THE ROLE AND CHALLENGES OF ANTI-CORRUPTION
AGENCIES IN ENHANCING PRUDENT FINANCIAL
MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA
(THE CASE OF ICPC AND EFCC)
BY
MBAH JUDITH UKAMAKA
PG/MBA/08/53457
DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTANCY
FACULTY OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA
ENUGU CAMPUS
APRIL, 2010
CERTIFICATION
Mbah Judith Ukamaka, a postgraduate student in the Department of Accountancy, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus with the
Registration No. PG/MBA/08/53457 has satisfactorily completed the requirements for research work for the degree of Master of Business
Administration in Accountancy.
The work embodied in this project is original and has not been submitted in part or full for any other Diploma or Degree of this or any other university.
…………………………… …………………………… Mr. R.O. Ugwuoke Dr. R.G. Okafor Supervisor Head of Department of Accountancy
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The researcher wants to appreciate and thank God for His divine wisdom, knowledge and indeed everything He has bestowed upon her life and for the completion of this academic programme.
The researcher wishes to express her profound thanks and appreciation to her Supervisor, Mr. R.O. Ugwoke of the Department of
Accountancy, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus for his immense and tireless supervisory guidance while this research work was in progress.
His magnanimity in devoting his time for prompt corrections and his intellectual leadership made available to the researcher are most gratefully acknowledged. I pray that God will bless and reward you and your family abundantly more than you have ever expected or imagined in all ramifications.
The researcher is short of words in expressing her unreserved gratitude to Dr. Regina Gwamniru Okafor, the current Head of
Department of Accountancy for her tireless counseling, and motherly encouragement to me throughout the duration of the programme.
The researcher is also indebted to the following lecturers: Osita
Aguolu, Odo C., Ofoegbu, Onyeanu and other staff (both tutorial and non tutorial) of the Department of Accountancy, University of Nigeria, Enugu
Campus for their wonderful contributions in imparting academic knowledge to me which was a catalyst in helping me to write this Project work. The Chief Executives and staff of various anti-graft commissions
(ICPC and EFCC) and other agencies consulted, including the churches, the business community, general public, NGOs, etc. who are too numerous to mention by names are thankfully appreciated for allowing the researcher free access to the information used in this research.
The researcher is also indebted to Miss. Jane Ene for her excellent service in typing this work.
Finally, the researcher is deeply grateful to my darling husband,
Dr. G.A. Mbah and also to Engr. J.O. Mbah, Sir N.N. Opogu and other members of her maiden and immediate wonderful family for their understanding, support and prayers.
DEDICATION
This Project work is dedicated to Mathias Sunday Opogu and Mrs.
Nneka Mbah – all of the blessed memory. Their passing on, on 5th
January 2007 and 15th January 2009 respectively was like the “end of the road” but “many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivers him out of them all” (Psalm 34 v 19) and “call upon me in the day of
Trouble I will deliver you” (Psalm 50 v 15 & Jeremiah 33 v 3). God has saved us from the trauma and may their souls rest in peace in the bosom of the Lord. The researcher prays for the souls of those who lost their lives in the current Jos mayhem and earthquake in Haiti.
ABSTRACT
All over the world, no country has been adjusted to be totally free from any iota of corruption. Even in the Bible I Sam. Chapter 8 v 1 – 4, the two sons of Samuel, - Joel and Abijah took bribe and perverted justice. Monumental corruption holds sway in Nigeria. The researcher’s study is to find how the two anti-graft agencies – ICPC and EFCC have performed towards eradicating corruption in Nigeria since their inauguration in year 2000 and 2002 respectively. The background of the study dealt extensively on previous efforts made by previous Governments to reduce corruption and all to no avail until in 2000 and 2002 when the two commissions were inaugurated by President Obasanjo. The scope is limited to two commissions ICPC and EFCC while other anti-corruption agencies like NDLEA, SSS, Customs, Civil Defense, Police, Prison Services were not studied. Chapter two centered on concept, origin of corruption, history of EFCC and ICPC, missions of the two anti-graft commissions, their Operational structures, their functions, categories of people that have rights to report cases of corruption to ICPC and EFCC, types of cases to be reported upon, types of offences and punishments. Different comments on corruption in Nigeria by renowned scholars, monumental corruptions in different sectors in Nigeria like NEPA, Police, Public Service, Presidency, among various politicians, NNPC were discussed. Other issues discussed are negative consequences of corruption in Nigeria, causes, types of corruption, why corruption persists in Nigeria and the effects on the society generally and other basic indicators of corruption as commented by other scholars. Chapter three dealt on research methodology, design, population of the study, sample size determination, sample techniques, hypotheses, procedures for the administration of questionnaire and procedures for statistical analysis. Population is 1,200, while sample size is 300. Chapter four centered on analysis of demographic variables of the respondents, assessment on causes, effects, functional differences, factors militating against effective performances of the two commissions. Five hypotheses were tested in line with five objectives of the study and five related research questions. Corruption has brought negative consequences like breeding of injustice, mediocrity, poor service delivery, lopsided and uneven developments, brain drain, short life expectancy, ethnic militia, civil agitation and unrest, increased rate of crimes and violence. To ensure effective performance of the two commissions, there is need to put in place legal constitutions to be revised periodically, no political or government interference. There should be adequate funding, logistics support, high level of cooperation from all and sundry to support corruption eradication. There is need for sensitization, awareness creation, entrenching morality and social values. Religious leaders should intensify their preaching on ethical issues and Christian ethos. There are specific functions of the two commissions. However, there are areas of functional conflicts. Finally, in chapter five, discussions of findings showed that poor funding, poor working conditions in public offices, inordinate and mundane ambitions account for high rate of corruption in Nigeria. Others are deprivations, overstaying in offices, misallocations of resources etc. Finally, conclusions were made while recommendations centered on ways to make the two commissions more viable to eradicate corruption since righteousness exalts a nation (Proverb 14:34). We have no other country than Nigeria and we have to stay here and salvage it together through collective efforts to eradicate corruption and by supporting the efforts of anti-graft agencies.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Title Page i
Certification ii
Acknowledgements iii
Dedication v Abstract vi
Table of Contents vii
Appendices viii
CHAPTER ONE
Introduction
1.1 Background of the Study 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem 5
1.3 The Objectives of the Study 7
1.4 Research Questions 8
1.5 Hypotheses 9
1.6 Significance of the Study 9
1.7 The Scope and Limitations of the Study 11
1.8 Definition of Terms 12
References
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 The Concept of Corruption 14
2.2 Origin of Corruption 14
2.3 The Brief History of the two anti-graft Agencies 16
(ICPC and EFCC)
2.4 Missions of the two anti-graft commissions 17
2.5 Operational Structures of the two commissions 17 2.6 Functions of the anti-graft agencies 18
2.7 Categories of people that have right to report
corruption cases to ICPC and EFCC 19
2.8 Types of cases to be reported upon to the two
anti-graft commissions 19
2.9 Certain comments by some renowned scholars on
corruption in Nigeria 21
2.10 The monumental corruption in different sectors in Nigeria 28
2.11 Corruption in NEPA (Now Power Holdings Company
Of Nigeria a.k.a (please hold candle now) 30
2.12 Corrupt Politicians and the Nation 32
2.13 Corruption situations in some ministries 33
2.14 Some critical areas so obvious and so important to
our socio-economic and political lives that are daily
affected by corrupt activities of individuals and
collectivities 36
2.15 Negative consequences of corruption in Nigeria 37
2.16 Corruption, Causes and effects 38
2.17 Types of Corruption 39
2.18 Why corruption persist in Nigeria 42
2.19 The Effects of Corruption on the Society 43
2.20 Anti graft agencies (EFCC and ICPC) the journey so far 45 2.21 The Environments of ICPC/EFCC 45
References
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 Research Methodology
3.1 Introduction 49
3.2 Research Design 49
3.3 Population of the Study 50
3.4 Sample Size and Sampling Techniques 51
3.5.1 Validity 52
3.5.2 Reliability 53
3.6 Procedure for the administration of the Instrument 54
3.7 Procedure for Statistical Analysis 57
3.8 Summary 58
References
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA
4.1 Introduction 63
4.2 Analysis of the Demographic variables of the respondents
4.2.1 Assessment of the causes of corruption in Nigeria 64
4.2.2 Effects of Corruption in Nigeria 67
4.2.3 Effectiveness of ICPC, EFCC in tackling corruption 70
4.2.4 Assessing different functions of ICPC and EFCC 71 4.3 Test of Hypotheses 73
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSION OF RESULTS, SUMMARY OF MAJOR FINDINGS,
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Discussion of Results 81
5.2 Summary of Major Findings 87
5.3 Conclusion 89
5.4 Recommendations 90
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Nigeria has been stigmatized by the international community as one of the most corrupt countries in the world. For three consecutives years, 2000, 2001 and 2002, it maintained the unenviable position of being the second most corrupt nation in the world,(Ogiri 2008:2). The rating came up as a consequence of several failed attempts in the past to wipe out corruption or reduce it to a tolerable level in the polity. From the Jaji Declaration in 1977 by Olusegun Obansanjo; the Ethical
Revolution of Shagari in 1981-1983; the War Against Indiscipline by
Buhari in 1984; the National Orientation Movement by Babangida in
1986; the Mass Mobilization for Social Justice by Babangida in 1987; the
War Against Indiscipline and Corruption in 1996 by Abacha; to the Anti-
Corruption Act 2000 again by President Olusegun Obasanjo, this is the first time in the series of several efforts to fight corruption that the attempt has the force of law with severe sanctions, Ayola (2006:5).
In the last 20 years, the pervasiveness of corruption in all its ramifications has assumed renewed dimensions of cancerous proportions in Nigeria, to the extent that the Germany-based Transparency
International, a respected Independent, universal non-governmental organization ranked Nigeria in the unenviable position of being the most corrupt nation in the world for a consecutive period of more than 7 years.
The unpleasant news was published in all national newspapers in Nigeria, according to Ukiro (2008:4).
In foreign countries, Nigerians are regarded and treated as corrupt people. Unlike other nationals, no bank would allow Nigerians to open a bank account as of right. The Nigerian Green Passport is synonymous with corruption. Consequently, at foreign airports, Nigerians with green passports are separated from other nationals. While others are allowed to go freely, Nigerians are subjected to degrading and inhuman treatments and treated as pariahs on the ground that they are Nigerians who hail from the most corrupt country of the world. The recent attempt by a
Nigerian, Farouk Mutullab to bomb an American plane on Christmas day,
25th December, 2009 aggravated matters for Nigerians. The former governor of Bayelsa State, DSP Alamieseghe who was detained in London on charges of financial fraud got home here in Nigeria in a mysterious circumstance.
National newspapers are filled with stories of looted money stashed in foreign banks. The stolen resources, lost by Nigeria through endemic corruption and abuse of office have had inimical effects on the economy of the country. First, is the issue of inflation and its pressuring effects on the economy as a result of irregular distortions in economic indices and lack of control on monetary and fiscal policy engendered by the availability of such funds of massive proportions outside normal economic activity. Secondly, the inflationary trends has the effect of lowering living standards to stupendous proportions such that what is known as the ‘Middle Class’ was virtually wiped out, so that what hitherto were basic necessities of life became luxuries. It is a notorious fact that, whilst in 1979, the US Dollar exchanged with the Nigerian
Naira at the rate of US$1 to N0.85k, it has plummeted (fallen) to the commercial rate of US$1 to N142 in 2002. In the corresponding period, while inflation rate in the United States of America rose by about 15% in real terms in 23 years, it has risen by about 2000% in Nigeria.
All these stark statistics are induced by all means in no small measure, by illicit capital flight engendered by corruption.
The crisis which endemic corruption has triggered off in Nigeria, certainly poses ex-political stability, the National interest and integrity of the Nigerian Nation. This, no doubt, goes beyond local and state concern. The eradication of corruption is therefore a National one, as the perilous effect touches and affects every Nigerian, regardless of tribe, religion and state of origin. Indeed, a Nigerian is not known or lined to a state of origin outside Nigeria”.
In March 1997 Edition of Transparency International Newsletter, it was recorded that the United Nations Economic and Social Council adopted a resolution in which it called on “all governments to fight corruption more decisively”. It was then stressed that there was global concerted effort to ensure that the issue of corruption was addressed and tackled universally. There is an international body based in Berlin,
Germany, hosting several member countries poised to combat bribery, which is known as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD). Chief Afe Babalola quoted from the Supplement to Transparency International Newsletter, September 1994 as follows:
“OECD governments today (Paris, 27th May, 1994) agreed to take collective action to tackle the problem of bribery in international business transactions. The OECD Recommendation on Bribery in International
Business Transactions is the first multilateral agreement among governments to combat the bribery of foreign officials and represents a breakthrough in a difficult area. While nearly all countries have laws against the bribery of their own officials, most do not provide legal sanctions for the bribery of foreign officials by their nationals or their domestic enterprises.
