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Bullion

  1. Manuscripts should be submitted with a cover letter addressed to the:

    Editor
    BULLION
    Corporate Communications Department
    Central Bank of Nigeria
    33, Tafawa Balewa Way, Central Business District,
    P.M.B. 0187, Garki, Abuja

    The softcopy of the papers should be submitted via email as editable electronic document, preferably Microsoft Word document, to either of the following email addresses: Bullion@cbn.gov.ng, publicationsoffice@aol.com.

  2. The article should not be more than twenty-five (25) pages or 4,000 – 7,000 words in length. It should be typed with 1.15 line spacing option, with a margin of 1.25 and 1.13 inches on the left and right sides, respectively. The font type to be used is Arial with font size 14 for headings and size 12 for the body of the article.

  3. The manuscript must be accompanied with a letter of submission written in English. Submission of a paper is assumed to imply that its contents represent original and unpublished work and is not under consideration elsewhere for publication.

  4. There is neither a submission charge nor page fee. The complete names and address (postal and email) of the author or lead author in the case of co-authored papers should be clearly indicated. Please note that papers with more than two co-authors will not be accepted.

  5. Papers may be rejected, accepted or returned for specified revisions.

  6. All submitted manuscripts are referred to an Editorial Board comprising of an in-house editorial committee and external referees for a two-level, peer-review of the paper. Comments by the referees will be sent to the author(s), including a decision by the Editorial Board to publish or not to publish the paper.

  7. The purpose and scope of the article should be clearly stated in an abstract summarising the article’s essential findings. The abstract should be typed on a separate page and should be italicised and not more than 100 words in length. In addition, the JEL classification code(s) as well as keywords should be clearly indicated on the abstract page.

  8. The author’s institutional affiliation and necessary background information on the article should appear at the foot of the first page. Footnotes to the text should be listed at the end, followed by the list of references.

  9. The honorarium for authors of accepted papers in the Bullion is ₦400,000 per paper and for reviewers ₦200,000 per manuscript.

  10. References for quotations or statements should be in parentheses in the text, not as notes. For example: Mordi (2010:20) or Mu’azu (2014). Where more than two authors are involved, cite senior author and use et al., for example, Johnson et al. (1988).

  11. Citations listed under the reference section must begin on a new page. All entries must be typed double-spaced, listed alphabetically by last name of senior author and chronologically for two or more articles by the same author. The typed layout must conform to the Harvard style, as follows:

    Mordi, C. N. O. (2010). “The Nigerian Financial Crisis: Lessons, Prospects and Way Forward”, CBN Bullion. Vol. 31 No. 3, July – September, pp. 1–10.

    Adenuga, A. O. and O. Evbuomwan (2011). “Understanding the Bretton Woods Institutions (BWIs) with Particular Reference to the International Monetary Fund (IMF)” CBN Bullion. Vol. 35 No. 4, October – December, pp. 10–15.

  12. All tabular materials should be separated from the text in a series of tables numbered consecutively in Arabic numerals preferably in Microsoft Excel. Each table should be typed double-spaced and identified by a short title at the top. Notes for tables should be at the bottom of each table, before the source, and marked by lower case superscript letters. Appropriately placed tables should be indicated in the text.

  13. Diagrams, graphs, charts, etc. must be separated from the text and clearly plotted on a white paper with all axes clearly positioned. They should be inserted appropriately in the text.

  14. Where mathematical equations and formulae are used, they should be typed clearly, using MathType or Microsoft Equation Editor. The equations should be numbered consecutively in Arabic numerals.

  15. Authors are required to submit a brief professional profile alongside their manuscript. The profile should highlight relevant qualifications, areas of expertise, and current institutional affiliations. Please adhere to the following standards:

    • Length: The author’s profile should be no longer than 150–250 words.
    • The profile should include:
      • Full name of the author(s).
      • Current position and institutional affiliation.
      • Highest academic qualifications and relevant certifications.
      • Key research interests and areas of expertise.
      • Significant publications or projects, if applicable.

  16. All submissions should be accompanied with a clear soft copy passport size photograph and mobile phone number(s) of the author(s). The passport photograph should:

    • Be clear, coloured and in focus.
    • Be unaltered by computer software.
    • Be at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall.
    • Be at least 50KB and no more than 10MB.
    • Contain no other objects or people.
    • Be taken against a plain light-coloured background.
    • Be in clear contrast to the background.
    • Not have “red eye”.

  17. In your photo, you should:

    • Be facing forwards and looking straight at the camera.
    • Have a plain expression and your mouth closed.
    • Have your eyes open and visible.
    • Not have anything covering your face.
    • Not have any shadows on your face or behind you.
    • Not wear sunglasses or tinted glasses. You can wear other glasses if you need to, but your eyes must be visible without any glare or reflection.

    Be informed that a digital passport photograph is a mandatory requirement for any manuscript to be published.

Please note that:

  • Papers must be written in English and must use British spelling and usage.
  • Cases of authors submitting articles published elsewhere, if proven, could lead to such authors being blacklisted by the joint Advisory and Editorial Boards of the CBN–Bullion.
  • The article must be based on original research, not to have been published or submitted in part or whole for publication elsewhere. All articles will first undergo an internal vetting process including a plagiarism check to determine its suitability and its degree of originality. Articles that pass the internal vetting will then undergo the peer review process in accordance with generally accepted standards.
  • The abstract should be italicized and in one paragraph and should summarize the pertinent results in a brief but understandable form, beginning with a clear statement of the objective and ending with the conclusions, with no references cited. Abbreviations in the abstract that are not standard abbreviations must be defined at first use. Data sources and range should be clearly stated.

