Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

Ondo Journals, published by the Nigerian Publishing House, is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics, academic integrity, and responsible scholarly communication. The journal adheres to internationally recognized best practices in academic publishing, including the ethical guidelines and core practices established by the Committee on Publication Ethics.

This statement outlines the responsibilities and ethical expectations of authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher, and provides guidance on responsible research conduct, the use of artificial intelligence tools, and the integrity of the scholarly record.

Editorial Responsibilities

Publication Decisions

Editors of Ondo Journals are responsible for determining which submitted manuscripts should be published. Editorial decisions are based on the manuscript’s originality, scholarly merit, methodological soundness, relevance to the journal’s scope, and contribution to knowledge.

Editors may consult reviewers and members of the editorial board when making publication decisions.

Fair Evaluation

Manuscripts are evaluated solely on their intellectual and scholarly merit without discrimination based on race, gender, nationality, institutional affiliation, religion, or political orientation.

Confidentiality

Editors must treat submitted manuscripts as confidential documents. Information regarding submissions must not be disclosed to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, editorial advisers, or the publisher where appropriate.

Conflicts of Interest

Editors must avoid situations in which conflicts of interest may influence editorial decisions. Editors should recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where such conflicts exist.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Peer review is a critical component of scholarly publishing and ensures the quality and credibility of published research.

Contribution to Editorial Decisions

Reviewers assist editors in evaluating manuscripts and providing constructive feedback that improves the quality and clarity of research.

Confidentiality

Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents and must not be shared or discussed with others without authorization from the editor.

Objectivity

Reviews should be conducted objectively and professionally. Personal criticism of authors is inappropriate. Comments should be clear, constructive, and supported by evidence.

Acknowledgement of Sources

Reviewers should identify relevant work that has not been cited by the authors and inform the editor of any substantial similarity between the manuscript under review and previously published research.

Conflict of Interest

Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest and decline to review manuscripts where such conflicts may compromise impartiality.

Use of Artificial Intelligence in Peer Review

Reviewers must not upload or submit confidential manuscripts to artificial intelligence tools or automated systems, as doing so may compromise the confidentiality of the peer review process.

Responsibilities of Authors

Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must ensure that their manuscripts are original works. Proper acknowledgment must be given to the work and ideas of others through appropriate citation and referencing.

Plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, is considered unethical and unacceptable.

Multiple or Concurrent Publication

Authors should not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously. Submitting substantially similar work to multiple publications is considered unethical.

Authorship

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research. All co-authors must approve the final version of the manuscript prior to submission.

Data Integrity

Authors must present accurate data and ensure that research findings are reported honestly and transparently. Fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of data constitutes serious misconduct.

Authors should be prepared to provide raw data if requested during the editorial review process.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence the interpretation of their research findings.

Ethical Research Standards

Research involving human participants, animals, or sensitive data must comply with relevant institutional and ethical guidelines and must receive appropriate approval from ethics committees where required.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Research and Manuscript Preparation

Ondo Journals recognizes that artificial intelligence tools may assist authors in aspects of research and writing. However, responsible and transparent use of such tools is essential.

AI as a Tool, Not an Author

Artificial intelligence tools cannot be listed as authors of a manuscript. Authorship implies accountability and responsibility for the work, which cannot be assumed by automated systems.

Disclosure of AI Use

Authors must disclose any use of AI tools in the preparation of manuscripts, including their role in generating text, images, data analysis, or other research outputs.

Responsibility for Content

Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of all content in their manuscripts, regardless of whether AI tools were used during preparation.

Ethical Use of AI

AI tools must not be used to generate fabricated data, manipulated images, or misleading research outputs.

Responsibilities of the Publisher

The Nigerian Publishing House, as the publisher of Ondo Journals, supports ethical publishing practices and works closely with editors to ensure the integrity of the publication process.

The publisher is committed to:

• maintaining editorial independence

• supporting ethical publishing standards

• investigating allegations of research misconduct

• issuing corrections, clarifications, expressions of concern, or retractions when necessary

• preserving the integrity and accessibility of the scholarly record

Handling Allegations of Misconduct

Ondo Journals takes allegations of publication misconduct seriously. Suspected cases of plagiarism, data fabrication, authorship disputes, duplicate publication, or other ethical violations will be investigated thoroughly.

Where misconduct is confirmed, appropriate actions may include:

• rejection of the manuscript

• publication of corrections or retractions

• notification of relevant institutions or funding bodies

• restriction of future submissions from offending authors

Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

When errors or ethical concerns arise after publication, Ondo Journals may issue:

• Corrections for minor errors that do not invalidate the findings

• Retractions for articles containing serious errors or misconduct

• Expressions of Concern where investigations are ongoing
  

These measures help preserve the reliability of the scholarly record.

Commitment to Ethical Publishing

Ondo Journals is dedicated to promoting responsible research practices, transparency, and ethical scholarly communication. The journal encourages authors, reviewers, and editors to uphold the highest standards of integrity in order to ensure that published research contributes meaningfully to the advancement of knowledge.