Bribery presents moral and political challenges and, in addition, exacts a heavy economic cost, hindering the development of international trade and investment by raising transaction costs and distorting the operation of free markets. It is especially damaging to developing countries since it diverts needed assistance and increase the cost of that assistance.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
There are growing concerns about the deplorable condition of the economy aggravated by corruption in Nigeria. Nigerians and the government alike have expressed considerable worry about the state of the economy, poor growth, and development in all sectors due to the presence of hydra-headed monster called corruption, (Okoduwa, 2008:6).
There are frequent incidents of corruptions in Federal and Sate
Ministries, Departments and Agencies and in Federal, State and Local government areas of the country. All these nefarious activities have led to poor governance, poor performance, and diversion of public funds while ethical values are undermined. This issue of monumental corruption has made President Olusegun Obasanjo to inaugurate the two anti-graft agencies, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Economic and Financial Crime
Commission (EFCC) in 2000 and 2002 respectively. The mandates are for the two agencies to fight corruption to a standstill, have zero-tolerance for corruption. The crisis which endemic corruption has triggered off in
Nigeria, certainly poses political stability, the National interest and integrity of the Nigerian Nation. This, no doubt, goes beyond local and state concern. The eradication of corruption is therefore a National one as the perilous effect touches and affects every Nigerian regardless of tribe, religion and state of origin.
In very clear and unequivocal terms, Transparency International declares “that corruption fuels poverty and injustice for millions of ordinary citizens”. The development assistance aimed to reduce poverty and to support equitable economic and social development; both the recipients and donors must ensure that development resources are used for their intended purposes and not diverted through corruption, wastes or abuse, that respected body further stated. Not only does corruption undermine international effects to reduce poverty, it also further compromises the welfare of the most marginalized communities.
Furthermore, corruption also skews the playing field when it comes to access to key public services such as education, health, water and market for goods and services. It undermines political processes and political plurality while in post conflict areas and fragile states, corruption amplifies and inflames existing tension( Ukiros2008:7). Today in South
Africa, former African National Congress president, Nelson Mandela is known for his legacies in getting Independence. Martin Luther Junior is remembered for his reform legacies in America after many years he passed on. In Nigeria, the reverse is the case. Many Nigerian leaders and their citizens are corrupt. In view of the foregoing dangers of corruption, the former president of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo succinctly observed that: “Corruption has been responsible for the instability of successive governments since the first Republic. Every coup since then has been in the name of stamping out the disease called corruption.
Unfortunately, the cure often turned out to be worse than the disease and
Nigeria’s external image took a serious bashing, as our beloved country began to feature on top of every corruption index”.
Over the years, there have been studies and activities to stamp out corruption from such agencies like the police, customs, code of conduct bureau, Civil Defence, but all to no avail. From 2000 onwards, ICPC and
EFCC were inaugurated and the researcher deemed it fit to find out how the functions, challenges, and prospects of the anti-graft agencies- ICPC and EFCC have impacted in tackling the debilitating monster called corruption, so as to better our country – Nigeria.
1.3 THE OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The following are the objectives of the study:
1. To determine the causes of corruption in Nigeria.
2. To ascertain the impact of corruption on the economic growth and
development in Nigeria.
3. To carefully determine the effectiveness of the Anti-graft Agencies
– ICPC and EFCC in combating corruption in Nigeria.
4. To determine the functional differences between ICPC and EFCC
in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
5. To identify the possible problems militating against the effective
fight against corruption by the two Anti-graft commissions in
private and public institutions in Nigeria.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
(1) What are the causes of corruption in different establishments in
Nigeria?
(2) What are the impacts of corruption on financial management,
economic growth and development in Nigeria?
(3) How effective are ICPC and EFCC in fighting corruption in
Nigeria?
(4) How do the functions of ICPC differ from those of the EFCC in
fighting corruption?
(5) What are the possible problems or challenges militating against
anti corruption crusade by the anti-graft agencies – ICPC and
EFCC in private and public intuitions in Nigeria?
1.5 HYPOTHESES
(a) Ha: Corruption is caused by inordinate ambition of many
Nigerians.
(b) Ha: There is a relationship between the impact of corruption on
the level of economic growth and development in Nigeria.
(c) Ha: There are effective operational strategies in fighting
corruption by the anti-graft agencies. (d) Ha: There are conflicting functions of ICPC and EFCC in the
fight against corruption.
(e) Ha: There are monumental problem/challenges militating against
the effective performance of anti graft agencies in the fight
against corruption.
1.6 THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study is significant because of its usefulness to the captains of business organizations (both publicly and privately owned), the government regulatory agencies, research groups, the general public and for the survival of our country, Nigeria.
THE CAPTAINS OF INDUSTRIES: The captains of industries whose responsibility it is to make those decisions that affect both the internal and external policies of their organizations will have the benefit of better understanding of the importance of fighting corruption to enhance their organizational performances.
THE GOVERNMENT: The government unquestionably is responsible for developing those policies, frameworks that will eradicate corruption and consequently the study from the research will bring more awareness to the Government, on further ways to fight corruption.
ANTI-GRAFT AGENCIES: The staff will be in a better position to strategize more, articulate issues and develop a more radical holistic approach in fighting corruption. The fight against corruption cannot be over-emphasized as such efforts will help in prudent management of the resources available to the nation and in equitable allocation of these resources to the masses.
REGULATORY AGENCIES: The regulatory agencies of businesses are as well exposed more on issues of corruption and the research will help such agencies to check mate corruption in their establishments.
RESEARCH GROUPS: Those who wish to carry out further research in this area or in related area will find the research work very useful as it will provide them with the required information.
GENERAL PUBLIC: Every Nigerian is a stakeholder in Nigerian
Project and will benefit from this noble study.
1.7 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
1.7(a) SCOPE
The research study is intended to cover all spheres of human endeavour in Nigeria, most especially ministries, departments, agencies, banks, public institutions, federal, state and local government offices, but for reasons of constraints such as limited time, limited finance, the largeness of the area which presumably will be difficult to cover etc, the study was limited to the activities of two anti-graft agencies and their bid in fighting corruption in Nigeria.
1.7(b) LIMITATIONS
In the course of conducting this research work, some limitations were encountered by the researcher. These include, the reluctance of some of the respondents in giving out relevant information needed for the research work. Other limitations encountered in the course of the research include limited finance for running around to collect data for writing the project. Time equally posed a limitation as well. Mention must be made here about the limitation posed by the short period for which the programme lasted. All these did not allow the researcher enough opportunity to give the project a comprehensive coverage. In spite of all these, enough information on major issues were collected and analyzed.
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
ICPC: Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences
Commission.
CORRUPTION: It includes bribery, fraud and other related offences.
MDAS: Ministries, departments and agencies
ACTU: Anti Corruption and Transparency Monitoring groups (units)
Public Procurements: It means acquisition. Public procurement is the process by which the government contracts infrastructural supplies and professional services.
EFCC: Economic and Financial Crime Commission
DUE PROCESS: By due process, government is stressing that there must be strict compliance with financial regulations and relevant circulars in the award of contracts.
UNCAC: United Nations Convention Against Corruption
AUCAC: African Union Convention Against Corruption
TOC: Transnational Organized Crimes.
TRANSPARENCY: It connotes, openness, frankness, open and honest nature, being free from doubts, without concealments or disguise; open to public scrutiny.
ECONOMIC GROWTH: It is the total national income divided by the population of a country to get per capita income. In a two year period for example, with year one as the base year, with an increase in per capita income with the population constant, there is said to be economic growth.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: It is when the generality of the
population are benefiting in all sectors; leading to increased
standard of living of the majority of the citizens in a country.
GRAFT: It is the use of illegal or unfair method especially bribery to gain advantage in a business, politics etc.
LEAS: Local Enforcement Areas.
REFERENCES
AKUNYILI D N.A. (2006) THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION, ABUJA ICPC EDUCATION PUBLISHERS. A YOOLA (2006) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS IN ICPC, ABUJA, ICPC EDUCATION PUBLISHERS.
BAKARE D (2008) NETWORKING WITH THE COMMISSION, ABUJA ICPC EDUCATION PUBLISHERS.
ICPC (2008) CORRUPTION A SIN AGAINST GOD AND A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY, ICPC EDUCATION PUBLISHERS.
ICPC (2007), GUIDELINES FOR THE FORMATION OF NYSC ANTI- CORRUPTION COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GROUPS, ABUJA ICPC EDUCATION PUBLISHERS.
ICPC (2005) INDEPENDENT CORRUPT PRACTICE AND OTHER RELATED OFFENCES COMMISSION, ICPC EDUCTAION PUBLISHERS.
ICPC (2007) INSTITUTIONALISING INTEGRITY (A LOCAL GOVERNMENT TRAINING MANUAL), ABUJA ICPC EDUCATION PUBLISHERS.
NZE E.O. (2008) THE ROLES OF CHRISTIANS/CHURCHES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION, ABUJA ICPC EDUCATION PUBLISHERS.
Ogbui A (2008) The Role of Islamic Leaders and Muslims in the Fight Against Corruption. Abuja. ICPC Education Publishers.
Ogiri (2008) National Conference of Anti-Corruption Committees of Nigerian Legislatures and Heads of Anti-Corruption Units in Government Establishments South East Zone, Umuahia.
Okoduwa R.A. (2008) An Overview of Corruption, Abuja ICPC Education Publishers.
Onyechi R.O (2008) Best Practices: Procurements Abuja, ICPC Education Publishers.
Onyilimba A.O. Best Practices” Procurement Abuja, ICPC Education Publishers.
Ukiro (2008) Anti-Corruption: Leadership/Followership Dimensions and its Implications for National Development Aba, Ukpai Ukiro And Associates.
Ustaz. Z.S (2008) The Roles of Islam/Mosque in the Fight Against Corruption Abuja ICPC Education Publishers.
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 THE CONCEPT OF CORRUPTION
Section 2 of the ICPC Act 2000, defines corruption to include bribery, fraud and other related offences but in its simplest terms, it means the abuse/misuse of power or position of trust for personal or group benefits (monetary or otherwise) Okereke (2008:3).
2.2 ORIGIN OF CORRUPTION
Corruption exists in every nation of the world. What is different is its degree, mode, fashion and dimension. We need not worry about when corruption began and where it began. Corruption has been part of human civilization/development. The Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary defines corruption as:
“dishonest or illegal behaviour, especially of people in authority”. It further states that it is, “the act or effect of making somebody change from moral to immoral standards of behaviour”.
This definition reveals that the concept of corruption goes beyond mishandling of monetary or financial items for personal or individual gains. Corruption permeates culture, tradition, values and orientation.
Corruption has touched and perverted every determined effort at sustaining social and economic services all over the world.
In Nigeria, corruption had existed in our local communities even before the advent of colonial administration. The arrival of colonial administrators, the use of surrogates and the adoption of the policy of indirect rule, formally institutionalized corruption in Nigeria,( Bakare
2008:2).
In order to achieve their economic and political interest, misfits and purported community heads and representatives were used against the people they represented. The post-colonial era also witnessed these cream of people entrusted with management of public office. The level of mismanagement of public property attracted and gave rise to the intervention of the military through series of coups and counter coups, all promising to restore the dignity of public service and deliver the primary essence of government. They also failed and the mismanagement continued. Nigeria became a fertile ground for self-serving public officers who took undue advantage of their positions to get rich. The citizens quickly began to lose confidence in the Nigerian State in terms of provisions of social and economic welfare. Public property was therefore perceived and seen as nobody’s property. The decay was deep-rooted and aggravated by instability of government policies. Transparency and accountability in government played the second fiddle.
Corruption in the public sector has brought Nigeria to its knees; propelling hunger and violence, underdevelopment and insecurity, capacity underutilization and waste of scarce economic resources.
Corruption has generated and fuelled sectional violence, and enthroned misfits in high positions.
It is important to note that, at the centre of every corrupt practice lies the concept of the individual. Without the human element no corruption can take place. The interests of individuals in corrupt systems usually overtake the overall interest of the system. Individuals hide in the system and project it as faulty in order to perpetrate their corrupt practices.
Before 1999, Nigeria was ranked by transparency international as the second most corrupt nation in the world. The nation was left drained and isolated in international relations. This reputation resulted in persistent brain drain and flight of human capital – the nation’s life-blood.
International trade relations were at its lowest ebb. The nation was dealt with on cash-and-carry basis.
2.3 THE BRIEF HISTORY OF THE TWO ANTIGRAFT
AGENCIES (ICPC AND EFCC)
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences
Commission (ICPC) is the apex body saddled by law with the responsibility to fight corruption and other related offences in Nigeria. It was set up and empowered by the Corrupt Practices and Other Related
Offences Act 2000. ICPC was inaugurated on the 29th of September 2000 with a Chairman and 12 Members. Section 3(14) of the Act ensures the
Independence of the Commission is not being subject to the direction or control of any person or authority. In a related development, EFCC was inaugurated on 14th December 2002.
