Ife Social Sciences Review

Development and Psychometric Evaluation of Redeemer's University Retirement Anxiety Scale (RURAS)

2025-06-30T02:35:59+00:00

Despite the increasing incidence of retirement anxiety among university employees in Nigeria, there are limited psychometric instruments for assessment to aid early detection and appropriate intervention. Hence, this study aimed to develop and validate the Redeemer's University Retirement Anxiety Scale (RURAS), a 13-item instrument designed to comprehensively assess retirement anxiety in the Nigerian multi-cultural context. The study was conducted in four phases: Phases 1 and 2 involved the initial generation of 39 items through a thorough literature search, following which 21 items were retained based on expert evaluation during the instrument's face and content validity. In phase 3, a cohort of 313 non-academic staff from Nigerian universities was selected to complete the 21-item RURAS via a multistage sampling approach. The obtained data underwent both exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). McDonald's Omega total (ωt) was used to assess the instrument's reliability. In phase 4, another sample of 241 non-academic staff completed RURAS, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale-10 (CDRISC-10). The data collected were subjected to correlational analyses to establish the criterion-related validity. The EFA yielded a 3-factor model (Personal Obligation Concerns-POC, Financial Planning Concerns-FPC, and Social Detachment Concerns-SDC), and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) yielded acceptable fit indices. The internal consistencies (Omega(ω)) of the FPC, POC and SDC sub-scales were 0.75, 0.83 and 0.70, respectively, and 0.87 for the full scale. The criterion-related validity correlation coefficients of the three dimensions were adequate with HADS - Anxiety ranging between (0.49 and 0.61) and Depression (0.44 and 0.54), RSE (-0.30 and -0.49) and CDRISC-10 (-0.13 and -0.42). The study concluded that the RURAS has acceptable psychometric properties and the potential to be helpful as a screening tool for retirement anxiety among employees in Nigerian higher education and other related contexts.

A Sociological Analysis of Perpetrators and Facilitators of Gender-Based Violence in Selected Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria

2025-06-30T02:56:04+00:00

Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) remains a pervasive problem in Nigerian tertiary institutions, posing a significant threat to the safety, academic success, and total well-being of students. This study examines the facilitators and perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) within selected universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education in Nigeria, specifically in Edo, Katsina, and Taraba states. It aims to explore the drivers of SGBV in Nigerian tertiary institutions, identify and categorize the individuals or groups responsible for perpetrating such violence, and investigate the underlying dynamics that contribute to its continued prevalence, despite the existence of policies and previous scholarly interventions. Employing a qualitative research design, data were collected through focus group discussions (FGDs), key informant interviews (KIIs), and in-depth interviews (IDIs) with students, staff, and relevant stakeholders. Findings reveal that factors such as academic struggles, financial constraints, unsafe environments, cultural norms, and power imbalances drive the prevalence of SGBV. Perpetrators include lecturers, male students, administrative staff, strangers, and intimate partners, while institutional weaknesses exacerbate the issue. The study concludes that ineffective reporting systems, fear of retaliation, and economic vulnerability sustain SGBV. It recommends institutional reforms, strengthened awareness campaigns, enhanced campus security, and robust survivor support mechanisms to foster safer learning environments.

Effect of Team-Pair-Solo Instructional Strategy on Biology Students’ Achievement and Retention in Transport System in Ado Local Government Area of Ekiti State

