Corruption and Underdevelopment in Nigerian Public Service. A Study of Bayelsa State
CHAPTER ONE
Objective of the study
The main objective of the study is to find out corruption and underdevelopment in Nigeria public service. The specific objectives are;
- To investigate the causes of corruption in Nigeria public service
- To determine the impact of corruption on the Nigerian public service
- To determine the relationship between corruption and under development
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Conceptual Framework
Corruption
Corruption is a social phenomenon that is difficult to define, and it does not have a universally accepted definition. The definition varies depending on the inclination of the scholar and perception of the concept. Andrig and Fjelstad cited in Mohammed (2013) are of the opinion that corruption is a “complex and multifaceted phenomenon with multiple causes and effects, as it takes on various forms and contexts” (p. 120). Similarly, Tanzi (1998) is of the view that while it is hard to define corruption, the crisis that is linked to corruption is not difficult to identify
The United Nations Global Programme Against Corruption (GPAC) defines political corruption as the “abuse of power for private gain.” In a similar vein, TI also put forward a lucid definition of the concept as “the abuse of entrusted power for private gain.” Waziri (2010) views corruption as a pervasion or a change from the generally accepted law or rules for personal benefit
Azelama (2002) defines corruption as any action or omission enacted by a member of an organization, which is against the rules, regulations, norms, and ethics of the organization, and the purpose is to meet the selfish end of the member at the detriment of the organization. The World Bank (World Bank Independent Evaluation Group, 2006) defines corruption as “the abuse of office for private gains.” Public office is abused for private gain when an official accepts, solicits, or extorts a bribe. Agbu (2003) observes that public office can be abused for selfish gain even if bribery does not take place. This implies that political corruption could be defined in the form of patronage, election rigging, and voters register manipulation, favoritism in the award of contract, procurement scam, tribalism and nepotism in recruitment and promotion, unfair punishment/sanctions for public officials
Given the above definitions, corruption or political corruption implies any action that violates electoral rules/the formal duties of any public role, rules, or norms with regard to public trust.
Underdevelopment
For a better appreciation and situational analysis of the term ‘underdevelopment’, it is instructive to understand the meaning of the term ‘development’. Development as a concept is all-embracing a multi-dimensional concept. Rodney, Walter (1969) was apt when he observed that development has a many-sided process both at the individual and at the societal level. For Todari and Smith (2012), development as a multi-dimensional process involves changes in social structures, popular attitudes and institutions as well as acceleration of economic growth, reduction of inequality and the eradication of poverty. Therefore, it could be deduced that development refers to all the activities geared towards the re-orientation, re-organization and re-establishment of the entire economic and social system. It involves the process of improving human standard and living condition.
Chapter Three
Research Methodology
Research Design
The research design adopted in this research work is the survey research design which involves the usage of self-designed questionnaire in the collection of data. Under the survey research design, primary data of this study will be collected from selected staff of Bayelsa civil service commission in order to determine corruption and underdevelopment in Nigeria public service. The design was chosen because it enables the researcher to collect data without manipulation of any variables of interest in the study. The design also provides opportunity for equal chance of participation in the study for respondents.
Population of Study
The population of study is the census of all items or a subject that possess the characteristics or that have the knowledge of the phenomenon that is being studied (Asiaka, 1991). It also means the aggregate people from which the sample is to be drawn.
Population is sometimes referred to as the universe. The population of this research study will be Seventy-five (75) selected staff of Bayelsa civil service commission.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
This chapter is about the analysis and presentation of data collected from the field through questionnaire. The analysis of the data with particular question immediately followed by the presentation of findings.
As mentioned in chapter three, 63 questionnaires were administered and 50 were retrieved and necessary analysis
Data Presentation
This is the presentation of the quantitative data collected from the respondents through the questionnaire drawn-tabulation and percent (%) age will be used to analyze the data accordingly as follows:
The table above shows that 27 (54%) of the entire respondents are between the age 21-30 years, 11 (22%) fall between the age 31-40 years, 8 (16%) also fall between the age of 41-50 and 4 (8%) also fall between the age of above 50.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain corruption and underdevelopment in Nigerian public service. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of corruption and underdevelopment in Nigerian public service.
Summary
This study was on corruption and underdevelopment in Nigerian public service. Three objectives were raised which included: To investigate the causes of corruption in Nigeria public service, to determine the impact of corruption on the Nigerian public service and to determine the relationship between corruption and under development. The total population for the study is 75 selected staffs of Bayelsa civil service commission. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
A successful war on corruption must go beyond the apparent into the essence of the matter. National interest must override party loyalty. The government must recognize the fact that corruption is not peculiar to a political party but rather a national phenomenon that must be confronted wholeheartedly at all levels, across all parties and most importantly within the ambits of the law. In other words, persons accused of corruption should be guaranteed the right to fair hearing in an open and transparent manner that complies with the basic principles of the rule of law as enunciated by Professor A.V. Dicey. Finally, the independence of the judiciary must be totally ensured and respected by the executive arm of Government so that justice can be dispensed in accordance to the anticorruption laws of the country. This is because until our anti-graft institutions treat those accused of corruption equally, with no preferential treatment on ethnic, regional and party lines, and also consider individuals accused as innocent until proven guilty in the court of law, anti-corruption war will only succeed in ending the corporate existence of Nigeria due to the fact that it will deepen the ethno-religious and regional sentiments already gaining ground in the country
Recommendation
- To curb corruption in Nigeria, the government should provide independent judiciary which will be responsible for penalizing the offenders. Even those who thought themselves “Above the law” having realized that they will be penalized by the system, they will not misbehave. 2. The mass media should not left out of the campaign. Ordinarily, the mass media are regarded as the watchdog of the government. The co-operation of the journalist, the press, radio and television operators, should be enlisted and particular roles be design foe them especially in propagating the content of the law and the ideas of the campaign
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