2.4 MISSIONS OF THE TWO ANTIGRAFT COMMISSIONS
The missions of the two commissions are to employ all available legal means to rid Nigeria of all forms of corruption and thus promote transparency, probity, accountability and integrity in the public and private life of all Nigerians, while the visions are to be the foremost agents of change in the war against corruption and corrupt practices in the polity and thereby restore Nigeria to the enviable status of respect, dignity and honour within the comity of nations.
In a related development, the ICPC mandate is to: i) Banish Impunity for Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences. ii) Prevent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences through:
System Study and review, Education, Public Enlightenment and Public
Mobilization,( ICPC ACT 2000).
2.5 OPERATIONAL STRCUTURES OF THE COMMISSION
The functions of ICPC as outline above have been broadly classified into Operational and Service duties. The activities of the
Commission are carried out under the various Departments, Sections and
Units which are the implementing organs of the Commission’s programmes. The Commission has the following Departments and Units:
Office of the Chairman, investigations Department, Prosecution
Department, Planning, Research and review Department, Public
Enlightenment Department, Education Department, Finance and
Accounts department, Administration Department, Special Duties
Department, Chairman’s Special Unit, Special Investigation Team (SIT),
Petitions Registry, Audit Unit, Publications Unit and the Clinic, (Ayola 2006:5). The same operational structures are obtained in EFCC’s organization chart.
2.6 FUNCTIONS OF THE ANTI-GRAFT AGENCIES
Section 6 of the ICPC Act confers 3 main responsibilities on the
ICPC. They are:
• To receive and investigate reports of the conspiracy to commit,
attempt to commit or actual commission of offences as created by
the Act and, in appropriate cases prosecute the offender(s).
• To examine, review and enforce the correction of corruption-prone
systems and procedure of public bodies, with a view to eliminating
or minimizing corruption in public life.
• To educate and enlighten the public on and against corruption and
related offences with a view to enlisting and fostering public
support for the fight against corruption.
2.7 CATEGORIES OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE RIGHT TO
REPORT CORRUPTION CASES TO ICPC AND EFCC
The following categories of people have an inalienable right and duty to report incidence of corrupt conduct to ICPC or to any other appropriate law enforcement agencies including the Police.
• Members of the public, irrespective of status in life. • Public officials/government functionaries at all levels
• Heads of government agencies/parastatals/departments
• Political office holders (appointed/elected)
• Every individual/group, citizen/foreigner alike
2.8 TYPES OF CASES TO BE REPORTED UPON TO THE
TWO ANTI-GRAFT COMMISSION
Section 8-26 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences
Act 2000 clearly spelt out offences and penalties covered by the Act if
committed after June 13, 2000, the effective date of the law. They are:
OFFENCES PUNISHMENT/IMPRISONMENT
Accepting gratification by an official 7 years Giving or Accepting gratification through an Agent 7 years Corrupt offers to public officers 7 years Corrupt demand by person(s) 7 years Fraudulent acquisition of property 7 years Fraudulent receipt of property 3 years (Fraudulent receipt of postal matters, chattels) (7 years) Deliberate frustration of investigation by the Commission 7 years Making false statements or returns in respect of money or 7 years property received Gratification by and through agents 5 years Bribery of public officers in relation to voting or 5 years with hard labour performance of duty Using office or position to gratify or confer unfair 5 years without option of fine advantage on oneself, relation or associate Bribery in relation to auctions 3 years Inflation of the price of goods and services 7 years and a fine of N1 Million Award of contract without budget provision 3 years and fine of N100,000 fine Transferring money from one vote to another (Virement) 1 year or N50,000 fine Failure to report bribery transactions 2 years or N100,000 fine Dealing with, using, holding, receiving or concealing 5 years gratification Making false statement to the Commission 2 years or N100,000 fine Willfully making false petition (S.64) 10 years or N100,000 fine
The types of financial crimes to be handled by EFCC include:
financial embezzlement of public funds, cyber and internet financial
related crimes, advance fee fraud, financial misappropriation of public
funds etc.
2.9 CERTAIN COMMENTS BY SOME RENOWNED
SCHOLARS ON CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA
The level of corruption in our society is no longer new. It is a vice
that has eaten deep into the fabric of our society. It therefore becomes
imperative that for a better and brighter society, positive measures must
be taken to eradicate and erase it.
Necessary platform for pooling ideas from larger and diverse
minds on the best way to enhance our collaborative effort in the fight
against corruption is to be done. We are all expected to put hands on
deck to sandwich this endemic vice called corruption,( Ogiri 2008:2). It could then be gleaned from the present state of our society that unless the Anti-corruption and Transparency Units’ crusade is particularly and purpose-driven, the hope of eradicating corruption in
Nigeria would continue to be a mirage.
The fight against corruption should be seen as a fight for all, it must be value-oriented and passion-driven. Gone are the days of mere rhetorics, and uncoordinated action; we must all prepare to be involved by our various homes and places of work.
Let us stand together and shun acts of corruption as the days of impunity are over.
Let our 2 + 2 = 4
Our 3 + 3 = 6
Our 5 + 5 = 10
Never should our 2 + 2 = 9
Never should our 4 + 4 = 10
Nor our 5 – 2 ever be 6
Or 3 + 1 be 5
Honesty and rectitude should be the hallmarks of our Administration, our politics, our elections, our judiciary, our academics, our legislatures and our everyday way of line, (Nwachukwu 2008:2).
The cry-out must be heard in our communities and our homes and let the peace be set for the new-era to see, admire and to follow! According to Akinyele (2008:1), he stated that; the former Secretary-
General of the United Nations Mr. Koffi Anan once said that
“Corruption is an insidious scourge that impoverishes many
countries and affects us all. It discourages foreign investment and
hinders economic growth. It is a major obstacle to political
stability and to successful social and economic development of any
nation”.
He observed that this description of corruption by Mr. Koffi Anan is unassailable. Corruption exacerbates poverty and is responsible for underdevelopment. No matter the effort of government at development, if the corruption level in a society is high, such effort will not achieve the desired result.
Indeed, the seven-point Agenda of our President, late Alhaji Umaru
Musa Yar’Adua will not achieve desired results if the funds meant for the financing of these developmental projects end up in private pockets.
Power supply will remain epileptic with dire consequences. Hospitals will remain mere consulting clinics while our educational sector and all other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), will remain perpetually in the doldrums.
Unemployment rate will increase in geometrical proportion while armed robbery and other societal ills will become aggravated. The result of all these on the society is better imagined than experienced.
We can therefore not allow corruption to ruin our country.
Corruption has become a central issue in election campaigns and military intervention in the polity.
A catalogue of corrupt acts include: bribery, extortion, influences peddling, nepotism, fraud, the use of “speed money” (money paid to
officials to speed up their consideration of business matters in public procurements (PP), falling within their jurisdictions.
There is an erroneous notion that corruption is endemic in African societies because public opinion does not frown at it. Similarly, another view regards the culture of gift giving as constituting the primordial infrastructure for the edifice of corruption. These views are largely unsupportable and highly misleading. The abuse, by individuals, of a legitimate cultural practice of hospitality is by no means indicative of the venality of such a practice. Usually, a distinction is normally drawn between a legitimate open and voluntary gift, signaling goodwill and involuntary or cursed gift, extorted from the giver by rapacious officials.
It is believed generally that corruption can only be understood not in the context of the traditional practice of gift-giving but in the larger context of economic mismanagement which is parasitic and predatory in most cases.
According to Nakudu (2008:2) as we all know, “ poverty alleviation is blocked by pervasive corruption, the effectiveness of investment for economic growth and stability is undermined by corruption”. ‘Foreign aid is sapped by corrupt officials, building of vibrant representative democracy and societies of equity is held back at every stage by corruption’, according to United Nations Convention
Against Corruption (UNCAC). In fact, corruption is the greatest obstacle to socio-economic development in Nigeria.
Corruption will be a handicap to the actualization of the seven- point agenda of President Yar’Adua’s administration. It could also abort the vision 2020 project. The Vision will not succeed if the corruption level continues to rise. Anti-Corruption agencies have not been able to eradicate corruption completely but the awareness level of Nigerians has increased and they know that corruption is not good. Most people engage in corrupt practices but pass blame on others. Corruption spreads from the low level to the high level of society but we only look at the high level. It is time to start checking corruption at the low level as well.
According to Achebe (1996:37) “On corruption”, he made an astonishing statement credited to 1979-1983 second Republic President,
Alhaji Shehu Shagari which was given some publicity in Nigeria and abroad. He quoted Shagari as saying that “there was corruption in
Nigeria but it has not yet reached an alarming proportions”. Achebe suggested that Shagari was possible not “living” in Nigeria for him to make that statement. One of the penalties of exalted power is
LONELINESS.
Harnessed to the trappings of protocols and blockaded by a buffer of grinning courtiers and sycophants, even a good and intelligent leader will gradually begin to forget what the real world looks like.
What does a head of state or governor see when he is on familiarization tour? Highways are temporarily cleared of lunatics, by even more lunatic presidential escorts. Hitherto impassable tracks are freshly graded and even watered to keep down the dust, buildings dripping fresh paints, well-fed obsequious welcoming parties, garlands of colourful toilet papers hung around the neck by women leaders, troupes of cultural dancers in the sun and many other such scene of consented citizenry. The above shows the picture of how Nigerian leaders do not know actually the correct situation of things happening in their area.
Many people in the world achieved rare leadership by their blunt and simple refusal to be fooled by guided tours of their own country. For example, Harpun Rashid an eighth century caliph of Baghdad who frequently disguised himself and went unaccompanied into the streets of his city by day or night to see the life of his subjects in its ungarnished or and uncensored reality.
“Corruption in Nigeria has passed the alarming and entered the fatal stage, and Nigeria will die if we keep pretending that she is only slightly indisposed” Corruption cancer is ubiquitous in Africa.
The Weekly Star of 15 May 1983 has this on its front page titled
“Nigerian and corruption”, “Keeping an average Nigerian from being corrupt is like keeping a goat from eating yam”.
Well, goat needs yams because it is food, corruption is not food, and corruption is predominant among the powerful in Nigeria. Gen.
Babangida had one time written a letter to all national legislators on 14th
December 2003. In fact, he distributed copies in the law makers’ pigeon holes and circulated them to many media houses indirectly begging for forgiveness. His regime is remembered daily for institutionalizing corruption. He planted the seed of the country’s economic problems and the annulment of the June 12 1993 presidential election. Having been the major “institutionalizer” of corruption, what is not certain is whether families of Nigerians who died during the June 12 struggles or whose businesses folded up or whose life-savings were trapped in those fly-by- night banks during the structural adjustment years are ready to forgive and forget. The families of late M.K.O Abiola, Dele Giwa, Gani Fashwenmi etc will surely not forget if at all they will forgive. If he was sincere, why did he not appear before Retired Justice Chukwudifu Oputa
Panel during Public Hearing on how best to reconcile Nigerians. Why did Buhari, IBB, Abdusalami Abubakar all evade Oputa panel?
The Nobel prize winner in literature Prof. Wole Soyinka reported that this generation of Nigerians is a wasted generation. This is due to maladministration and Corruption in Nigeria.
2.10 THE MOUNMENTAL CORRUPTION IN DIFFERENT
SECTORS IN NIGERIA
Many people believe that Nigerians are corrupt in almost all facets of their lives. Different ministries and government Agencies are bedeviled with corruption as shown below:
THE POLICE: A document prepared by a group of research experts, commissioned by the federal ministry of finance listed 30 most corrupt institutions in Nigeria with the police as the most corrupt and the state budget authorities as the least corrupt. The survey said that 73.4 percent of those polled among households rated the integrity of police as the lowest. Whereas 67.9 percent of government officials said the police was very dishonest as against eight percent of households, 13.7 percent enterprises, and 11.3 percent of public officials rated the police as being a little bit honest. While the police was rated so poorly on the point of integrity, only 52.7 percent of the households rated traffic wardens and federal road safety corps (FRSC) members as very dishonest. Police had been indicted on series of atrocities and their inability to combat crime.
Example, many Nigerians believe that the police knew the actual killers of late Chief Bola Ige (former minister of Justice) and late Harry
Marshall, former South-South Vice Chairman of All Nigeria People
Party, (ANPP) but failed to apprehend them. “The police men know the criminals. They know those who are terrorizing this country, but they will not arrest them”. A few days after former President Ibrahim
Badamosi Babangida asked his Inspector General of Police, “where is
Anini?” Police arrested the notorious armed robber Lawrence Anini in
1986 and his killer gang. Similarly, Hammani Tidjani who attempted to kill president Obasanjo’s daughter was quickly arrested and detained because the president’s daughter was involved.
