Assessment of Forest Personnel Performance in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assesses the performances of forest personnel in Akwa Ibom State in meeting their target revenue for the state using qualitative and quantitative approaches. The primary data were obtained using a structured questionnaire, oral interviews, and direct observation, while the secondary data were obtained from all the 31 Divisions and the Directorate of Forestry in Akwa Ibom State. Data collected were analyzed using the descriptive and stochastic frontier analysis to assess efficiency The results obtained showed that the majority of the respondents were male (59.50%), in their economically active and productive age bracket (50.41), attended tertiary education (79.33%), were married (69.42%), had a family size of fewer than 5 members (71.90%), and received a monthly income of ₦41,000 - ₦50,000 (42.15%). Also, the majority of the respondents had been in service for 11 – 15 years (30.23%), resided in their stations (72.09%), and received various forms of in-training (65.12%) to enhance their effectiveness or performance. Most of the Uniformed Field staff patrolled their divisions daily with their superior visiting their divisions more than once a month. The majority (53.84%) of the Forest Officers had less than 10 years' experience and their technical efficiency ranged from 0.35 to 0.97. The study, therefore, recommends that a more conducive working environment should be provided for the forest personnel to be able to optimize their performances which would translate to increased revenue generation for the state.

Appraisal of Challenges to Sustainable Forest Management in Abia State, Nigeria

“…Varieties of resources abound in the forests of Nigeria and especially in Abia State and they include soil and its mineral deposits, water sources, rock, outcrops, rare landscapes and, in the biological sense, plant and animals in all their various forms. The forest is, therefore, an economic treasure house of resources and if properly managed Nigeria's forests can supply its people's needs in perpetuity with all the necessary forest products [5].…”

Assessment of Forest Investment, Financial Flows and Revenue Collection in the Abia State Forest Sector, Nigeria

“…Varieties of resources abound in the forests of Nigeria and especially in Abia State and they include soil and its mineral deposits, water sources, rock, outcrops, rare landscapes and, in the biological sense, plant and animals in all their various forms. The forest is, therefore, an economic treasure house of resources and if properly managed Nigeria's forests can supply its people's needs in perpetuity (Nelson and Jacob, 2017).…”