2025-06-30T03:24:13+00:00

The study assessed the effect of Team-pair-solo Instructional Strategy (TIS) on students’ achievement and retention in the transport system in Ado Local Government Area of Ekiti State. It also assessed the effect of the strategy on students’ achievement in relation to gender. Three research questions and hypotheses guided the study. A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest on-equivalent control group design was used for the study. The population of the study consisted of 210 S.S.II Biology students in the 6 co-educational secondary schools in Ado Local Government Area of Ekiti State. The study sample consisted of 54 Biology students in their intact classes from two randomly selected secondary schools in the study area, consisting of 11 male and 17 female students. The classes were randomly assigned to one experimental and one control group in each of the two schools. The experimental group was taught using TIS while the control group was taught using the Conventional Teaching Method CTM). The instrument for data collection was the Biology Achievement Test on Transport System (BATTS). The same instrument but in a rearranged version was also used to collect data on retention. Descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions, while inferential statistics of Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) and T-test were used to test the formulated hypotheses one, two and three respectively, at 0.05 alpha level. Findings of the study revealed that TIS and CTM had significant effect on Biology students’ achievement in transport system F_{(3, 107)} = 33.066, p = .000. The results also showed that those exposed to TIS had greater mean posttest achievement score (mean =61.14) than those exposed to CTM (Mean =46.95). On students’ retention, TSIS and CTM were found to have a significant difference (F_{(1, 51)} = 12.792), p = .001. The results showed that those exposed to TSIS had a higher retention score (Mean =51.36) (retained more knowledge of the concept taught) than those exposed to CTM (Mean =37.04). Based on the findings, the study recommends, among others, that since TIS had a significant effect on students’ achievement and retention, it should be recommended for all Biology teachers at the secondary school level as an instructional strategy to be used in teaching their lessons.

Assessment of the Prevalence, Attitudes, and Barriers to Parent-Adolescent Sexual Communication in Osun State

2025-06-30T03:33:24+00:00

Adolescent sexuality remains one of the most neglected areas of young people's development in Nigeria. Thus, adverse reproductive health outcomes such as sexually transmitted infections, unplanned pregnancies, unsafe abortion, maternal morbidity and mortality are recurrent deaths among this population. This study was anchored on Rational Choice Theory and investigated sexuality education among parent-adolescent dyads in-school adolescents in Ile-Ife with a view to understanding the magnitude, attitude and barriers to parent-child communication on sexual matters. Data were collected through 842 questionnaires administered to adolescents and their parents selected through a multi-stage sampling technique. Findings revealed that the prevalence of parent-adolescent communication on sexual matters was 55.8% among parents, while 43.0% of the adolescents indicated that they practised sexual and reproductive health communication. Both parents and adolescents had a positive attitude towards open and comprehensive sexual education. Prioritising sexuality education among adolescents can go a long way in demystifying unnecessary insensitivity that pervades sexuality discourses among Nigerian youth.

Analysis of Freight Vehicle Crashes in Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria

2025-06-30T03:37:07+00:00

Freight vehicle crashes are typically associated with high severity because over half of truck crashes end in fatalities or serious injuries. The study analysed freight vehicle crashes in Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria. Data on freight vehicles involved in road traffic crashes and casualties (2014 to 2021) were obtained from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) office, Kogi State Command. The data were summarised using frequency distribution tables, simple percentages, and charts, while hypotheses were tested using One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Simple Linear Regression Analysis. The analysis of the freight vehicle composition in road traffic crashes showed that heavy-duty trucks (trailers, tankers, and containers) have the highest (94%) share. Light-duty trucks (freight tricycles, pick-ups, and small vans) recorded a share of 4%, while medium-duty trucks (lorries, tippers) constituted the least proportion (2%). The analysis also revealed that only 48.1% of the variation in traffic casualties can be explained by freight vehicle crashes. However, freight vehicle crashes significantly predict traffic casualties, F (1, 95) = 87.032, P <.001. Therefore, for every unit increase in freight vehicle crashes, the traffic casualties increased by 2.076 in the study area. Continuous drivers’ enlightenment and strict enforcement of traffic rules by relevant authorities were recommended to reduce the risk of freight vehicle crashes in the study area.

Moderating Role of Institutional Quality on Human Capital Development - Poverty Reduction Nexus in Nigeria: Evidence from Cointegrating Regressions