President Olusegun Obasanjo (OBJ) himself told a moving story in his book captioned THIS ANIMAL CALLED MAN”. In the book, he exposed the level of corruption in the police. It has to do with how an innocent man was executed by firing squad simply because he could not offer a N500 bribe to secure his release from detention. According to the story, policemen picked the young man after a robbery incident and locked him up. After thorough investigation, policemen found him innocent. Police demanded for a N500 bribe, which the man could not pay. In anger, the police tortured him until he wrote to lie that he participated in the robbery incident. The court sentenced him to death by firing squad based on the forced confession and he was executed.
In Enugu, on June 10 2003, a police man opened fire on a helpless motorcyclist (aka) okada and killed the helpless man because he did not offer N20 bribe.
In News Watch Magazine of December 22, 2003, captioned;
Murder Again at the ROAD BLOCK – Ogunbayo (2003:37), in the report, the Kogi State police command killed Ibrahim Musa – a gold medalist and captain of Nigeria’ cycling team to the last edition of All
Africa Games (COJA) and his two friends by policemen. Musa and his friends, Mohammed Salisu, a student of Kaduna State Polytechnic, and
Sadiq Mahmud – a manager of a clearing and forwarding company were killed by policemen along Lokoja/Okene Road, November, 26. They were on their way from Kaduna to Lagos to make last minute shopping arrangements for Musa’s wedding scheduled for November 28 when they met their death. The happy-trigger policemen opened fire on flimsy reason that they did not stop at road block.
2.11 CORRUPTION IN NEPA (NOW POWER HOLDINGS
COMPANY OF NIGERIA) A.K.A PLEASE HOLD CANDLE
NOW
The type of corruption in National Electric Power Authority is very alarming. NEPA’s indictment by many observers may not come as a surprise given its notoriety and inability to meet consumers’ demands.
Many house holds rated the authority as very corrupt and unreliable. The survey’s poor rating of NEPA is coming against the background that, the
Obasanjo administration since it inception in May 29th, 1999 allocated several billions of Naira to NEPA to purchase and install new equipment and ensure uninterrupted electricity supply nationwide. After spending so much on NEPA, the president felt bold to say during his second year in office that the nation was going to enjoy constant power supply, but that has remained a backward. What an eye sore! The situation is so bad.
NEPA officials have their various ways of perfecting corrupt practices.
Sometimes, they would help customers to cancel their bills after payment of 40 or 50 percent of such bills as bribe. In my investigation, the researcher learnt that NEPA could cancel the entire bills of N100,000 with payment of between N5000 to N10,000 to the officials. Also organizers of social functions know what to do if they do not want them ruined by NEPA. They pay NEPA officials in their localities to avoid power outage. Some NEPA officials claimed that NEPA has most watertight accounting system in the country. One of such officials is Mr.
Pekun Adeyanju Principal Public Affairs Manager of NEPA Enugu
District who was recently transferred to Lagos. Members of NEPA staff reading meters are also corrupt. Although, it takes two to tango (ie agree).
The man who does not pay his bill and the meter reader who collaborates together to defraud NEPA are all corrupt. “The situation is so bad that the original intention of the government for pumping huge sums of money into NEPA for an uninterrupted power supply that will promote small scale businesses and curtail rural migration seems to be defeated” Ugwu Thomas stated.
2.12 CORRUPT POLITICANS AND THE NATION
Many corrupt politicians control the political parties. Many of the thirty political parties are lame-duck political parties – who only wanted registration to get mobilization money from Prof. Maurice Iwu’s
Independent National Electoral Commission. Political parties being the ideological power house of civilian administration are supposed to live above board. That has not been the case. Infact, there are reports that these parties are the main avenues for promoting corrupt practices in the country through god “fatherism”, extortions and unexecuted contracts.
Oyedele Johnson, a public commentator in Lagos, argued during an interview in Lagos that a corrupt ruling party would always produce a corrupt government. “You cannot separate legislators at the federal, state and local government councils from the cardinal ideologies of their political parties. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gave Obasanjo a second term ticket because; it was satisfied with his performance when he was in government.
The parties are corrupt. So far OBASANJO’S COMMITMENT TO
ERADICATE CORRUPTION when he was in power was doubtful. He kept sealed lips on the abortive civilian coup of July 10, 2003, against
Chris Ngige, Governor of Anambra State because the major actors in the case were the financiers of the ruling party (PDP). Many people have argued that likes of Chris Uba, self acclaimed god father of Anambra politics, Chuma Nzeribe, and Raphael Ige then retired Assistant Inspector
General of Police (now late) should be tried for treason but nothing was done. Various media reports like that of News watch magazine learnt that recommendations of various committees on the matter appeared to have been swept under the carpet because the president would want the principal actors, especially Uba, his lackey to be protected. A lackey is a man servant who obeys orders without questioning. Obasanjo was reported to be against the trial of UBA and his cohorts because of his closeness to the UBA family. Those acts of favouritism showed the rot in the political parities. Uba also enjoyed the open support of the police and went about with a convoy of armed police men during Obasanjo’s regime that ended in 2007.
2.13 CORRUPTION SITUATION IN SOME MINISTRIES
The executive arms of the Federal, State and Local government councils were not only abusing the contract awarding procedures in their
departments but the processes were poorly executed. It is generally acknowledged that government contracts are poorly executed or even officials who are expected to oversee them often become accomplices of the defaulting contractors after being handsomely gratified. Those who award contracts after receiving gratifications are not in a proper position to see proper implementation of the projects. Little wonder, that the
Transparency International ranked Nigeria as the “SECOND most
CORRUPT COUNTRY IN THE WORLD”. The first most corrupt country according to Transparency International is Bangladesh as the most corrupt country in the World. The then president of Nigeria, Chief
Olusegun Obasanjo admitted that much in his nation wide broad cast of
October 8, 2008. He further said that the deregulation of the down stream oil sector was adopted because investment of more than $400m on the
Turn-Around Maintenance (TAM) and repairs had not improved the performance of the Nigerian Refineries because of corruption. Despite a catalogue of unfinished or abandoned projects, which apparently has crippled the refineries, the culprits are still roaming about the streets untouched. It is widely believed that Obasanjo who was fully in charge of the petroleum ministry, was then shielding the contractors because they were mainly money bags who helped in funding his election campaigns and that the TAM contracts were meant or used to settle them.
Gani Fawehinmi – a human right activist and Senior Advocate of the masses (SAM), (now late), a legal luminary stated that refineries were grounded because the contract for their repairs were fraudulent “None of the refineries is working optimally because contracts for the Turn Around maintenance were given to corrupt political cohorts on corrupt terms and at the end of the day, nothing came out of it successfully.
THE SITUATION AT NNPC
Oil is today the mainstay of the Nation’s economy as more than
80% of the total revenue is derived from crude oil sales. The Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation is at the centre of corruption as many accusing fingers are being pointed at NNPC. Actual Revenue realized from the sale of crude oil and other petroleum resources and natural gasses are being questioned. Human Tukur, Chairman, Revenue Mobilization Allocation and
Fiscal Commission – RMAFC stirred the hornets nest when he alleged that the NNPC had been defrauding the country of huge sums of money.
According to him, the commission discovered that 445,000 barrels of crude oil sold by the NNPC between January and July 2002, were not accounted for in its financial report.
OLUSEGUN OBASANJO’S ERA
We may need to refresh our memory that the “swearing in of Chief
Olusegun Obasanjo on 29th May 1999, as the President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces was a political watershed for Nigeria. All indicators showed that the spread of this cancer (corruption), had become frightening. It pervaded private and public institutions and overwhelmed all levels of government.
The effects of corruption on Nigerians have become dangerous that it is hardly unnoticed in almost every area of human endeavour.
Corruption eroded and degraded the moral base of our country. Leaving little or no hope for future Nigerians. The higher institutions of learning and even religion, which should stand as the moral gatekeepers were not left out. These moral stakeholders and nation builders appear to be utterly consumed by this ugly cancer. We may however look at some critical areas so obvious and so important to our socio-economic and political lives that are daily affected by corrupt activities of individuals and collectivities.
2.14 SOME CRITICAL AREAS SO OBVIOUS AND SO
IMPORTANT TO OUR SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL
LIVES THAT ARE DAILY AFFECTED BY CORRUPT
ACTIVITIES OF INDIVIDUALS AND COLLECTIVITIES
One may begin by highlighting the socio-economic and political potentials of Nigeria,( Nwachukwu 2007:6). v Nigeria has a population of approximately 140 million
Maintains a GDP of 54.7 Billion U.S Dollars v Has a GDP growth rate of 3.8% on six-year consecutive average. v GDP per capita – 400 U.S Dollar v Daily crude oil production/sales: Over 2 million barrels v Over 70% of Nigerian lands are arable. v Nigerian weather is friendly. v Nigerian lands maintain large deposits of solid mineral such as coal,
granite, limestone etc. v Nigeria has one of the largest deposits of Natural Gas. v Nigeria currently has over 90 Universities excluding the number of
polytechnics, mono-techniques and colleges of education. It is disheartening to know that with all these potentials, Nigeria has not been able to leverage these overwhelming opportunities and move a step forward. Nigeria is unable to feed its citizens adequately.
2.15 NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA
Corruption in Nigeria has undermined and attacked the foundation of democratic institutions, disturbed and distorted electoral processes, retarded economic growth, discouraged foreign direct investments, resulted in high inflation, created undue bureaucratic quagmire and brought about high cost of business. It has also perverted the Rule of
Law; hurt the poor disproportionately through diversion of social and economic resources.
2.16 CORRUPTION, CAUSES AND EFFECTS
According to Okoduwa (2009:12), there is no “catch-all” definition for corruption, but generically, corruption can be said to be dishonest or immoral behaviour that is not in line with generally accepted standards.
In official terms, corruption can be seen first, as the abuse of an entrusted position for personal benefit and second, as the exploitation of a system for securing an unmerited advantage. Going by this definition, it is evident that the perpetrators of corruption are not only the office holders who misappropriate entrusted power for their own benefits but also the people who lobby such office holders for access to preferential treatment or undue advantage. Corruption is pervasive in Nigeria and manifests in various forms.
It is rampant both in the public and private, formal and informal sectors of the economy involving perpetrators from across the socio-economic divide; in high and low places; in markets, religious and cultural circles.
A tract sponsored by the ICPC and published by the Nigerian Council for
Islamic Affairs, FCT Branch lists examples of corruption as: abuse of power and office, fraud, bribery (giving or taking), forgery, embezzlement, money laundering, exam malpractice, age falsification, false witness, giving inaccurate measure, concealment of facts in merchandise/marriage, contract sum inflation, project abandonment, character assassination, tax evasion, smuggling, pipeline vandalization.
While the list is by no means exhaustive it gives an insight into the endemic nature of corruption in the country. You may wonder what could be responsible for widespread corruption in our society. Some have adduced the cause of corruption to grinding poverty. But, as far as the ICPC and EFCC are concerned, this reason is highly debatable. The
Commission would rather align with those that have identified acts of laxity systems, excessive discretion in official matters, lack of oversight mechanism, lack of openness in official decision-making processes, breakdown in ethics, greed, weak political will, weak enforcement, impunity, lack of patriotism etc., as reasons for endemic corruption in the society. The destructive effect of corruption on the political and socio- economic environment in Nigeria is too obvious in its colossal ramifications to bear extensive mention here. Suffice it to say that we are all witnesses to and are co-sufferers of the rot in infrastructure, decayed morals, insecurity of life and property, violent ethno-religious uprisings, dehumanizing poverty, brazen electoral theft etc,( Onum 2008:5).
2.17 TYPES OF CORRUPTION
The enactment of the Corruption Practices and Other Related
Offences Act 2000 (aka the Anti-corruption law) is not the first attempt of government to fight corruption. Prior to the Act 2000 there were laws
(some of which are extant) in the country which were used against corruption. These laws include: the Criminal Code; the Penal Code; the
Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Decree, 1966, the Corrupt
Practices Decree 1975.
Among the various forms of Corruption prevalent among the participating Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs), the following were identified, according to Babalola (2007:5).
- Bribery for: non-enforcement of violations, illegal protection from
criminal operations, influencing or obstructing processes and
procedures. - Encouraging/Overlooking corruption by families, friends,
colleagues, and influential people e.g Rigging, Examination
Malpractice, Tax evasion.
- Nepotism, favouritism and selective treatment for family, friends,
colleagues, and influential people.
- Hoarding of working materials necessary for legitimate duties.
- Payment of gratification to superiors for preferential postings,
placement and other work related opportunities “payoffs and
Returns”.
- Delay in processing of files, falsely enhancing report of self and
others
- Gratification from members of the public for delivery of, mostly
illegitimate services.
- Denials of rights e.g illegal monetization of bails, receiving money
before seized or recovered goods are released etc.
- Inflation of official charges for service delivery (encouraging
Touting).
- Manipulation of figures, distortion of documents, and forgery (e.g
in assessment of values and duties – over – invoicing or under-
invoicing)
- Abandonment of Duty.
