This study argues for the need to ensure that host countries derive appropriate benefits from natural resources exploited within their territories. In this regard, the most important return from petroleum extraction, is from the fiscal take. Taxation of the extractive sector is thus a major revenue source. The host country interest from the extractive activities is in parallel to the interest of investor countries to share in the revenues derived from investments in the extractives sector by entities from those countries. Further, the capital exporting countries assert interest in protecting the investors from the risks associate with foreign investments, particularly in developing host countries. Historically, International Oil Companies enjoyed an upper hand in negotiating investment protection and stability terms as a result of information asymmetries. Many agreements concluded between the investor entities with developing host countries have been askew and overly favourable to the investor to the extent of endearing unconscionability. This study reveals that Tanzania's existing Production Sharing Agreements contain fiscal terms which do not allocate an appropriate share of financial benefits to the host country. It also reveals that arrangements to protect and provide investment stability have employed terms which are inimical to the economic and social well-being of the Peoples of Tanzania, for example through the excessive and wasteful grant of tax concessions. It was observed that Tanzania has offered fiscal terms to IOCs that do not allow the country to enjoy appropriate benefits from the exploitation of its natural resources. This project, therefore, establishes the effect of stabilisation terms as embedded in the Tanzanian fiscal regime, what redress measures should be sought to correct the imbalance and inequitableness engraved in the abusive use of stabilization arrangements through the PSAs.

No description available.

Skill deficiencies in organisations affect performance, productivity, economic growth and development. Despite quantitative studies and current policy discussions, which acknowledge that skill deficiencies have negative impacts on both employers and employees in developed countries, these studies placed little or no emphasis on the potential impact of skill shortages in developing economies. On the other hand, descriptive studies on skill shortages in Nigeria gave accounts of possible effects on economic growth, however, relatively little is known about the incidence of skill deficiencies experienced by organisations and their impacts on business and employee performance, growth and development. This mixed methods study explored the impact of skill deficiencies on organisations' performance, economic growth and infrastructure delivery, effects on employees, how these effects are managed and possible ways of sustaining skills. A sequential explanatory mixed methods design was used to explore both employers' and employees' experiences of skill deficiencies and possible management measures. This method facilitated the exploration of both convergent and divergent views between employers and employees, assisted in avoiding the subjectivity of using only employers' accounts and provided avenues for capturing salient features of why skill deficiencies occur. Both employers and employees participated in the survey (n=263) and interviews (n= 45). The results suggest that although oil and gas organisations experienced significant skill deficiencies on both business and employee performance and infrastructure delivery; higher impacts were felt in upstream organisations. The economic consequences of skill shortages on individuals, firms and aggregate economy extends to job satisfaction, hiring costs, adoption of new technologies and new work processes, workload, turnover and commitment. Both employers and employees identified that current skill deficiencies affect their performance, potentials for growth and provision of services to clients, adding that the many consequences necessitated the use of various skill and workforce development strategies in managing these effects. Even with the recognition that incidence of skill shortages require supply side response, while skill gaps needs training; the results nonetheless showed that training was used for both skill shortages and skills gaps alongside other workforce development. The findings clarified the causes and extent of skill deficiencies on organisations and proposes changes for remediation of these deficiencies. One of the changes required relates to the need for collaboration and partnership of the social partners of skills, and building links between the world of learning and the world of work. Overall, the structural factors highlight the need for reforming and rejuvenating the education system and investing in skills.

No description available.

Thesis (M.Eng.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2005. / Bibliography: leaves 130-135.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 214-218). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI Company.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1983.

No description available.

This thesis is concerned with promoting better environmental protection through the application of the precautionary principle in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. The last four decades have brought a new awareness of the environmental risks of upstream oil and gas exploration and production in the Nigerian Niger Delta region. The enviro'nmental risks can be classified into certain (identified) and uncertain environmentaI risks. Uncertainties "associated with oil and gas pollution are manifested "in uncertainty as to probability of occurrence and uncertainty as to the magnitude of the environmental risk. For instance, there exist uncertainties as to impact of atmospheric emissions, uncertainty as to the full impact on biodiversity, uncertainty as to the impact on marine environment. The realisation that there are uncertain environmental risks in the oil and gas industry which cannot be completely ignored without consequence ne~essitated this research. In view of the uncertainties surrounding oil and gas environmental risks, this thesis argues that the best approach to deal with these uncertainties is through the adoption and application of the precautionary principle in the Nigerian oil and gas environmental regulatory framework. Through a comparative analysis of the UK and the Nigerian upstream oil and gas environmental laws the thesis shows that the precautionary principle has not been incorporated into the Nigerian laws. The research shows that the UK's upstream oil and gas environmental laws are more disposed to the application of the precautionary principle in the face of uncertainties than the Nigeria laws. The research recommends different ways through which the precautionary principle can be integrated into the Nigerian upstream oil and gas environmental legal framework. The recommendations made in this research do not arise solely from the positive sides of the UK experience. Measures that will promote the application of the precautionary principle which have not been implemented in the UK but are deemed to be beneficial to Nigeria are also recommended.