2025-06-30T03:47:19+00:00

At the forefront of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is the need to end poverty in all its forms by 2030. To achieve this, investment in human capital development (HCD) has been identified as a fundamental factor. In line with this, the present study seeks to investigate the economic benefit of HCD on poverty in Nigeria. The study also examines the moderating role of institutional quality in the relationship between HCD and poverty by employing the Bound test for cointegration and cointegrating regression techniques on annual data between 1990 and 2023. To complement the outcomes from the main analysis, the Granger causality test is performed on the target variables. The results from the Bound test confirm the existence of cointegration between HCD and poverty level in all the estimated models. The findings from the DOLS reveal that both education and health spending stimulate household consumption expenditure per capita and income per capita. The outcomes are consistent across different model specifications and robust to alternative estimation strategies. The findings imply that HCD reduces poverty rate suggesting that HCD is a strong driver of poverty reduction in Nigeria. Conversely, institutional quality plays a strong negative moderating role by dampening the reducing effect of HCD on poverty. This implies that the quality of the institution matters in the effectiveness of HCD on poverty reduction in Nigeria. The finding from the Ganger causality test reveals a unidirectional causality stemming from HCD components to the two indicators of poverty except for life expectancy rate and poverty metrics where a feedback causal effect is established. The study highlights key policy recommendations for Nigeria to attain the goal of poverty eradication by 2030.

Non-State Actors and Security Management in Kogi State, Nigeria

2025-06-30T03:53:41+00:00

Nigeria is confronted with many security challenges, including insurgency and banditry. The activities of violent non-state actors have continued to ravage the country. During the first quarter of 2024, there were almost 100 violent conflict incidents across 25 states, with a significant number of victims or casualties. The Northwest region was the most troubled of Nigeria’s six regions during this period. Insecurity in Nigeria has adversely affected livelihoods, human safety, and investment opportunities. Towards addressing this challenge, non-state actors have become a strategic component of the nation’s security apparatuses. These actors have operated over the years in the form of hunter guilds, community associations or private security outfits, among others. Some state governments have gone a step further by legislating into existence these extra-security bodies, which are now saddled with the responsibilities of the formal security organizations. This paper interrogates the efficacy of these non-state bodies as instruments of peace, order, and security in the state. Anchored on the principal-agency, human security, and securitization theories in explaining the work’s various dimensions, the study adopts both the primary and secondary sources of data. It argues that while non-state actors have contributed significantly to the nation’s security, they are limited by various constitutional, operational, and societal factors in the effective discharge of their duties. The paper recommends, among others, the need to prioritize security reforms, especially conflict mitigation by focusing on the root causes of conflict and promoting cooperation among key stakeholders in the conflict process.

Mobility Characteristics and Safety Practices among Secondary School Students in Oyo, Oyo State, Nigeria.

2025-06-30T03:56:59+00:00

This study examined mobility characteristics and road safety practices among secondary school students in Oyo, Oyo State, Nigeria. The study utilized both primary and secondary data. Using multi-stage sampling, 399 copies of questionnaire were purposely administered to students from sampled 25 senior secondary schools. Secondary data were obtained from relevant organizations. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi-square and t-tests). Findings revealed that walking (43.6%) and motorcycles (22.1%) were the dominant modes of school travel, with 54.1% of students commuting independently. Female students were more likely to be escorted (46%) and use private vehicles or buses, while males walked more frequently (54.3%). Travel distances varied, with 44.4% covering 1–2 km daily, and 60.9% spending up to 30 minutes commuting. Students perceived private cars (Mean=3.44) and school buses (Mean=3.34) as safest, while walking (Mean=2.68) was deemed least safe. Despite risks, most students demonstrated cautious street-crossing behaviours: 78.2% avoided crossing without checking for vehicles, and 73.9% refrained from using mobile devices while crossing. Gender differences in safety practices were statistically insignificant. The study highlighted vulnerabilities in student mobility, including reliance on unsafe transport modes and inadequate pedestrian infrastructure. The study recommended for improved road safety education, enhanced pedestrian facilities, stricter enforcement of traffic laws, and policies promoting safer school transport options. These measures were essential to mitigate risks and align with global road safety objectives for protecting young commuters in rapidly urbanizing regions.