- Embezzlement, Fraud/Misappropriation of funds. - Theft (stealing from crime scenes, stores, exhibits or recovered
goods)
- Change of Sub-heads
- Extortion from Motorists and other customers (e.g delay of
assessment and detention of goods to put pressure on customers).
- Breach of procedures for self-aggrandizement
- Concealment of vital information, making false statements in order
to implicate (and, to thereby extort money from public) and
outright perjury.
- Illegal duties such as offering protection to criminals, selling law
enforcement services to criminals.
- Marginalization
- Concealment of identify
- Bullying
- Distortion of documents
- Connivance with criminals to cause deliberate delays in service
delivery to public.
- Looting during legitimate or illegal operations.
2.18 WHY CORRUPTION PERSISTS IN NIGERIA
Reasons given for the persistence of corruption in their LEAs are as follows:
- Official pressure as well as pressure from members of the public.
- Greed/avarice/materialism - Inadequate remunerations/poor incentive
- Preferential treatment
- Erosion of societal values/morality
- Sweeping discretionary powers
- Waiver of laid down rules
- Misallocation of resource
- Threats/intimidation
- Lack of training and proper education for officials and lack of
knowledge on the part of the public.
- Poor funding/working environment
- Absence of leadership by example or bad leadership
- Inadequate punishment
- Instability in government/Government policies – Inconsistency in
government policy; formulation and implementation.
- Deprivation of rights and privileges
- Ignorance of and lack of consensus on what corruption is
- Overstaying in an office
- Impatience on the part of the public
- Absence of clear-cut, easily comprehensible and strictly enforced
guidelines.
2.19 THE EFFECTS OF CORRUPTION ON THE SCOIETY It is unanimously agreed that corruption in the LEAs has far reaching negative impacts on the Nigerian society. The effects are as follows:
- It threatens political stability
- Threatens the survival of citizens (corruption breeds poverty,
hunger, illiteracy, vulnerability to diseases and hardship)
- Creates negative image for the country and discourages foreign
investments.
- Discourages the culture of hard work, which leads to moral
decadence and decaying social values.
- Leads to national Economic adversity/economic underdevelopment
–capital flight-foreigners undertake business transactions without
benefits to the country.
- Breeds injustice
- Breeds poor service delivery
- Exacerbates inflation
- Engenders unemployment
- Gives rise to increased rate of crimes and violence (Social crimes-
Ethnic Militia, civil agitation and unrest).
- Leads to brain drain
- Short life expectancy
- Widening gap between the rich and the poor - Result in lopsided and uneven development.
OTHER BASIC INDICATORS ARE:
Ø Destruction and non-maintenance of public utilities like water and
electricity.
Ø Abandonment of road repairs.
Ø Diversion of education funds
Ø Hijacking of ballot boxes
Ø Hoarding of power and petrol
Ø Appointment of unqualified people to positions of trust etc
The coming on board of the ICPC and its inauguration by the
President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on the 29th September 2000 and that
of EFCC were accepted as worthy and welcome developments.
The ICPC also maintained a vision, which is: “to be the foremost
agent of change in the war against corruption and corrupt practices in the
polity”.
2.20 ANTIGRAFT AGENCIES (EFCC AND ICPC): THE
JOURNEY SO FAR
In its efforts to get rid of corruption and restore Nigeria’s image,
the works and achievements of the ICPC and EFCC are well known to
Nigerians and the international community. In living up to its duties, the ICPC has received and investigated complaints from members of the public especially on allegations of corrupt practices. It has examined the practices, systems and procedures of public bodies with the aim of reviewing structures and practices that make these institutions susceptible to corruption. It has also advised, instructed and assisted agencies and parastatals on ways, frauds or corruption may be eliminated. The ICPC has also embarked on public education against bribery, corruption and related offences. The ICPC has indeed arrested and prosecuted a number of public officers alleged to be involved in corrupt practices,( Bakare 2007:8).
2.21 THE ENVIRONMENT OF ICPC/EFCC
Public administrators do not operate in a vacuum. There are environmental factors that buffet public administrators, making their tasks remarkably complex. Public administration cannot be separated from environmental factors.
Administration is also carried out within the political cultures of states and communities. Cultures, both tangible and intangible, affect the environment in which administration takes place. Invariably, administrators who are not acutely aware of how environmental factors influence administration are doomed to fail.
It is, in other words, absolutely necessary for all Nigerians to be aware of our environment. This puts those in charge of ICPC and EFCC, for example, on their guards, to be awake to the enormous challenges and temptations ahead.
Nigeria operates in a milieu where the citizens pay lip service to the Rule of Law. Nigeria also operates in a milieu where the legal system is less than credible and where there is near absence of the philosophy of public service. Nigeria also operates in an environment that does not appreciate or understand the ethics of responsibility, where nationalism is episodic and where patriotism is skin-deep, where honesty is not transparent, where leadership is not by example, where leaders are not freely and fairly elected by the citizens, where accountability is conceptualized in terms of neat book-keeping and not in terms of representational accountability, (Makoju 2007:5).
The vanguards of the anti-corruption crusade and all Nigerians must be alert to the reality that there is so much lip service, so much deception, so much double talk, so much eye service, so much faithlessness, so much coarseness, so much insincerity and too many sacred cows. We all must be aware that in our country there is a very high degree of “formalism”. Put differently, the pronouncements of public officials representing governments are not congruent with the realities on ground. Permit me to give a few illustrations. According to Akinyele
(2008:1) a young man was arrested in Owerri some time last year in a
public examination hall for impersonation. Orders came from above to
release him without delay and the DPO obliged. In Enugu State, a
female law student was deployed as a teacher in Federal Cooperative
College, Oji River because she refused to sleep with an Assistant Chief
Inspector. She was the only law graduate deployed outside her area of
specialization. Some scholars write workshop proposals and collect the
money without organizing any workshop. One can add his/her own
experience and you then appreciate our circumstances and environment.
I quickly flipped through 17 issues of Newswatch magazine
between December 17. 2007 and September 22, 2008 in my study and
read the following headlines:
Dirty Deal: Reps Gun for Bankole over N2.4b car scam, NDDC
Chairman Squanders N1 billion on Juju, Fraud Probes: Fruitless Search for the Stolen Trillions, 2007: Year of Electoral Frauds, Landmark
Judgments, Decaying Infrastructures, Obasanjo’s 15 Secret Accounts, the
Energy Crisis, the $16 billion Controversy, Nnamani’s 20 Foreign
Accounts – FBI Moves in Oil Blocks Fraud: 70% Cornered by
Obasanjo’s, Cronies, Church Empires, their billions, their Assets, their
Scandals, Try OBJ for Graft – Patricia Etteh- other Controversial Contract Papers, Police Equipment Fund: The Mystery N5 Billions,
Wilbros Bribe scandals: how the money was raised, how it was shared.
The Nigerian Judiciary is for sale (earlier edition).
What is needed at this point is a concerted and joint effort to challenge this malaise. There is no gainsaying the fact no nation can progress in the face of deep and underlying corruption.
For us to achieve our target of becoming one of the twenty largest economies in the world by the year 2020, it is an emergency task to eradicate corruption from our body polity via assessing the prospects, challenges, revolutionalizing, sensitizing, mobilizing and educating the masses on the maxim “good name is better than silver and gold”. There is need for zero tolerance for corruption, need to carryout various sensitization exercises to ensure that government officials are aware of the need to checkmate corruption.
REFERENCES
Achebe (1996) The Trouble with Nigeria, Enugu Fourth Dimension
Publishers.
Akinyele (2008) Address by Chairman Senate Committee on Drugs,
Narcotics and Anti-Corruption; during the 2008 National conference of
Anti-Corruption Committee of Nigerian Legislators and Heads of Anti-
Corruption Units in Government Establishments, held in Umuahia. Ayola (2006) Unlocking Sustainable Economic and Social Development through Efficient Campaign Against Corruption, ICPC Monograph Series
No. 5, Abuja.
Bakare (2007) Networking with the Commission, National Anti-
Corruption Volunteer Corp and National Anti-Corruption Coalition,
ICPC Education Publishers.
ICPC (2006) Guide Lines for Schools Anti-Corruption Clubs, Abuja
ICPC Education Publishers.
ICPC (2007) Integrity Made Easy, Abuja, ICPC Education Department,
UNDP/NORAD Publications.
ICPC (2008): National Conference of Anti-Corruption Committees of
Nigerian Legislators and Heads of Anti-Corruption Units in Government
Establishments, South East Zonal Conference held at Michael Okpara
Auditorium Umuahia-Abia State.
ICPC (2000): ABOUT ICPC, Abuja ICPC Education Publishers.
ICPC (2006), National Anti-Corruption Volunteer Corp (NAVC) Abuja
ICPC Education Publishers.
ICPC ACT (2000) FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA The Corrupt
Practices and other Related Offences Act 2000. .Nakudu (2000) Address by Chairman House Committee on Anti-
Narcortics-Makoju J.
ICPC (2007), Our War Against Corruption, Abuja, ICPC Monograph
Series No 1, Fust Regional Solutions, Corruption, during South East
Zonal on Anti-Corruption, Umuahia, Abia State.
NEPAD (2008) African Peer Review Mechanism APRM – Country self
Assessment Report Fighting Corruption and Money Laundering and other issues.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 INTRODUCTION
The main purpose of this chapter is to describe the design and procedure of the study. To this end, attempt is made to describe the research method, the population and sample size used. A description of the instrument used for data collection as well as the discussion of the validity and reliability of the instrument were made. Also discussed in this chapter, are the procedures for the administration of the instrument and the statistical analysis used in the study.
3.2 RESEARCH DESIGN
The research design adopted for the study was survey. The choice of this method was informed by the fact that the population and samples of the study are scattered in different locations and interviews were conducted, therefore the only way to reach them was through survey.
3.3 POPULATION OF THE STUDY
The target population of the study consisted of two groups; made up of the staff of ICPC and those of EFCC. Also involved in the study are respondents from various NGOS, local enforcement agencies, business men and women, the youths and selected members of the general public. Others are those in religious and academic circles, opinion leaders and traditional rulers. The rationale behind restricting the population to the aforementioned personnel was because some of them have the responsibility of implementing anti-corruption policies. Others are in a better position to understand the negative consequences of corruption in Nigerian economy, considering their educational backgrounds, positions and experiences. Out of 1200 people that made up the population of the study, the number of staff of EFCC, ICPC and other respondents to be interviewed is 300. It was not possible to include in the study all the affected personnel in different segments of the society.
Therefore, for the selection of the sample of the categories of the groups from religious, academic, law
Enforcement Agencies, NGOS and anti-graft agencies, the required sample size of 8 agencies were selected using simple random sampling.
The selected personnel comprised of 300 selected from these agencies.
3.4 SAMPLE SIZE AND SAMPLING TECHNIQUE To determine the sample size, the Taro Yameni in Chukwuemeka
(2002:100-102) formula was adopted. The formula and the calculation are shown below: n = N
1 + N (e)2
Where n = Sample size
I = A Constant Value
N = Population size
E = Error limit
In this particular case, 0.05 was an appropriate margin of error. To calculate the sample size n. n = 1200
1 + 1200 (0.05)2
n = 300
This means that out of a population of 1200 personnel, 300 were taken as sample size. The researcher through stratified random sampling, selected a proportional sample of personnel from each of the ICPC and
EFCC and other agencies to represent the distribution of personnel according to their locations. Simple random sampling technique was applied to select the respondents from each selected group.
Likert scale is used based on the response of respondents, such as very high, high, moderate, low and very low. Respondents are required to tick against a response that was applicable to them as stated in the questionnaire.
3.5.1 VALIDITY
According to Adamu & Johnson (1975), Akinboye (1985),
Akuezuilo (1993) and Best (1981) Content validity is one of the several types of validity, which deals with content measurement. This is aimed to achieve a valid result. A measuring instrument is valid only when it measures truly and accurately what it intends to measure. The researcher obtained the agreement of her supervisor who is an expert on whether the items are well structured in line with the hypotheses and whether they would elicit the required information needed by the researcher to ensure that objective results are finally achieved. An expert in this case, is a person who possesses thorough knowledge and a high degree of competence in the areas of accounting and research methodology. This decision by the researcher to depend on an expert is based on the remarks of Kerlinger (1973:297), Alken (1979:40) that validation by others is an effective method for content validation of a research instrument. This is also supported by Cronbach (1960:30) and Ikeagwu (1998:54) and other researchers like King (1967:46) Leed (1980:16) and Nkpa (1997:101).
3.5.2 RELIABILITY
To obtain reliability for factual questions Maney etal (1984:18)
Oppenhein (1966:47) Nwabuokei (1986:60) and Nwana (1984:26) noted that, “internal checks in the forms of logical tests in the questionnaire should be included”. A number of questions were built into CAIT to give a clue to the respondent’s consistency of responses.
