ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE | April 1, 2024
Analysis of the Socio-Health Situation of People in Humanitarian Crisis ″Case of Repressed from Congo-Brazzaville″
Yves Mokili Sambwa Ndonga, Franck Kabambi, Aimé Munanga Kabasele, Dieu-Merci Kasau Kasau, Pascal Atuba Mamenepi, Erick Panzi Kalunda, Augustin Tshitadi Makangu
Page no 130-136 |
DOI: 10.36348/sijlcj.2024.v07i04.001
Context: The returnees from Congo Brazaville were received by the town hall of Kinshasa which brought them to Maluku. From there, those with closer family members went home, but the others and their children settled around the Cardinal Malula stadium for lack of accommodation. Purpose: This study is carried out with the aim of analyzing the socio-sanitary situation of people expelled from Brazzaville based around the municipality of Kinshasa. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey made it possible, by interview and direct observation with the support of an interview guide, to collect information from 321 Congolese from the DRC expelled from the Republic of Congo, living in the commune of Kinshasa. This information was statistically analyzed using SPSS version 21 software. Results: It emerges from the descriptive analysis that the majority of respondents, ie 68.2%, were housed in tents. 84.4% experienced both physical and moral violence. 62.6% had an altered physical state. The most frequent problems include: lack of access to health care (100%); insalubrity (80.9%); malaria associated with other pathologies (80.8%) or alone and lack of access to drinking water (74.7%). From the inferential analysis, it emerges that the factors associated with the state of health of the repressed were: poor bowel management resulting in the use of stage [RR = 3.4 (1.70-6.69); p ˂ 0.000] or open air [RR = 2.93 (1.38 – 6.23); p ˂ 0.005] instead of a latrine; violence [RR = 2.91 (2.07 – 4.08); caring for at least 5 children [RR = 1.71 (1.21–2.41); p ˂ 0.002] as well as divorce [RR = 1.49 (1.16 – 1.92); p ˂ 0.002]. Conclusion: The socio-sanitary situation of those expelled from Brazzaville was not favourable. The direct involvement of the political and health authorities of the DRC with the support of national or international organizations would allow the proper management of humanitarian crises in the country.
REVIEW ARTICLE | April 1, 2024
Some Reflections on the Regulatory Constraints to Labour Malpractices in Cameroon
Dr. Tasiki Desvarieux Ntobengwia, Kwenkam Patrick Kwenkam
Page no 137-144 |
DOI: 10.36348/sijlcj.2024.v07i04.002
The rapid drop in the standard of Fair Labour Practices in the private sector of Cameroon is so disturbing. Generally, the recognition of the basic right of each citizen such as the right to work and the security of employment is of paramount importance to a worker because work brings wages by which workers and their families depend on, works gives dignity and meaning to the life of a worker and make the world economy run accordingly. That is why the Cameroonian labour legislator has made much effort in addressing the situation of workers who have been unlawfully dismissed from work by malicious employers or workers whose basic rights to work and security of employment may be threatened. The aim of this study therefore, is to ascertain the regulatory Constraints to labour malpractices in Cameroon. These Labour malpractices mostly committed by profit conscious employers of Labour in Cameroon are characterized amongst others by; the imposition of standard form contracts on their workers, discrimination in the private sector employment, subjecting workers under unsafe working environment and deplorable conditions of work, wrongful discharge of employment, the practice of divide and conquer style of management, gross violations of workers fundamental human rights, arbitrary variation of substantial terms of employment contracts, the questionable practices of labour inspectors, unreasonable restraint clauses in the private sector employment contracts, non-respect of government-mandated minimum guarantee wage, non-conformity of internal rules and regulations to national standard, wrongful suspension of contract of employment etc. These deviant dispositions of employers of Labour, although contrary to deontology, are so embedded in the Cameroonian Labour market causing private sector workers to remain at the same level from January to December every year of their life. In a bid to attain the overall purpose of this study, this research adopts the qualitative research methodology which involve an in-depth content analysis of both primary and secondary data. Findings, therefore, reveal that despite the regulatory, institutional and policy framework put in place to protect private sector employees against any form of labour malpractices, private sector employees are not adequately protected because of gaps in the labour legislation, conflicting interests, economic impact, low Scholarisation of workers, political