EVALUATION OF THE NATIONAL POLICY ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN NIGERIA: A STUDY OF NATIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY (NARICT) AND INSTITUTE FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH (IAR) ZARIA (1998-2008)
EVALUATION OF THE NATIONAL POLICY ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN NIGERIA: A STUDY OF NATIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY (NARICT) AND INSTITUTE FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH (IAR) ZARIA (1998-2008)
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2011-02
Authors
EWESUEDO, DOROTHY B.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This study is an evaluation of the National Policy on Science and Technology in
Nigeria, focusing on NARICT and IAR (1998 - 2008). The study was carried out as a
result of concern for Nigeria’s over dependence on foreign products and neglect of
her indigenous technologies. Despite the adoption of the national policy on science
and technology in the country, Nigeria’s dependence on importation of raw materials
from overseas to keep the wheel of industry going persisted. The country is unable to
create the necessary science culture in which the general public is made aware of the
need to use scientific method in their daily operations. Nigeria lags behind in terms of
technological development in spite of its array of manpower, natural and financial
resources. The present situation tends to be even more pathetic as ordinary products
like matches, tooth paste, soap and other minor products are imported into the
country. These have resulted in Nigeria’s over dependence on foreign products,
neglect of her indigenous technology, over reliance on oil, declining foreign exchange
and collapse of indigenous industries. Three hypotheses were formulated and tested
for the study. The implementation strategy of the National Policy of Science and
Technology does not add significant value to the performance of NARICT and IAR.
Inadequate funding of research institutes such as NARICT and IAR contributes to the
low quality of products in those institutes. The attainment of the objectives of the
National Policy on Science and Technology is a function of the caliber of staff in the
research institutes. Primary and secondary data were used. Descriptive and inferential
statistics were also used to analyses the data. The main findings of the study were that
government’s allocation to research institutes is poor thereby affecting the
performance of the institutes. Government allocation system is a failure as a result of
poor management process of government resources. The government policy of direct
disbursement of capital funds through e-payment by the Central Bank of Nigeria
(CBN) to contractors is also not acceptable in the research institutes because funds
meant for research and procurement are lumped together as capital funds in NARICT
and IAR yearly budget allocation. In view of the findings of the study it was
therefore recommended that all the research institutions should be well funded by
increasing their allocations. The government should properly monitor the
implementation of the policy.
Description
A Dissertation Submitted To The Postgraduate School, Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria, In Partial Fulfillment For The Award Of Degree Of
Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D) In Public Administration.
Department of Public Administration,
Faculty of Administration,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
Nigeria.
FEBRUARY, 2011
Keywords
EVALUATION,, NATIONAL,, POLICY,, SCIENCE,, TECHNOLOGY,, NIGERIA, STUDY,, NATIONAL,, RESEARCH,, INSTITUTE,, CHEMICAL,, TECHNOLOGY,, (NARICT),, AGRICULTURA,, RESEARCH,, ZARIA (1998-2008)