Dynamics of Nigeria’s Fiscal Policy Responses to Oil Price Shocks: Implications for Revenue Stabilization, Public Health Outcomes, and External Debt Sustainability

2025-06-30T04:05:43+00:00

Nigeria's fiscal policy framework remains highly susceptible to oil price fluctuations due to its heavy reliance on petroleum revenue. This study investigates the dynamics of Nigeria’s fiscal policy responses to oil price shocks and their implications for revenue stabilization, public health outcomes, and external debt sustainability. The motivation stems from Nigeria’s persistent fiscal vulnerabilities, recent subsidy reforms, and increasing concerns over debt sustainability. The study examined the patterns of Nigeria’s fiscal policy responses to oil price shocks and assess their effectiveness in achieving revenue stabilization, improving public health outcomes, and ensuring external debt sustainability from 1980 to 2023. Grounded in the Oil Price Shock Theory, New Keynesian Theory and Theory of Fiscal Federalism, this study builds on existing literature on oil price shocks and macroeconomic stability. Empirical findings suggest that oil price volatility significantly influences fiscal performance, debt accumulation, and healthcare financing. Prior studies have explored fiscal responses to oil price shocks, but limited attention has been given to their effects on health equity and external debt sustainability. Employing a Vector Autoregression (VAR) model, Impulse Response Functions (IRF) and Variance Decomposition (VD) were used to evaluate the transmission mechanisms of oil price fluctuations on Nigeria’s fiscal and health sectors. Findings reveal that oil price shocks significantly affect fiscal stability, healthcare funding, and debt sustainability. Effective revenue diversification, fiscal buffers, and public health investments are necessary to enhance economic resilience and mitigate oil price volatility risks.

Strategic Entrepreneurship and Firms’ Competitiveness among Micro-enterprises in Southwest, Nigeria

2025-06-30T04:13:12+00:00

Strategic entrepreneurship has been identified and recognized as a catalyst for the overall socio-economic development of any developing nation like Nigeria through enhanced firms’ competitiveness among micro-enterprises, especially in the manufacturing sector within the South-west region. Despite its relevance, many micro-enterprises are struggling in an intense, volatile environment, unstable economic conditions and a lack of appropriate and sustainable strategies to attain competitiveness has been the bane for their survival in Nigeria. Stemming the tide of this challenge in the southwest, micro-enterprises owner-managers needed to adopt and incorporate Strategic entrepreneurship, a concept that will enable them to compete favourably to survive in a highly competitive environment, thereby growing them into small, medium and large enterprises, which have implications for enhanced economic growth and development in Nigeria. Therefore, the objective of this study is to examine the impact of Strategic Entrepreneurship on firm competitiveness. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey research design with a population of 91,889 formal micro-enterprises from the manufacturing sector. A sample size of 398 (Males = 52.0%) aged 21-60 years from six southwest states was determined using the Taro Yamane formula, with a purposive sampling technique for distributing the questionnaire to the respondents. A closed-ended questionnaire was used to collect the data. Two hypotheses were formulated and tested using Pearson Product-Moment Correlation (PPMC) and multiple regression. Results of correlation analysis showed that there was a significant and positive relationship between strategic entrepreneurship and firm’s competitiveness with (r = .59**, p<.05). The result also established that strategic entrepreneurship significantly predicted firm’s competitiveness with (R= 27, R²= .35; F (1, 396) = 219.12, p<.05). The study concluded that strategic entrepreneurship plays a significant relationship and predictive role on firm’s competitiveness. It was recommended that managers of micro-enterprises especially in the manufacturing sector should inculcate strategic entrepreneurship into their business such that it will make them to be more competitive ever in the face of the current economic turbulence in Nigeria.

Family Environment and Experience of Sexually Transmitted Infections among Young People in Sub-Saharan African Countries

2025-06-30T04:19:22+00:00

There is paucity of information on how family environment shapes sexual health outcomes of young people in sub-Saharan Africa countries. While most studies focused on the relationship between individual, household and community characteristics and sexual behaviour, there is limited information on a multi-country analysis of these phenomena. Hence, this study examined the influence of family environment on experience of sexually transmitted infections among young people in sub-Saharan Africa. This study used nationally representative secondary data sets of selected countries in SSA where sexual and reproductive health outcomes are deplorable. Information on sexual and reproductive health issues, socio-demographic, economic and other population-related characteristics were extracted from the data sets. The countries included Nigeria, Namibia, Malawi and DR Congo, representing each bloc of the sub-region. Results showed high prevalence of experience of sexually transmitted infections in DR Congo (9.3%). and lowest in Malawi (1.2%), multiple sexual partnerships was highest in DR Congo (55.7%) and lowest in Nigeria (22.5%) and condom use among sexually active young people was lowest in Malawi (11.0%) and highest in Namibia (50.7%). In Namibia, age (OR=4.25; C.I=1.24-14.54), primary education in Nigeria (OR=2.52; C.I=1.10-5.79), rural residence in Nigeria (OR=0.53; C.I=0.33-0.84), female-headed households in Namibia (OR=0.39; C.I=0.17-0.87), moderately deprived households in Nigeria (OR=2.59; C.I=1.31-4.73), multiple sexual partnerships in Nigeria (OR=2.24; C.I=1.42-3.51) and age at first sexual intercourse in DR Congo (OR=0.52; C.I=0.33-0.83) were significantly associated with experience of STIs among young people in SSA. Policies should focus on family-based interventions and strengthening of youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health interventions.