AI Governance Policy for Bullion

  1. Purpose

    As an addendum to CBN Bullion guidelines for contributors, this policy establishes guidelines for the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in research, writing, and manuscript preparation while defining limits on AI-generated content and grounds for disqualification or rejection.

  2. Acceptable Use of AI

    Authors of the Bullion may use AI tools in the following ways, provided their use is transparently disclosed and does not compromise academic integrity:

    • Language Assistance: Grammar, spelling, and style enhancement (e.g., Grammarly, DeepL, ChatGPT for minor refinements).
    • Data Analysis & Visualization: AI tools for statistical analysis and graphical representation (e.g., MATLAB, Python AI models).
    • Literature Review Assistance: AI tools to summarize and organize references, but not to generate original discussions.
    • Plagiarism & Similarity Checks: AI-powered tools for ensuring originality (e.g., Turnitin, iThenticate).
  3. Transparency and Disclosure

    All AI usage must be disclosed in a dedicated “AI Use Disclosure” section in the manuscript. Authors who contribute to the Bullion should understand that any AI-generated content must disclose its usage within the manuscript. A brief note, in either the acknowledgments section or a dedicated “AI Disclosure” section, should clarify the extent of AI assistance. This promotes transparency and trust with the readership, ensuring that the magazine upholds its editorial integrity.

    Therefore, authors who utilize AI tools in the writing of a manuscript, the creation of images or graphical elements, or in data collection and analysis, must clearly disclose in the Materials and Methods (or equivalent) section how and which AI tools were used. While AI tools may assist in these processes, authors remain fully responsible for the entire content of their manuscript, including sections generated by AI, and are liable for any violations of publication ethics.

  4. AI Content Threshold & Rejection Criteria

    To ensure human intellectual contribution remains primary, the following thresholds apply:

    • AI-Generated Content Limit: A manuscript should not exceed 20% AI-generated content (excluding references and raw data analysis).
    • Above 20%: The paper will be flagged for review, and authors may be asked to revise and reduce AI-generated content.
    • Above 30%: The manuscript will be automatically rejected for lacking sufficient human intellectual contribution.

    Verification Methods:

    • The Bullion editorial team may use AI-detection tools (e.g., GPTZero, Turnitin AI detection) and manual checks to assess AI-generated content.
    • Authors may be asked to provide original drafts, notes, or methodology explanations if AI overuse is suspected.
  5. Prohibited Use of AI (Grounds for Disqualification)

    A manuscript will be immediately rejected if AI is used in any of the following ways:

    • Fabrication of Data, Results, or Citations: Any AI-generated or manipulated data, statistics, or references that cannot be independently verified.
    • Undisclosed AI-Generated Content: Failing to disclose AI assistance in writing, analysis, or interpretation.
    • AI-Generated Arguments Without Human Oversight: AI-written discussions, conclusions, or theoretical frameworks without meaningful human input.
    • AI as an Author: AI cannot be credited as an author, as it lacks accountability and intellectual contribution.
  6. Consequences of AI Misuse
    • Failure to Disclose AI Use: Immediate rejection and potential temporary ban on submissions.
    • AI Fabrication or Plagiarism: Paper retraction if discovered post-publication.
    • Repeated Violations: Authors may face long-term submission bans.
  7. Ethical Oversight & Policy Updates
    • The Bullion editorial board will periodically review and update AI governance policies to align with evolving AI capabilities.
    • Authors uncertain about AI use should consult the editorial team before submission.

Additional Clarifications on AI Use

  1. Transparency and Disclosure

    Authors who contribute to the Bullion should understand that any AI-generated content must disclose its usage within the manuscript. A brief note, either in the acknowledgments section or a dedicated “AI Disclosure” section, should clarify the extent of AI assistance. This promotes transparency and trust with the readership, ensuring that the magazine upholds its editorial integrity.

    Therefore, authors who utilize AI tools in the writing of a manuscript, the creation of images or graphical elements, or in data collection and analysis, must clearly disclose in the Materials and Methods (or equivalent) section how and which AI tools were used. While AI tools may assist in these processes, authors remain fully responsible for the entire content of their manuscript, including sections generated by AI, and are liable for any violations of publication ethics.

  2. Ethical Use of AI

    To prevent any misuse or over-reliance on AI, contributors to Bullion should adhere to guidelines ensuring that AI content does not compromise the authenticity or credibility of the work. For example, the AI-generated content should not include plagiarized material, nor should it be used to manipulate the facts or tone of the manuscript.

    In order to ensure that the use of AI in the Bullion manuscripts remains both beneficial and ethically sound, we also recommend implementing a policy that permits up to 20% (of the total word count) of a manuscript's content to be AI-generated. Through this bench-marking process, we aim to maintain the authenticity, originality, and credibility of content while effectively integrating AI tools.

    Based on the above, we are hereby recommending the implementation of a policy that permits up to 20% AI-generated content in any manuscript submitted for publication in the Bullion.

We look forward to receiving your submissions.