuring lasting relevance.
CONTRIBUTION OF INFORMAL STREET VENDORS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVENUE DURING POST-COVID 19 PANDEMIC
This paper discusses the contribution of informal street vendors to local government revenue generation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Informal street vendors usually develop businesses to sell something and earn an income. They not only generate their income but also generate revenue for the local government. The main objective of local governments is to maintain and improve their efficiency. Therefore, this study aims to understand how informal street vendors contribute to the revenue of Kubang Pasu municipal in the short term, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. The study covers 50 street vendors in Kubang Pasu. The results of the study show that there are only two (2) independent variables that affect the dependent variable. First, the relationship between affordable licenses and Kubang Pasu Municipal’s revenue shows a positive (0.301) and significant (0.019) relationship at a 0.050 level of significance, which means that the more affordable licenses issued, the higher the Kubang Pasu municipal revenue. Second, the relationship between the current post-pandemic business situation and Kubang Pasu municipal’s revenue shows a positive (0.541) and significant (0.058) relationship at the 0.10 level of significance, which means that the more accessible the business situation is in the post-pandemic period, the higher Kubang Pasu Municipal’s revenue will be. The newly developed revenue source will secure local government revenues in the long term and avoid budget deficits. Kubang Pasu Municipal needs to create new revenue sources, as they are still among the local governments with low revenue sources compared to local governments in other states.
THE WINDS OF CHANGE: HOW GOVERNMENT-LED PROGRAMS ARE TRANSFORMING THE ORANG ASLI COMMUNITY
The Orang Asli community, Orang Asli Malaysia, has long faced socioeconomic challenges due to being marginalized and isolated from mainstream society. However, the government’s efforts to implement socioeconomic development programs have brought significant positive changes to their communities. This paper examines the impact of the government-led program on the Orang Asli community, particularly in settlement, economy, and social. This study focuses on the Organized Settlement Program, Economic Development Program and Social Development Program. This study uses data from government reports, academic publications, and interviews with members of the Orang Asli community. Findings show that government-led programs have increased access to education, better economic opportunities, and better health care services for Aboriginal people. The study also highlighted the challenges that remain in trying to fully address the socioeconomic gap the Orang Asli community faces. Overall, this paper provides insight into the transformative power of government-led programs in addressing the socioeconomic challenges faced by marginalized communities and the importance of continued efforts to promote equitable and sustainable development.
AUDIT CERTIFICATE AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTABILITY INDEX LEVEL OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN KEDAH, 2002-2019
Financial Management Accountability Index is a government indicator to empowers the level of financial compliance of public agencies. Previous studies often outlined issues related to leakage and misuse of funds among public officials. Therefore, this article generally examines the financial management performance of Local Authorities or Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan (PBT) in Kedah for the year 2002 to 2019. Several years of data were obtained from the National Audit Report and descriptive analysis in the form of patterns and trends was made to identify the type of audit certificate and accountability index score (IA) of financial management issued by the National Audit Department (JAN) on financial reporting of 11 PBTs in Kedah. The results show that there are no significant differences from the findings by other researchers in the last two decades. It has been found that the majority of 63 per cent (n = 7) PBTs still get a Reprimanded Certificate (UO), often involving record registers such as Vote Book, Capital Assets Register, and Log Book that is not satisfactorily maintained in addition to expenses over approved allocation. However, the overall IA issued by JAN from 2007 to 2019 showed an “Excellent” score of 33.9 per cent (n = 20), a “Good” of 59.3 per cent (n = 35) and a “Satisfactory” of 6.8 per cent (n = 4 ) to 11 PBTs in Kedah. During those 18 years, most of the PBTs in Kedah worked to increase the level of accountability and compliance of their respective financial management shown by better records every year.
BUILDING A FRAMEWORK FOR ELECTION EDUCATION AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
This paper presents a framework for educating university students on political issues during elections, with a specific focus on the impact of the Undi18 campaign. This campaign enables 18-year-olds to vote or contest in elections and has had a significant effect on the democratic landscape in Malaysia, as evidenced by its implementation during the PRU-15 election. The framework comprises two critical components: (1) evaluating university students’ perspectives on elections in Malaysia, and (2) measuring the extent of university students’ knowledge about political issues during elections. The framework has been developed by reviewing the current literature on election education and is intended to be adaptable for use in various educational contexts and by instructors from different fields. The aim is to enhance the level of political awareness and engagement among university students and to promote the strengthening of democratic processes.
GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS TO TAP ONLINE USER’S POTENTIAL AND ALLOW THEM TO USE IT FOR DIGITAL MARKETING AND BECOME DIGITAL AMBASSADORS
The purpose of the study in this paper is to provide details regarding the initiatives and programs for utilizing the untapped potentials of the users present on different social media sites by training them or guiding them to use their energy in something which will bring good results for them and make them digital influencers. Researchers who are working effectively in this research field are utilizing the qualitative research method. The research data related to it was obtained from Amazon programs, blogs, social media, and e-commerce sites, and it is shared descriptively. The finding from this paper indicates that the creation of programs like this will undoubtedly benefit social media users and improve the way social media is currently used by most people. The way forward to make it possible, multiple hurdles need to be passed for successfully implementing this program. The paper will be limited to the extent to which the motive behind it is clearly described, then describe the possible ways for creating this program and how it will work, and lastly, what effect the initiative will have on the social media users and the e-commerce market.
URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA: A REVIEW OF LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK
The presence of urban rivers poses significant challenges for local authorities in their efforts to create sustainable and habitable urban river environments. This situation has led to various repercussions for the health of urban river ecosystems. To mitigate these issues, it is imperative that development projects’ environmental impacts are effectively managed by the relevant authorities, ensuring the sustainability of urban development and urbanization. It is worth emphasizing that in environmentally sensitive areas, particularly when planning large projects, the consideration of environmental factors should be a top priority. As such, this discussion will focus on how local planning authorities in the country devise strategies to address the challenges associated with urban river development projects.
POLICY CAPACITY AND E-GOVERNANCE: ASSESSMENT OF THE E-GOVERNMENT SERVICES OF VALENCIA CITY, BUKIDNON
The rise of electronic governance has become a dominant force shaping the future of government. This study focuses on assessing the policy capacity of e-government services in LGU-Valencia City. It explores the competencies and capabilities of the local government in delivering basic e-government services, identifies strengths and weaknesses in their implementation, and provides recommendations for improvement. The findings highlight the analytical, operational, and political capacity of LGU-Valencia City in terms of e-governance, emphasizing essential competencies such as human resources, data management, policy support, technical expertise, and training. Operational capacity themes include organizational structure, financial and infrastructure resources, technology and information systems, and policy framework. Political capacity themes encompass leadership, citizen participation, stakeholder engagement, transparency, and intergovernmental relations. The study also reveals the presence of government-to-government (G2G) e-services in Valencia City, emphasizing collaborations and partnerships among agencies. Strengths and weaknesses of different e-government types (G2B, G2C, G2E) are identified, along with challenges in citizen acceptance and the positive impact of e-governance on businesses and employee relationships. Overall, the study concludes that LGU- Valencia City demonstrates policy capacity and readiness for digital innovation. The study suggests future researchers adopt a multi- method approach, compare policy capacity across LGUs, engage stakeholders and endusers, and emphasize capacity-building. These recommendations aim to contribute to improving governance and public services by conducting relevant and rigorous studies on policy capacity and e-governance in LGUs.
ISLAMIC BOARDING SCHOOLS (PESANTREN) INNOVATION IN PREVENTING VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT: CASE STUDY IN THE SPECIAL REGION OF YOGYAKARTA, INDONESIA
In Indonesia, in addition to formal education, informal education is also known as pesantren. Pesantren is a place where people study Islam, explore the Qur’an and Sunnah of the Prophet and other worship. In addition to studying religious knowledge, it is not uncommon for pesantren to have collaborated with formal education. In Indonesia, pesantren is the choice for the community for the provision of educational services. Resident students are one of the main characteristics of pesantren. Unfortunately, this characteristic turns out to be the main cause of several cases of violence and sexual harassment in pesantren. The Indonesian National Commission for Women noted that during 2017-2021 there were 16 cases of sexual violence in pesantren. Meanwhile, BBC News reported that in early 2023 at least 4 cases had been revealed. This condition is very sad and makes pesantren have to improve themselves. How do pesantren innovate to prevent sexual violence and harassment? This study used a qualitative approach, data collection using literature study and deep interview techniques. In-depth interviews were conducted with 3 managers of large pesantren in the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The data were analysed through descriptive qualitative analysis. The results of the analysis show that to prevent violence and sexual harassment in pesantren, strengthening the joint commitment to protect each other between students, caregivers and managers is the main thing in the management of a pesantren.