Infrastructure development in Nigeria has attracted the attention of researchers in view of the attitudes of contractors and government lead-lag role playing. These attitudes led to the enactment of Fiscal Responsibil...Infrastructure development in Nigeria has attracted the attention of researchers in view of the attitudes of contractors and government lead-lag role playing. These attitudes led to the enactment of Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 and Public Procurement Act 2007 to reduce internal control system deficiencies and budget indiscipline in the Nigerian public sector fiscal matters and procurement process. Ironically, despite these efforts, infrastructure development is still a problem affecting the lives of Nigerians as their poverty level is on the increase. This paper tests the effects of internal control system deficiency on contractors' capability in infrastructure development in the Nigerian public sector. Data drawn from a sample of 228 infrastructures were used for analysis. Two research questions on contractors' fiduciary obligation to government and capacity were analysed. Kendall's Tau-br correlation of coefficient and Chi-square X^2 statistics were employed for data analysis. Findings show that deficient internal control system strongly and directly breeds deficiency in the contractors' capability for infrastructure development. The paper recommends that oath of bribery should complement oath of secrecy to ensure that contractors and government agencies that are responsible for execution of infrastructure play to the rules of the "games", especially the provisions of Public Procurement Act 2007 and Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007. Public-private-partnership-initiative, such as build-operate and transfer method of contracting, should be encouraged to improve on contractors' capability and stewardship.展开更多
Facing challenges of population decline and fiscal austerity,Japan has implemented a series of initiatives to promote public-private partnerships(PPP)to ensure the sustainability of urban parks and revitalize urban sp...Facing challenges of population decline and fiscal austerity,Japan has implemented a series of initiatives to promote public-private partnerships(PPP)to ensure the sustainability of urban parks and revitalize urban spaces.These initiatives,while alleviating the government’s financial burdens on parks,have also raised concerns about the potential erosion of publicness and public interests resulted from the commercialization of public assets.This paper reviews the evolution of Japan’s urban park management system after World War II—including three phases of being purely public goods,initiating marketization,and diversifying management entities.The functions of parks have continuously enriched,and the construction,management,and operational modes have shifted from government-led towards multi-stakeholder participation,along with expanded funding sources.By examining the PPP types,driving forces,implementation mechanisms and challenges in urban park management,this paper points out that,in different eras and social contexts,the Japanese government has kept adjusting its role to maximize public interests.This has proactively updated the implications of publicness in infrastructure like urban parks,from a post-war opposite of publicness versus privateness on ownership,to the participation of private capital for a higher efficiency,and finally to a community for a stronger regional competitiveness.The reforms of urban park management system in Japan offer significant lessons and insights for urban infrastructure management in other countries and regions.展开更多
文摘Infrastructure development in Nigeria has attracted the attention of researchers in view of the attitudes of contractors and government lead-lag role playing. These attitudes led to the enactment of Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 and Public Procurement Act 2007 to reduce internal control system deficiencies and budget indiscipline in the Nigerian public sector fiscal matters and procurement process. Ironically, despite these efforts, infrastructure development is still a problem affecting the lives of Nigerians as their poverty level is on the increase. This paper tests the effects of internal control system deficiency on contractors' capability in infrastructure development in the Nigerian public sector. Data drawn from a sample of 228 infrastructures were used for analysis. Two research questions on contractors' fiduciary obligation to government and capacity were analysed. Kendall's Tau-br correlation of coefficient and Chi-square X^2 statistics were employed for data analysis. Findings show that deficient internal control system strongly and directly breeds deficiency in the contractors' capability for infrastructure development. The paper recommends that oath of bribery should complement oath of secrecy to ensure that contractors and government agencies that are responsible for execution of infrastructure play to the rules of the "games", especially the provisions of Public Procurement Act 2007 and Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007. Public-private-partnership-initiative, such as build-operate and transfer method of contracting, should be encouraged to improve on contractors' capability and stewardship.
文摘Facing challenges of population decline and fiscal austerity,Japan has implemented a series of initiatives to promote public-private partnerships(PPP)to ensure the sustainability of urban parks and revitalize urban spaces.These initiatives,while alleviating the government’s financial burdens on parks,have also raised concerns about the potential erosion of publicness and public interests resulted from the commercialization of public assets.This paper reviews the evolution of Japan’s urban park management system after World War II—including three phases of being purely public goods,initiating marketization,and diversifying management entities.The functions of parks have continuously enriched,and the construction,management,and operational modes have shifted from government-led towards multi-stakeholder participation,along with expanded funding sources.By examining the PPP types,driving forces,implementation mechanisms and challenges in urban park management,this paper points out that,in different eras and social contexts,the Japanese government has kept adjusting its role to maximize public interests.This has proactively updated the implications of publicness in infrastructure like urban parks,from a post-war opposite of publicness versus privateness on ownership,to the participation of private capital for a higher efficiency,and finally to a community for a stronger regional competitiveness.The reforms of urban park management system in Japan offer significant lessons and insights for urban infrastructure management in other countries and regions.