Privacy Statement

Proposed Editorial Policies

1. Advertisement Policy

1.1 General Principles

The Nigerian Journal of Basic and Clinical Sciences (NJB&CS) accepts advertisements from credible organizations and institutions whose products, services, or messages are relevant to the fields of medicine, health sciences, and allied disciplines. All advertisements must be consistent with the ethical standards of the medical profession and must comply with applicable national and international advertising regulations.

1.2 Editorial Independence

The acceptance of advertising materials does not influence editorial decisions, peer review outcomes, or the content of published articles. Editorial content is entirely independent of commercial or sponsor influence.

1.3 Content Restrictions

• Advertisements must not be misleading, deceptive, or offensive.

• Claims must be verifiable and supported by scientific evidence where applicable.

• No advertisement promoting tobacco, alcohol, or unapproved drugs will be accepted.

• Comparative advertisements that disparage competitors or products are prohibited.

1.4 Placement and Labeling

All advertisements will be clearly distinguished from editorial content. Placement will be at the discretion of the editorial office, and the word “Advertisement” will be clearly displayed to prevent any confusion.

1.5 Disclaimer

The appearance of advertisements in NJB&CS does not constitute endorsement by the Editorial Board, the College of Health Sciences, or Bayero University Kano.

2. Ahead-of-Print (AOP) Policy

2.1 Definition

Articles accepted for publication following peer review may be published online ahead of their inclusion in a specific journal issue. Such articles are designated as “Ahead of Print” (AOP) publications.

2.2 Purpose

The AOP system ensures timely dissemination of new research findings, facilitating faster visibility and citation.

2.3 Citation and DOI

Each AOP article will be assigned a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) and can be cited using its DOI even before pagination or issue assignment.

2.4 Post-AOP Publication

Once the article is included in a regular issue, the final citation details will be updated online, but the DOI will remain unchanged.

2.5 Corrections

Minor typographical or formatting errors identified post-AOP publication may be corrected without formal notice. Substantive changes will be addressed through errata or corrigenda in accordance with COPE guidelines.

3. Plagiarism Policy

3.1 Statement

NJB&CS maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism in any form. Authors must ensure that all submitted manuscripts are original, properly cited, and free from any form of academic dishonesty.

3.2 Screening Procedure

All submissions are screened using Turnitin or an equivalent plagiarism detection software before peer review. A similarity index above 20% (excluding references) may warrant revision or rejection, depending on the nature and extent of overlap.

3.3 Types of Plagiarism

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

• Verbatim copying of text, tables, or figures without proper citation.

• Paraphrasing without attribution.

• Self-plagiarism (duplicate publication of the author’s previous work without disclosure).

• Fabrication or falsification of data.

3.4 Action on Detection

If plagiarism is detected:

• Before publication: the manuscript will be rejected and authors notified.

• After publication: the article may be retracted with an accompanying notice, and the authors may be blacklisted from future submissions.

4. Publication Ethics and Malpractice Policy

4.1 Ethical Standards

NJB&CS adheres to the highest standards of publication ethics as outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), ICMJE, and WAME.

4.2 Responsibilities

• Editors: Ensure impartial review and confidentiality. Handle ethical concerns promptly.

• Reviewers: Provide objective, timely, and constructive evaluations, and declare conflicts of interest.

• Authors: Ensure originality, disclose conflicts, and obtain ethical approval for human or animal studies (with ethics approval number stated).

4.3 Conflicts of Interest

Authors, reviewers, and editors must declare any financial, personal, or professional relationships that could influence their work.

4.4 Research Misconduct

Any allegation of data fabrication, falsification, or ethical breach will be investigated according to COPE and institutional protocols. Sanctions may include retraction, reporting to funding bodies, or disciplinary action.

5. Retraction Policy

5.1 Grounds for Retraction

An article may be retracted if:

• There is clear evidence of fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, or unethical research.

• Findings have been invalidated by later research.

• The authorship or data are found to be compromised.

5.2 Retraction Process

Retractions are initiated by the Editor-in-Chief, authors, or readers upon validated evidence. The editorial office investigates in accordance with COPE guidelines. A Retraction Notice is published in the next available issue, linked to the original article and stating the reason for retraction.

5.3 Post-Retraction

Retracted articles remain accessible online, watermarked as “Retracted,” to preserve the scholarly record.

Approved by: Editorial Board, Nigerian Journal of Basic and Clinical Sciences (NJB&CS)
College of Health Sciences, Bayero University Kano, Nigeria
Website: https://njbcs.ng/