A pilot study was carried out with 10 respondents in some Non-
Governmental Organisations (NGOs), churches, law enforcement
Agencies and among some of the members of the general public to pre- test and obtain the efficacy of the CAIT to consistently measure what is intends to measure. Such pretest idea is in line with Nworgu (1981:30),
Ogbozo (1996:43) and Onyeka (1990:25). The 10 respondents did not form part of the main investigation.
The respondents were requested to indicate the response to each statement by ticking one of the five point-scale section B to F. This is to ensure that individual opinions about the Corruption Assessment
Investigation Technique (CAIT) are adequately expressed. The researcher distributed the CAIT to the respondents. The respondents were given two weeks to fill the questionnaire. Within this period, the researcher made several phone calls and went round to explain to the respondents any aspect of the instrument that proved difficult. The responses of the test were scored and the spilt half reliability was used to determine the result of the pilot study. The reliability coefficient obtained was 0.9, i.e 90%. This result indicates that the instrument was reliable and therefore could be used for the study.
3.6 PROCEDURE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE
INSTRUMENT
The CAIT was aimed at gathering information on corruption and the responsibilities of two anti-graft agencies, (EFCC and ICPC). In preparing the instrument, the researcher designed and framed the items in simple terms in order to make it easy for the respondents to interpret and fill appropriately. The items in the instrument were contained in 3 pages in order to eliminate frustration on the part of the respondents that might lead to its abandonment.
Three sets of letters were prepared to accompany the instrument. One set of the letter was addressed to the Chief Executives of EFCC and their staff, while another letter was addressed to the staff of ICPC. The purpose of these letters was to seek permission from the authorities to enable the researcher carry out the study in their organizations. The letter was also designed to seek the cooperation of the authorities because they were in a position to impress on their personnel to fill the questionnaire.
More also, it would be easy to coordinate the administration and collection of the questionnaire with the help of the authorities. The third set of letter was addressed to the NGOs, churches, traditional rulers and the general public. In the administration of the instrument, the researcher first went to the chief executives/managing directors who assigned their personal secretaries and in some cases, other personnel to assist the researcher in the coordination, distribution and collection of the study- filled questionnaire as requested by the researcher.
After obtaining permission and the list of personnel that fell into the categories of the respondents, the stratified random sampling technique was used to select the respondent in each group. Copies of the instrument were grouped according to the number of respondents in each
of the selected categories. Extra copies were made available due to unforeseen circumstances. The names of each anti-graft organization, or other bodies with the number of copies of the instrument were written on each envelope containing them in order to avoid mix up. The distribution of the instrument to the respondents in each organization was done with the help of the personal secretaries and in some organizations other personnel assigned to her by the chief executives/managing directors to coordinate the exercise. Duly filled questionnaire were given to the coordinating staff who kept them for the researcher. The respondents were given two-weeks within which to fill and return the questionnaire. This period enabled the respondents to reflect on the instrument in order to fill them properly. During this period, the researcher made several phone calls and in some cases went round to explain any aspect of the instrument that proved difficult to the respondents. The researcher collected the duly filled questionnaire from the coordinating staff from each organization or group.
The questionnaire as an instrument for data collection in the study proves very useful because respondents are literate. This is in line with the remarks of Uzoagulu (1998:40), Seltiz, Claire etal (1959:30) and Osuala
(1982:60). This made it possible for them to read and fill. Apart from this, the respondents were able to make their choice freely due to the time given to them. More also, the questionnaire helped in establishing the findings of the study and information gathered were easily computed into statistical data for the purpose of analysis, according to Ali (1996:93),
Townsend (1953:32), Ozongwu (1992:33), Philips (1976:38) and
Oppenhein (1970:52) All these authors opined that statistical data should be analyzed.
3.7 PROCEDURE FOR STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
The study made use of a number of statistical techniques to help in the organization, analysis and interpretation of the data. This is in line with the remarks of Lucy (1988:75) and Oppenhein (1970:62). The statistical techniques were summarized as follows: a) Frequency counts and percentages were used to determine
responses on the demographic variables.
b) The Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC)
was used to determine the reliability of the instrument from the
pilot study.
c) Frequency tabulation was used for the organization of scores to
show the distribution of population and sample size of the selected
agencies/groups in the study. Percentages were used to show
relative frequencies distribution of the sample. d) Frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviation, standard error
and t-test were used. e) Cross tabulation was used for scores to determine responses of the
two groups of respondents in the study to decide whether to reject
or not to reject the null hypotheses. Best (1981:86) suggested that
in educational circles, the 5 percent (0.05) alpha level of
significance is often used as a standard for rejection or acceptance.
3.8 SUMMARY
The study is a survey research that was carried out in different groups and organizations. A simple random sampling was used in the selection of the agencies. Different people from different sectors in
Nigeria made up the population of the study used. The sample size of respondents was determined using the Taro Yameni formula. Simple random sampling technique was used in the selection of the sample size.
Apart from this, the stratified random sampling was used to determine a proportional sample for each group of the agencies selected. The instrument for the study is known as CAIT. An expert in Accounting and research methodology validated the instrument. Pilot study was carried out to determine the reliability of the instrument. The reliability coefficient was found to be r = 0.9. The administration of the instrument in the selected agencies was successful. Statistical techniques such as frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations, standard errors, cross-tabulations, t-test and the chi-square tests were used to analyze data.
REFERENCES
Adamu, S.O. & Johnson T.L. (1975) Statistics for Beginners, Ibadan Onibonoje Publishers.
Akinboye, J.O. (1985) Simple Research Methods for Dissertations, Projects and Term Papers Nigeria Les Shyredan Publishers.
Akuezuilo E.O. (1993) Research Methodology and Statistics, Nigeria Nuel centi Publishers.
Alken L.R (1979) Psychological Testing and Assessment Bosten. Allyn and Bacon Inc.
Best J.W (1981), Research in Education New Jeisey: Prentice Hall Inc.
Cronbach L.J. (1960), Essentials of Psychological Testing, New York, Haiper and Brothers Publishers.
Ikeagwu E.K (1998) Ground Work of Research Method & Procedures Enugu Institute for Development Studies UNEC.
Keilinger P.D. (1970) Writing Research Paper, A Complete Guide. New York Scott Foreman Company.
King W.H. (1967) Statistics in Education. London: Macmillan and Company Ltd.
Leedy, Paul D. (1980) Practical Research: Planning and Design, Macmillan Publishing Company Inc. New York, London.
Lucy T. (1988) Quantitative Techniques and Instructional Manual Britain.
Maney, A.S. and Small Wood R.I (1984) MHR Style, Modern Humanities London Research Association, third edition.
Nkpa N. (1997) Educational Research for Modern Scholars Enugu Fourth Dimension Publishers.
Nwabuokei P.O. (1986) Fundamentals of Statistics’ Enugu Koruna Book Publishers.
Nwana O.C. (1981) Introductory to Educational Research, Ibadan Helmann Educational Books Ltd English Language Book Society/Dp Publciations.
Nworgu B.G (1981) Educational Research, Basic Issues and Methodology, Ibadan, Wisdom Publishers Ltd.
Ogbozo C. (1996) Research Methodology, Mimeograph, Department of Business Administration Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, Enugu.
Onyeka C.A. (1990) An Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods in the Sciences, Enugu Norbern Avocation Publisher.
Oppenhein A.N. (1970) Questionnaire Design and Attitude Measurements London Heinemann Educational Books Ltd.
Osuala, E.C (1982) Introduction to Research Methodology, Onitsha: African Feb Publishers Ltd.
Ozongwu M (1992) Guide to Proposal Writing in Social and Behavioural Science, Enugu Snapp Press Ltd.
Philips Bernards S. (1976) Social Research Strategy and Tactics, New York Collier Macmillan Publishers.
Seltiz, Claire, etal (1959) Research Methods in Social Relations, New York Holt Winston Publishers.
Townsend, John C. (1953) Introduction to Experimental Methods New York Mcgraw-Hull Book Company Inc.
Uzoagulu A.E. (1998) Practical Guide: Writing Research Project Reports in Tertiary Institutions Enugu John Jacobs Classic Publishers Ltd.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA
4.1 INTRODUCTION In this chapter, the data collected for the study were statistically analyzed. Among the procedures for the analysis are the uses of frequencies for the demographic variables. Means, standard deviations, standard errors and t-tests, were the necessary tools used to compare the responses got from ICPC, EFCC and other sundry individuals. Chi- square is required in the test of independence of association between variables. Each of the section of the questionnaire is analyzed separately and the related hypothesis is tested for each section.
4.2 ANALYSIS OF DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES OF THE
RESPONDENTS
A total of 300 subjects made up of 15 from ICPC, another 15 from
EFCC respondents and another 270 from other selected agencies were used for the study. In terms of distribution, NGOs had 10% of the respondents, while 15% were from community members/traditional rulers. A breakdown of the other respondents indicated that ICPC staff had 5% of the total respondents and EFCC had also 5% respondents
while the academia had 15% of the total respondents. The churches had
10% of the respondents, business community 15%. Also the general public had 15% while politicians had 10%. The status of the respondents in the two commissions was relatively equal in terms of distribution. The executive cadre accounted for 3-6years in terms of their years of experience on their jobs. Most of the staff of the two commissions have spent more than six years on their jobs. Also, over 70% of the other respondents who are not staff of the two commissions have spent over 5 years in their various fields of human endeavour. With this level of experience, it is expected that the respondents would give a valid opinion on the performance of the two anti-graft commissions.
4.2.1 ASSESSMENT OF THE CAUSES OF CORRUPTION IN
NIGERIA
In this section, effort is made at determining the causes of corruption in Nigeria. A total of seven items were used for this assessment. Table 4.2.1 shows the responses concerning the causes of corruption along the Likert-scale system.
ICPC EFCC ASSESSMENT
ASSESSMENT
S/N Item High Moderate Low Nil High Moderate Low Nil
FRE PER FRE PER FRE PER FRE PER FRE PER FRE PER FRE PER FRE PER
7 Poor funding 70 .46.7 52 34.7 18 12 10 6.6 90 60 42 28 15 10% 3 2%
/working
environment
8 Deprivation, 60 40% 65 43.3% 15 10% 10 6.7% 70 46.7% 40 26.7% 15 10% 25 16%
inadequate
remuneration,
poor
9 Overstaying in 100 67% 40 26.7 8 5.3% 2 1% 90 60% 30 20% 25 16.7% 5 office 10 Waiver of laid 82 54.7 40 26.7 20 13.3 8 5.3% 108 72% 30 20% 12 8% down rules 11 Instability in 60 40% 30 20% 30 20% 30 20% 75 50% 30 20% 15 10% 30 government /govt policies 12 Misallocation 60 40% 40 26.7% 20 13.3% 30 20% 60 40% 40 26.7 20 13.3% 30 of resources 13 Erosion of 60 40% 40 26.7% 26 17.3% 20 13.3% 4 2.7% 80 53.3% 40 26.7% 10 social values and morality
ICPC STAFF AND EFCC STAFF AND OTHER RESPONDENTS
OTHER
RESPONDENTS
S/N Item Very Low Low Moderate High Very Low Low Moderate High
Description
FRE PER FRE PER FRE PER FRE PER FRE PER FRE PER FRE PER FRE PER
14 Breeding of 70 46.7% 50 33.3% 10 6.7% 20 13.3 60 40% 40 26% 30 20% 20 14 injustice % 15 Breeding poor 80 53.3% 50 33.3% 10 6.7% 10 6.7% 70 46.7% 50 33.3% 20 13.3% 10 6.7% services delivery
16 Results in 60 40% 46 30.7% 30 20% 14 9.3% 50 33.3% 40 26.7% 45 30% 15 10 topside and uneven development 17 Brain Drain 60 40% 44% 29.3% 30 20% 16 10.7 60 40% 45 30% 25 16.7% 20 13.3 % 18 Short life 80 53.3% 45 30% 17 11.3 8 5.3% 60 40% 45 30% 30 20% 15 10% expectancy %
19 Ethnic militia 80 53.3% 43 28.7% 8 5.3% 19 12.7 40 26.7% 20 13.3% 40 26.7% 50 33.3% civil agitation % and unrest 20 Increased rate 80 53.3% 43 28.7% 8 5.3% 19 12.7 40 26.7% 20 13.3% 40 26.7% 50 33.3% of crimes and % violence
EFFECTIVENESS OF EFFECTIVENESS OF EFCC IN TACKLING CORRUPTION ICPC IN TACKLING CORRUPTION S/N Item High Moderate Low Nil High Moderate Low Nil Description FRE PER FRE PER FRE PER FRE PER FRE PER FRE PER FRE PER FRE PER 21 Legal 70 58.3% 30 25 20 16.6 30 20% 65 54.1 30 25 20 13.3 10 6.7% constitution backing 22 Non 80 53.3% 43 28.7% 8 5.3% 19 12.7 40 26.7% 20 13.3% 40 26.7% 50 government % political influence on commission activities 23 Funding 70 46.7% 50 33.3% 10 6.7% 20 13.3 60 40% 40 26% 30 20% 20 13.3 24 Logistics 60 40% 40 26.7% 20 13.3 30 20% 60 40% 40 26.7 20 13.3% 30 20% support % 25 Level of co- 30 25 25 20.8 40 33.3 25 20.8 25 20.8 15 12.5 50 41.6 30 20% operation from all and sundry
ICPC S/N Item High Moderate Low Nil High Moderate Low Nil Description FRE PER FRE PER FRE PER FRE PER FRE PER FRE PER FRE PER FRE PER 26 Financial 60 50 40 33.3 20 16.6 - - crimes 27 Cyber café 76 63.3 34 28.3 10 8.3 - - scams 28 ATM and other 70 58.4 30 25 20 16.6 related banks frauds 29 Morally related 60 40 35 23.3 20 13.3 35 23.3 crimes
Source: Field survey data collected by the researcher.