Evaluating the Impact of Abattoir Wastes on Soil Properties in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria

2025-06-30T04:23:38+00:00

Abattoir wastes is a major environmental concern to both urban and peri-urban areas in Nigeria. Therefore, its impact on soil properties in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria was evaluated. Variations in the morphological, physicochemical and microbial properties of the abattoir soils were assessed while the heavy metals toxicity of the soils were evaluated. A total of 24 soil samples were randomly collected from the abattoirs in Oluku and Ikpoba slope areas as well as the non-abattoir site (control) at depths of 0-15 cm (topsoil) and 15-30 cm (subsoil) respectively. Each of the soil samples was evaluated in-situ for key morphological characteristics. The physicochemical and microbial properties of the soils were determined in the laboratory following standard methods, while the heavy metal concentrations were estimated using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer method. Results revealed that the abattoir soils were predominantly black in colour. Consistent anthropogenic disturbances may have caused the abattoir soils to be more compact with higher mean bulk density (BD) values (1.25 - 1.35 Mg/m³) than the control that had 1.15 Mg/m³. The abattoir soils which were slightly alkaline and rich in organic matter could serve as a good source of manure for agricultural purposes. There were increased fungi and bacteria counts in the abattoir soils. All the examined heavy metals - lead (Pb), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr) and cadmium (Cd) were more concentrated in soils of the abattoir sites than the control site, but were within the toxicity limits established by World Health Organization and the Department of Petroleum Resources (Nigeria). However, these heavy metals could pose potential risks to the soil environment and health of nearby residents. The study also revealed that contamination factor, geo-accumulation index, enrichment factor, contamination degree and pollution load index of the heavy metals were all within the acceptable ranges. In the correlation matrix, the major significant positive relationships that were observed were between silt and total porosity, potassium, chromium, total heterotrophic bacteria count; while the significant negative relationships were between sand and silt, total porosity, potassium, chromium, total heterotrophic fungi count. The study concluded that Pb was the major heavy metal contaminant among the investigated heavy metals in the abattoir soils which could have devastating effects on public health if left unchecked.

Health Expenditure, Institutional Quality and Health Outcomes in Nigeria

2025-06-30T04:30:41+00:00

The study investigated the interplay among government health expenditure, institutional quality, and health outcomes in Nigeria. The Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model was used to analyse data from 1981 to 2021 for the assessment of how government recurrent expenditure affects life expectancy, maternal mortality rate, and infant mortality rate in both short and long run. Anchored in the health production function model, the findings demonstrated a significant positive impact of increased government health spending on long-term life expectancy, emphasizing the critical role of public investment in healthcare infrastructure. However, the study pointed out inconsistencies in the long-term effects of corruption on life expectancy. It also revealed a positive correlation between government health expenditure and health outcomes, especially infant mortality, while showing a long-term negative impact on maternal mortality. The study highlighted the complexity of health determinants in Nigeria, stressing the necessity for continuous healthcare investments and addressing corruption to optimize health expenditure outcomes. Also, efforts should also focus on improving access to maternal and child healthcare services, immunization programs, and skilled healthcare professionals to reduce infant mortality rates and improve life expectancy.