impact, ineffective implementation of prevailing regulations, the introduction of powerless staff representatives, laxity on the part of some Labour Inspectors to ensure the respect of labour legislation etc constitutes the basis for the multiplication of gross violation of employment rights in the private sector within the country. This research conclude theoretically that the Cameroon Labour Legislation to an extent, guarantees the protection of private sector employees but practically it effective implementation and enforcement leaves much to be desired. This has necessitated the suggestion of some policy recommendations for the way forward. In this regard, in order to attain an effective regulatory, institutional and policy framework which guarantees the protection of workers against any form of labour malpractices in the private sector, we recommends a review of the 1992 Labour Code to better handle any form of labour malpractices affecting private sector employment in today’s era and the Labour Inspectorate being the central state institution charged with the enforcement of employment rights should not only be found seating at the regional and divisional headquarters, they should equally be established in each sub-division in other to take justice nearer to workers who are mostly employed by employers of unskilled labour in the country.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE | April 9, 2024
An Appraisal of the Admissibility of Confessional Statement in a Trial Court in Nigeria
Emokpae, Lugard Amadin, Abdulsalami, Lucky Tijani
Page no 145-156 |
DOI: 10.36348/sijlcj.2024.v07i04.003
Confessional statements are important ingredience in criminal justice in Nigeria. A confession is an acknowledgment made by a person charged with a crime at any moment, admitting or implying that he committed that crime. Confessions are covered by sections 27 to 32 of the Evidence Act 1990 in Nigeria as well as section 28 to 31 of the Evidence Act of 2011. The specific goals are a critically examination of the circumstances under which confessional statements are admissible, to determine the effect of retracted confessional statements in criminal trials in Nigeria, as well as the circumstances under which confessional statements may be vitiated and to apply the findings in decided cases. To attain these goals, normative or doctrinal research is considered appreciate. This study found that where an inducement, threat, or promise was issued, any subsequent confessional statement obtained would be inadmissible. This study also reveal that a confession does not become inadmissible simply because the accused denies having made it; rather, the court must satisfy itself that the accused made the statement of his own free will and choice and without duress.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE | April 23, 2024
Traffic and Mobilty Challenges in Mamfe-Manyu Division, South West Region of Cameroon
Enow Rita Tabi, Ojuku Tiafack
Page no 157-166 |
DOI: 10.36348/sijlcj.2024.v07i04.004
Increase in private and commercial car ownership in Cameroon like in most developing countries of the world have not kept pace with road infrastructural development. As a consequence, traffic disorder, congestion, late arrival at job sites and increasing number of accidents are some of the social costs road users have to pay. It is against this background that this study sets out to investigate traffic and mobility challenges in Mamfe municipality. This study made use of secondary and primary data sources. The secondary data were gleaned from published and unpublished documents. Primary data were sourced using a convenient sampling technique where 136 questionnaires were administered to 8 sampled communities in Mamfe municipality. Supplementary data were obtained via field observations, interviews and collection of way points using a GPS. After processing and presenting the data, results revealed that key causes of mobility challenges in Mamfe were; traffic jam (25%) inaccessibility to neighbourhoods (19.8%) and insecurity (15.2%). Also, consequences of mobility challenges, were noted to be; drop in transporters incomes (31%) resulting from traffic jam and increase fuel prices, late arrival at work (27%) and a slow turn-over of economic activities (trade and commerce) representing 33% of respondents scores. More so, traffic jam was notice to be very high in the rush hours of the morning between 7:20am to 10:05am. In the evening rush hours between 3:00pm to 9:00pm. Strategies to reduce mobility challenges were basically infrastructural-base (increase road sizes, construct more roads and rehabilitation of dilapidated ones, and a proper road designation). This study recommends private sector participation in the development, provision, maintenance, public-private partnership and modernisation of transport infrastructure and services. These are all lacking in the study area which if effectively implemented will boost urban mobility in the town of Buea and beyond.