On the issue of poor funding and poor working environment (that is on item 7), 46.7% of those that assessed ICPC and (60) 40% respondents that assessed EFCC; poor funding and poor working conditions are instrumental to high rate of corruption in Nigeria. Similarly, on item 8, 60 (40%) from ICPC side and 75 (50%) from EFCC side, all these respondents agreed on a high response; that deprivation, inadequate remunerations and poor incentives are also responsible for high rate of corruption in Nigeria. On item 9, which deals with overstaying in office, 67% and 60% from ICPC and EFCC respectively, agreed that overstaying in office is highly responsible fro corruption. This is so as power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. Also, waiver of laid down rules, cutting corners, political god “fatherism” are all responsible for hydra-headed monster called corruption. This is shown as 82 (54.7%) respondents from ICPC and that of 106 (72%) respondents from EFCC are of the said opinion. Instability in government and inconsistent government policies, misallocation of resources, erosion of social values and morality, (based on the responses), are the causes of high rates of corruption in Nigeria. It is also stated in item 14, that breeding of injustice, poor service delivery, etc all account for over 40% each in causing corruption in Nigeria. This is also true as corruption results in brain drain, lopsided and uneven development, short life expectancy, ethnic militia, civil unrest, increased rate of crimes and violence. Furthermore, on the effectiveness of ICPC and EFCC in tackling corruption, legal constitutional backing, non government/political influence on activities of the two commissions, adequate funding, logistic support and high level of cooperation from all and sundry, are all needed to ensure effective workings of ICPC and EFCC to eradicate corruption in Nigeria.
The table shows that in this section more than fifty percent of the respondents have high opinions as regards the extent of the functional differences in the performance of the anti-graft commissions in the fight against corruption in Nigeria. As could be seen in the table, both groups of respondents felt that there are functional differences, but all are geared towards fighting corruption from either financial or moral angle. Fighting crimes like financial related crimes, cyber-café scams, advance fee fraud, embezzlement of public funds etc are the core functions of EFCC. Also fighting sexual immorality, examination malpractices, contract award without budgetary provisions, fraudulent acquisition of property, virement breach, bribery, corrupt demand by persons, giving or accepting gratifications via agents etc are all the core functions of ICPC.
From the responses in the table, the responses are said to be high in most cases.
4.3 TEST OF HYPOTHESES
The hypotheses raised in the study are tested in this section. Thus the null hypotheses are tested and these are as follows:
ii
Hypothesis 1: There is no difference in the level of corruption perpetuated
in Nigeria by inordinate ambitious and self-contented Nigerians. The
student t-test procedure was used in the test of this hypothesis. The scores
by the two groups, (self contented and the inordinate ambitious groups), on
the level of corruption in table 4.3.1 were used for this test. The scores were
summed up and their mean was then subjected to two tailed t-test. The
pooled variance and t-value were computed. The computation is as shown
in appendix A. The result of the test is then summarized in table 4.3.1
below.
Ho: There is no difference in the level of corruption perpetuated in Nigeria
by inordinate ambitious and self contented Nigerians.
Table 4.3.1 t-test on the level of corruption perpetuated by inordinate
ambitious and self-contented Nigerians.
N MEAN SD SE DF P T- T- VALUE CRITICAL Contented 150 2.982 0.296 0.020 298 0.05 -1.40 1.96
Nigerians
Inordinate 150 3.028 0.305 0.026
iii ambitious
Nigerians
Key: SD = Standard Deviation, SE = Standard Error, DF = Degree of
freedom, P = Level of significance.
The result in the table indicates that there is a difference between the
contented groups and the inordinate ambitious groups in the level of
corruption perpetuated by them in Nigeria. The null hypothesis is therefore
rejected.
Hypothesis 2: There is no relationship between the impact of
corruption on the level of economic growth and development in Nigeria.
In the test of this hypothesis, the six items tabulated in table 4.3.2 were
stacked along their ratings. The two variables were then cross tabulated and
the Chi-square was then computed to determine any possible systematic
association. The result of the extent of the impact of corruption on the level
of economic growth and development in Nigeria was analyzed. The
iv computation is shown in appendix B. Table 4.3.2 shows the result of the
test.
TABLE 4.3.2: TABLE SHOWING THE IMPACT OF
CORRUPTION ON THE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND
DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA
Low Moderate High Total
Respondents FRE PER FRE PER FRE PER FRE PER
10 3.3 70 23.4 220 73.3 300 100
Total 10 70 23.4 220 73.3 300 100
X2 computed = 266.716, while the critical or table value = 25
The degree of freedom (DF) = (number of row – 1) (number of columns – 1)
v The result obtained showed that variable factors influence the impact of
corruption on the economic growth and development in Nigeria. The null
hypothesis is therefore rejected. This implies that variable factors causing
corruption generally lead to having negative impact on the economic growth
and development in Nigeria.
HYPOTHESIS 3: (HO): There are not more effective operational
strategies in use for fighting corruption by EFCC than ICPC.
The scores in this section dealt on the extent of effective operational
strategies in fighting corruption by the anti-graft agencies. The scores were
summed up and their mean was then subjected to one tailed t-test. The
pooled variance and their t-values were computed. The computations were
shown in appendix C. The result is then summarized in the table 4:3:3
below.
TABLE 4.3.3 RESULT OF ANALYSIS USING ONE-TAIL TEST
Variables Mean SD SE t- DF P t- valued critical
vi Strategies in 2.364 0.292 0.020 -4.79 298 0.05 1.645 use by EFCC
Strategies in 2.521 0.325 0.028 use by ICPC
The calculated t-value (-4.79) falls within the rejection region, the null
hypothesis is therefore rejected. This implies that there are more effective
operational strategies in fighting corruption by EFCC than ICPC in Nigeria.
Hypothesis IV: There are no conflicting functions between ICPC and
EFCC in fighting corruption in Nigeria.
A total of five items were involved in the section. As indicated in the test of
this hypothesis iv, these five items were stacked along the rated functions of
the two commissions in fighting corruption. The variables were then cross-
vii tabulated and their chi-square was computed. The computation is shown in appendix D. Table 4.3.4 shows the extent of data collected for the test.
TABLE 4.3.4 CHI-SQUARE TEST ON THE CONFLICTING
FUNCTIONS OF ICPC AND EFCC IN FIGHTING CORRUPTION IN
NIGERIA
CONFLICTING FUNCTIONS OF THE TWO COMMISSIONS IN
FIGHTING CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA
Very low Low Moderate High Total
FRE PER FRE PERCENT FRE PERCENT FRE PERCENT FRE PERCENT
80 26.7 200 66.7 20 6.6 Nil 300 100
viii Total 80 26.7 200 66.7 20 6.6 300 100
X2 computed = 404.9, critical value = 21.0
The observed x2 for the test above indicates the issue of conflicting functions
of the two commissions in fighting corruption in Nigeria. The null
hypothesis is therefore rejected. We therefore conclude that there is
conflicting function of the two commissions in fighting corruption in
Nigeria. This is so since the computed chi-square value 404 is greater than
the critical value of 210.
TABLE 4.3.5
A 2 X 4 contingency Table showing factors militating against the
performance of EFCC and ICPC in combating corruption in Nigeria.
Commission Government Poor Inadequate Delay in Judicial Total interference funding logistics process ICPC 40 (45) 50 (45) 30 (35) 30 (25) 150 EFCC 50 (45) 40 (45) 40 (35) 20 (25) 150 Total 90 90 70 50 300 Expected frequencies
ix E1 = 90 x 150 = 45 300 E2 = 90 x 150 = 45 300 E3 = 70 x 150 = 35 300 E4 = 50 x 150 = 25 300 E5 = 90 x 150 = 45 300 E6 = 90 x 150 = 45 300 E7 = 70 x 150 = 35 300 E8 = 50 x 150 = 25 300 X2 = ∑(O – E)2 = 5.66, critical value = 7.815 E CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSION OF RESULTS, SUMMARY OF MAJOR FINDINGS,
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
In this chapter the result of the data analysis in chapter four are discussed.
x In this study, the impact of anti-graft agencies in combating corruption was evaluated. Five hypotheses were raised in the study.
The first was to assess the causes of corruption in Nigeria. Also effort was made at determining the impact of corruption on the economic growth and development in Nigeria. The effectiveness of anti-graft agencies in combating corruption in Nigeria was also determined. The assessment of the functional differences between the activities of EFCC and ICPC in combating corruption was also x- rayed. Finally, the problems militating against anti-graft agencies –
ICPC and EFCC in fighting corruption in both private and public institutions in Nigeria were examined.
Hypothesis ONE: There is no difference in the level of corruption perpetrated by morally up right groups and the inordinate ambitious group of people in Nigeria. This hypothesis
tested differences in the level of corruption perpetrated by morally upright and self contended and inordinate ambitious people caused by greed.
xi Table 4.3.1 indicated significant difference in the level of corruption exhibited by the two groups. The result showed higher level of corruption perpetrated by the inordinate ambitious groups. The null hypothesis as given above was rejected and hence alternate hypothesis accepted. This result confirms the report of Okolie in
Onwe (2004:41) that moral rectitude, self contentment and being spiritually minded will reduce corruption. Rom 8 v 6 and 1st Thesis 5 v 22 – all those who proclaim the name of the Lord should depart from iniquity and thus righteousness exalts a nation Proverb 14 v 34.
Also according to Nze (2008:40) Christians and churches have roles to play to reduce avarice, get-rich-quick syndrome etc.
Hypothesis TWO: Corruption generally does not have effect on economic growth and development in Nigeria. Hypothesis II tested the effect of corruption on the economic growth and development in
Nigeria. In the test of the hypothesis as shown in
table 4.3.2 the observed chi-square indicates a high negative impact of corruption on the economic growth and development in Nigeria.
xii The result aligns with Aniekwe in fox, et al (1998:35-41, 445-445) and
Eke (2007:7-13) that reported corruption problems experienced in
Nigeria have devastating effects on the economy. This result also confirms the report by Olayeye (2003:1) that many institutions in
Nigeria are being faced with different degrees of corruption. Further evidence is provided by Wells (1996:91-108) who agreed that corruption has many negative effects on economic growth and development. Ofori (1994:41-56) and Betts and Ofori (1994:51-62) are of the view that many companies and other institutions are bedeviled with monumental corruption which adversely affect the growth of the economy. In Nigeria, corruption has been generally high. Consequently it has affected the performance of both the Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) and Gross National Product (GNP), employment, brain-drain.
HYPOTHESIS THREE
xiii This tested the effectiveness of Anti-graft agencies in combating corruption in Nigeria.
Ho: The application of anti corruption strategies to avert corruption is not low in EFCC when compared with that of ICPC. Hypothesis III tested the level of application of anti-graft corruption strategies by
ICPC and EFCC. In this test, one tailed t-test was applied. The test revealed that the level of application was high when compared with that of ICPC. This implies that EFCC and ICPC adhere to the application of anti-corruption crusade and other strategies to bring corruption to a standstill or to reduce corruption to a minimal level; since corruption is an ill-wind that blows no one any good.
This result confirms the report of Ayoola (2006 ix) that ICPC is fully determined to fight corruption using both legal and other constitutional means to fight corruption. This result also confirms another report by Farida Waziri (2010:45)” that EFCC will leave no stone unturned in a bid to fight corruption”. Ribadu (2007:22) “in his matrix of issues” aimed at frontally attacking corrupt
xiv public office holders, corrupt politicians and other corrupt individuals and Okoduwa (2008:11) they also opined “that for our economy to grow all hands must be on deck to fight corruption”.