Assessing the Impact of Educational Intervention on Knowledge and Practice of Respectful Maternal Care among Nurses in North Central Nigeria

2025-06-30T04:37:36+00:00

The study examined the impact of educational intervention on nurses' knowledge and practice of respectful maternal care in North Central Nigeria. A quasi-experimental one-group research design was adopted. The study was conducted among 222 midwives in nine randomly selected hospitals, cutting across the three senatorial districts of Kwara State. Following the educational intervention, nurses showed a marked improvement in their understanding and application of respectful maternity care. Average knowledge scores increased from 17.42 before the training to 20.88 at six weeks, with a slight decrease to 19.61 by the twelfth week (p < 0.001). Similarly, their practice scores rose from 92.37 pre-intervention to 104.48 post-intervention, then tapered slightly to 99.09, still significantly higher than baseline (p < 0.001). These outcomes reflect meaningful learning gains and positive shifts in care behaviour, though they also underscore the need for continued reinforcement.

Maternal High-Risk Birth Behaviour in Nigeria: A Multilevel Multinomial Analysis of the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey Data

2025-06-30T04:43:58+00:00

Maternal high-risk birth behaviours (MHRBBs) has been linked to adverse maternal and child health outcomes. MHRBBs have been measured using three indicators; the maternal age at first birth (< 18 years and > 34 years), shorter and longer birth intervals (< 24 months and > 59 months), and a higher number of live births (4 birth orders or higher) order. This study examined the prevalence of MHRBBs and examined their contextual determinants among ever married women (15-49 years) in Nigeria. This was with the view to provide valuable insights into how individual and contextual determinants are associated with high-risk birth behaviour in Nigeria. A secondary dataset from a population-based cross-sectional study design was extracted from the 2021 Nigeria UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) and used for this study. A weighted sample size of 24,241 women who had a recent birth within the 5 years preceding the 2021 MICS was analysed. Charts and percentage distributions were used to describe the data. The associations between contextual determinants and high-risk birth behaviours were determined using Pearson’s chi-square test, and a multilevel multinomial logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify predictors of high-risk birth behaviours in Nigeria. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was presented at a p<0.05 level of significance. Two-fifths (40%) of births were identified as having no risk, one-third (34%) had a single risk, and more than a quarter (26%) had multiple risk factors. There were more Northern women with multiple risks (29%) than their Southern counterparts (22%). Women aged 35+ are about 14 times experiencing single risk (RRR=13.79, p<0.001, CI [11.22-16.94]) compared to the lesser age group. Also, the chances of experiencing single and multiple risks reduce as the education level increases, Women who are using contraceptives have higher chances of experiencing single risk (RRR=1.26, p<0.001, 95% CI [1.11-1.42]) and multiple risks (RRR=1.56, p<0.001, CI [1.30-1.88]) than their counterparts who are not using contraceptives. The study has established a strong relationship between individual, household and community-level factors and maternal high risk behaviours. Thus, policymakers and stakeholders should design interventions that take into account the factors that predispose women to have high-risk birth behaviours particularly women who reside in areas with a high proportion of high-risk birth behaviours.

Digital Technology, Skill Transformation, Work Design and Social Dialogue in the Port Industry: A Contextual Review and Research Direction

2025-06-30T04:48:46+00:00

This paper provides conceptual and methodological explorations on the imperatives and the need for researchers conducting workplace study to focus on how to develop and profile innovative workplace practices for effective management at the ports. It also aims to identify the imperatives of conceptual and empirical analysis to support workplace work-design, even in the context of emerging technology and automation in the port industry. The paper which is analytical review and scope study of sea ports in Australia and Nigeria provides insights to understanding the theoretical and conceptual remits of work-design and social dialogue as institutional framework for effective leadership management and innovative work practices at the waterfronts, and how these can enhance productivity and workers well-being at the ports. Institutional framework of Social Dialogue, combined with effective leadership at the port, is expected to provide Management and other stakeholders with opportunities to expand the benefits of port reforms, and the potentials of innovation; even as ports operations are continuously automated with challenges of skills transformation, and how these can ensure decent work at the seaports. Further, the contextual review described in this paper explores the broad understanding of global governance and management of ports reforms, and how to integrate this with the concept of work-design for innovative work practices. In particular, the paper engages with the epistemic understanding of work-design, and how this could further be advanced through Social Dialogue in the port industry.