HYPOTHESIS FOUR
Ho: There are no differences in the functions of ICPC and those of
EFCC in fighting corruption in Nigeria. Hypothesis four tested the functional differences of ICPC and EFCC in fighting corruption in
Nigeria. In the test of the hypothesis, significant association was observed to exist with those of EFCC and ICPC. This result confirms the reports of ICPC (2007) on “institutional integrity” that there may be overlapping functions of ICPC and EFCC. It stated further that in some cases the agencies are inter-related. Also Bakare (2008:11) opined that “arrests” can be done by the police, members of other enforcement agencies etc; and this goes to further confirm areas of functional inter-relationships between the two anti-graft commissions and other enforcement agencies with a view to avert corruption in
Nigeria.
xv
HYPOTHESIS FIVE
Ho: There are no factors militating against the operational performance of the anti-graft agencies in combating corruption.
Hypothesis five tested the effects of funding, interference and logistics issues on the operational performance of the anti-graft agencies. The observed chi-square indicates a high influence of poor funding , political interferences and other logistics problems that try to mar the effective performance of the commissions. From the analysis, alternative hypothesis was accepted and this confirms the reports of Onyilimba (2008:27) that financial and other legal constraints tend to hamper the performance of the two commissions.
Although, there were reports that ICPC and EFCC did not go for perceived political opponents during Obasanjo’s era, Ayoola (2006:7), there is a general belief that certain impediments tend to mar the functions of the two commissions (ICPC and EFCC) as stated above.
xvi
5.2 SUMMARY OF MAJOR FINDINGS
Here, the summary of major findings in the study are provided.
The study adopted the survey method. The population of the study was made up of 1200 respondents drawn from various groups such as churches, NGOs, business community, traditional rulers and their subjects, academic community etc. Out of this population, a sample size of 300 personnel was derived. A questionnaire was used for the collection of data for the study.
Frequencies, percentages, cross tabulations, means and standard deviations, standard errors, t-test and chi-square tests were the statistical tools used for data analysis.
xvii
From the study, the result shows that poor funding and poor working conditions in public offices account for high rate of increase in corruption in Nigeria. Deprivations and/or inadequate remunerations, poor incentives are assessed as other major factors causing corruption. It is also stated that overstaying in office, waiver of laid down rules, instability in government and inconsistent government policies are the other causes of corruption in Nigeria. Misallocation of resources, erosion of social values and morality are also adduced as further causes of corruption. In a related development, corruption has brought negative consequences like breeding of injustice, mediocrity, poor service delivery. It also further resulted in lopsided and uneven development, brain drain and short life expectancies, ethnic militia, civil agitations and unrest. Furthermore, there is increased rate of crimes and violence. To enhance effectiveness of ICPC and EFCC in tackling of corruption, there is need to ensure that there is adequate legal constitutional backing and review of the laws establishing the two commissions from time to time. There should be no government or political
xviii interference on the two commissions’ activities. Adequate funding, logistic support and high level of co-operation from all and sundry are needed. It was also stated that there are specific assigned duties peculiarly done by either ICPC or EFCC. Stoppage of financial crimes, Cyber café Crimes are mainly done by EFCC while stoppage of morally related crimes, that is predominantly non-financial crimes are carried by ICPC. 5.3 CONCLUSION
From the implication of the study, there is a strong evidence that many available factors like poor funding, poor working environments, deprivation and poor incentives all tend to fuel the level of corruption in
Nigeria. It is also stated that overstaying in office, waiver of laid down rules and instability in government coupled with inconsistent policies all aggravated corruption in Nigeria.
The fallout of this monumental corruption tends to cause brain drain, apathy, uneven developments and injustices in different dimensions.
The evidence that people with mundane behaviours, inordinate ambitions due to avarice and quest for material prosperity tend to aggravate corruption is vehemently buttressed.
Also the negative impact of corruption on economic growth and development of the country is being condemned from many respondents as such corruption has brought poverty, reduction in Gross Domestic Products
xix (GDP), Gross National Products (GNP), unemployment, uneven developments and general backwardness.
EFCC has not more operational strategies to fight corruption than
ICPC. On the overlapping functions of ICPC and EFCC in fighting
Corruption in Nigeria, there are areas of overlapping in the functions of the two commissions.
There are also factors like politics, government interference, logistics, poor funding, all these tend to mar the effective operations of the two commissions in their fight against corruption in Nigeria.
5.4 RECOMMENDATIONS
(1) There is urgent need for attitudinal changes by Nigerians on the need to imbibe the philosophy of having good quality behaviours, good characters, leaving legacies rather than developing the habits of get-rich-quick syndrome. Martin Luther Junior of America died at the age of 39 and America is still observing public holidays for him because of his legacies. Also the legacies of renowned Nigerians, like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Zik of Africa, Abubakar Rimi of Kano
State, Gani Fawenhnmi are all visibly there for others to emulate.
xx (2) Nigeria is our dear country and “there is no other country for
Nigerians and that we must stay together to salvage it” according to
Gen. Muhammadu Buhari is an adage that must be put into practice through evidence of corruption eradication, so that economic growth and development of the country will be achieved.
The effectiveness of ICPC and EFCC, in averting corruption can be enhanced if all hands are on deck to reduce this monster – called corruption. More radical strategies to stop corruption ought to be formulated and implemented. There should be espirit de corp, that is team work ,by all and sundry in the fight against corruption.
On the issue of overlapping functions, it was discovered that there are many unique functions performed by either EFCC or ICPC.
However, there are some areas of overlapping functions and it is recommended that, there should be clear – cut functions of the two commissions so as to ensure unity of command and unity of objectives in the fight against corruption.
There should be overhaul and reforms to critically look into the problems militating against the functions of the two commissions to
xxi make them more efficient and effective in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
The feat achieved by EFCC like in August 2008 when the commission arrested former National Deputy Chairman of PDP in
Lagos, Bode George with four others, who were arraigned on 163- count charges of conspiracy, disobedience to lawful order, illegal award of contracts worth N84 billion when he was the chairman of
Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is commendable. Later, Bode George was found guilty and sentenced to jail for 30 months. An attempt was made to extradict former FCT Minister Mallam E1 – Rufai from USA to face charge.
(3) The return to Nigeria Police force of insurance benefits that were part of N17 billion recovered from former Inspector General of
Police (IGP) – Mustafa Balogun is also another area of success by
EFCC. According to the Chairman of EFCC, Farida Waziri, 200 cases are pending in court. Efforts are on the way to prosecute former governors: Peter Odili (Rivers), Bola Tinubu (Lagos), Ayo
Fayose (Ekiti), Joshua Dariye (Plateau), Saminu Turaki (Jigawa),
Jolly Nyame (Taraba) etc on charges of corruption. Others are contract scam of N6 billion rural electrification leveled against senator
xxii Nicholas Ugbanae according to Amodu (2010:15-16). All the above achievements by EFCC to mention but a few, are to show that if all the problems militating against the functions of EFCC or ICPC are tackled holistically, the nation will become a model, a giant of Africa indeed, in action, in prudent financial management of her resources and above all, Nigerians will be benefiting from all the endowed human and natural resources and Nigeria will be shinning like a sun among the comity of nations.
APPENDIX 1
CORRUPTION ASSESSMENT INVESTIGATION TECHNIQUE (CAIT)
SECTION A: BIO-DATA OF THE RESPONDENTS
Please, tick (√) inside one of the boxes for each question to indicate your response.
1. Sex of the respondent: Male Female
2. Age of the respondent: (a) 21 – 30
(b) 31 – 40
(c) 41 – 50
(d) 51 and above
3. Name of the anti-graft commission or Agency
4. Position Held: (a) Chief Executive/Senior Manager
(b) Administrative Staff
xxiii (c) Legal Staff
(d) Clerical Staff
(e) Others please specify……………..
5. Years of working experience:
(a) Below one year
(b) 1 – 3 years
(c) 4 – 6 years
(d) 6 years and above
6. Highest Education qualification
(a) School Certificate
(b) Diploma
(c) Degree
(d) Higher Degree
SECTION B: ASSESSMENT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS CAUSING
CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA
Make a tick (√ ) against the most appropriate option to indicate the extent to which you agree with the statements regarding different factors causing corruption in Nigeria.
Note that: SA = Strongly Agree
A = Agree
U = Undecided
D = Disagree
SD = Strongly disagree
SA A U D SD
xxiv
7. Poor funding is a factor causing corruption in Nigeria.
8. Deprivation and inadequate remuneration of
employees also cause corruption.
9. Over staying in office by public officers
aggravated corruption.
10. Waiver of laid down rules tends to fuel corruption
11. Instability in government and inconsistent government
policies tend to increase corruption in
Nigeria.
12. More often misallocation of resources does affect
corruption.
13. Erosion of social values and morality are some of
the negative consequences of effects of corruption.
SA A U D SD
xxv
14. To what extent does corruption lead to
breeding of injustice.
15. One of the negative impacts of corruption
in Nigeria is the issue of poor service
delivery in all the nooks and crannies, how
do you rate this scenario.
16. To what extent does corruption bring about
lopsided and uneven development.
17. Brain drain is one of the negative effects of corruption in
Nigeria.
18. Short life expectancy of Nigerians is one of the fallouts from
corruption in Nigeria.
19. Ethnic militia, civil agitation and unrest are also as a result of
corruption.
xxvi
SA A U D SD
20. Increased rates of crimes and violence are
some of the consequence of corruption.
21. One of the ways to increase anti-graft
Commissions’ activities to ensure effective
service delivery is to have legal
constitutional backing, how do you rate this
factor.
22. Non-government or political interference
on the Commissions’ activities should also
be supported if effective operations of the
Commissions are to be achieved, what is
your view.
23. Adequate funding is needed to increase
effectiveness of the commissions.
24. There should also be logistics support to
enhance effective performance.
xxvii
SA A U D SD
25. Level of co-operation from all and sundry
are needed.
26. On issue of functional differences, EFCC is
charged with averting financial crimes.
27. Prevention and reduction of Cyber café
scams are also performed by EFCC.
28. Automated Teller Machine (ATM) and
other related bank frauds are to be averted
by EFCC.
29. Stoppage of morally related crimes are one
of the functions of ICPC.
xxviii APPENDIX II
Department of Accountancy Faculty of Business Administration University of Nigeria Enugu Campus. Date
The Managing Director/Chief Executive
______Dear Sir,
QUESTIONNAIRE ON THE ASSESSMENT OF THE ROLES AND CHALLENGES OF ANTI-CORRUPTION AGENCIES IN ENHANCING PRUDENT FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA – THE CASE OF ICPC AND EFCC
I am a post graduate student of Accountancy of the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus and presently conducting a research work in respect of the above mentioned title in partial fulfillment for the Award of MBA in Accountancy. Consequently, I am requesting for your kind approval to distribute the attached questionnaire to you and your management staff, as your organization is among the few selected commissions/agencies for the study. It is envisaged that this will help Nigeria in the fight against corruption and in a bid to put it to a stand still. It will also help to assess the impact of anti-graft agencies in their fight against corruption in Nigeria.
Yours faithfully,
xxix …………………….. Mbah Judith UKamaka APPENDIX III
Department of Accountancy Faculty of Business Administration University of Nigeria Enugu Campus. Date
Dear Sir/Madam
QUESTIONNAIRE ON THE ASSESSMENT OF THE ROLES AND CHALLENGES OF ANTI-CORRUPTION AGENCIES IN ENHANCING PRUDENT FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA – THE CASE OF ICPC AND EFCC
Following the much concern about the need to stem corruption in Nigeria due to its negative implications in the economy, it became imperative to carry out the above-mentioned study.
This questionnaire is therefore designed for the collection of data that would enable the researcher, an MBA Accountancy student of the above University, to carry out the study on the above subject matter. You are please requested to provide answers to the questionnaire.
All responses to the questionnaire shall be treated in confidence and shall be strictly for academic purposes.
Yours faithfully,
xxx …………………….. Mbah Judith UKamaka
APPENDIX IV
2 2 S2 p = (n1 – 1)S1 + (n2 -1)S2
n1 + n2 -2
= (150 – 1) 0.2962 + (150 – 1) 0.3052 298
= (149) 0.087616 + (149) 0.93025 298
S2p = 0.0903205 = 0.090
tn1 + n2 – 2 = X1 - X2 S2p 1 + 1
n1 n2 t298 = 2.982 - 3.028 0.090 1 + 1 150 150
= - 0.046 0.90 (0.013)
= -0.43 computed result
xxxi t298 = critical value at 5% level of significance, one tail test = 1.64 while at two tail test = 1.96
Appendix v for Chi-square (X2) The formula for X2 distribution is shown below
X2 = (O – E)2 E
Where O = represents observed value (frequency) E = represents expected value (frequency) DF = degree of freedom = (C – 1) (R – 1)
Expected frequency for a cell = (Row total)(column total) Grand total
xxxii
Appendix vi For t test The formula for pooled sample variance and t-test
2 2 2 S p = (n1 – 1)S1 + (n2 -1)S2
n1 + n2 – 2
tn1 + -2 = X1 - X2 S2 p (1 + 1)
n1 n2
Where S2p = Pooled sample variance
X1 = Mean of first sample
X2 = Mean of second sample
n1 = Number of observations in the first sample
n2 = Number of observations in the second sample
xxxiii
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