IMPUNITY IN NIGERIA: Knowledge, ATTITUDE & PERCEPTION FINDINGS FROM A NATIONAL SURVEY STOP IMPUNITY NIGERIA CAMPAIGN IMPUNITY IN NIGERIA: KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PERCEPTION FINDINGS FROM A NATIONAL SURVEY Report Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye Dr. Olayinka Akanle Mr. Olayemi S. Samuel Research Conducted By Human Development Initiatives for STOP IMPUNITY NIGERIA CAMPAIGN i Copyright © 2014 Human Development Initiatives All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or otherwise or stored in any retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright holder. Permission will be granted to educational and not for profit organizations while others may be required to pay a small fee. ISBN: 978-978-938-138-8 Published by Human Development Initiatives 2, Iwaya Road, Onike, Yaba, Lagos, P. O. Box 1642, Sabo, Lagos, Nigeria Tel: 234-1-7938074, 234-1-7613322, 234-8080551376 Website: www.hdinigeria.org, www.facebook.com/hdinigeria Email: [email protected], [email protected] ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Pages Preface and Acknowledgement……………………………………………………………..v Section One: Background of the Study 1.1 Introduction and Background…………………………………………………………1 1.2 S.I.N Project Overview………………………………………………………………..2 1.3 Objective of the Research…………………………………………………………......4 1.4 Significance of the Research………………………………………………………….4 Section Two: Literature Review 2.0 The Concept of Impunity…………………………………………………………......5 2.1 The Nature of Impunity……………………………………………………………….5 2.2 The Political State and Impunity………………………………………………….......6 2.2.1 The Nigerian State and Impunity……………………………………………………..7 2.3 Impunity: A Global Overview…………………………………………………….......8 2.4 Impunity in Everyday Life: The Common Man Interface…………………………...11 2.5 The Nigerian Political Class and the Culture of Impunity…………………………..13 2.6 A Brief History of Nigeria Labour Congress………………………………………...14 2.7 A Brief History of Civil Society Organizations……………………………………...15 2.8 Nigeria’s Political Leadership (1960 – 1979) and Civil Society Organizations/Labour Unions………………………………………………………..15 2.9 The Shagari Regime (1979 – 1983), Impunity and Civil Society Organizations/Labour Unions………………………………………………………..16 2.10 Muhammadu Buhari Regime (1983 - 1985), Impunity and Civil Society Organizations/Labour Unions…………………………………………17 2.11 Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida Regime (1985 – 1993), Impunity and Civil Society Organizations/Labour Unions…………………………………………17 2.12 Earnest Shonekan Transitional Government, Impunity and Civil Society Organizations/Labour Unions…………………………………………18 2.13 General Sanni Abacha Regime (1993 – 1998), Impunity and Civil Society Organizations/Labour Unions…………………………………………18 2.14 Abdulsalam Abubakar, Impunity and Civil Society Organizations/Labour Unions………………………………………………………..19 2.15 Olusegun Obasanjo Regime (1979 – 1983), Impunity and Civil Society Organizations/Labour Unions…………………………………………20 2.16 President Musa Yar’adua, Impunity and Civil Society Organizations/Labour Unions………………………………………………………..21 2.17 Goodluck Jonathan, Impunity and Civil Society Organizations/Labour Unions………………………………………………………..22 2.18 National Orientation, Anti-Corruption and Anti-Social Crusades in Nigeria………..25 Section Three: Methodology 3.1 The Research Methodology…………………………………………………………28 3.2 The Setting: Research States…………………………………………………….......28 iii 3.3 Research Design…………………………………………………………………......30 3.4 The Study Population……………………………………………………………......30 3.5 Sampling: Size and Techniques……………………………………………………...31 3.6 Research Instruments………………………………………………………………...31 3.7 Ethical Considerations………………………………………………………….........31 3.8 Challenges Encountered and Lessons Learnt……………………………………......31 Section Four: Data Analysis and Presentation 4.1 Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Respondents……………………………......33 4.2 Understanding Impunity……………………………………………………….........36 4.3 Fiscal Responsibility…………………………………………………………………47 4.4 Rule of Law…………………………………………………………………….........54 4.5 Electoral Process……………………………………………………………………..61 4.6 Civic Responsibility, Patriotism and Ethics…………………………………………71 4.7 Causes and Solutions to Impunity in Nigeria………………………………………..77 4.8 Message Testing………………………………………………………………….......81 4.9 Engaging Activities………………………………………………………………….83 Section Five: Summary of Findings, Recommendations and Conclusion 5.1 Discussion of Findings………………………………………………………………88 5.2 Summary of Findings and Recommendations………………………………………89 5.3 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………...... 94 References…………………………………………………………………………………..95 Appendix – Research Officials……………………………………………………………103 iv PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Impunity is a major impediment to the development of Nigeria. It has brought Nigeria to its knees such that in recent history the country ranks amongst the lowest in indicators of economic growth and development. Abundant human and natural resources notwithstanding, Nigeria has consistently ranked low in Human Development Reports of UNDP and Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index amongst other global indicators. Available evidence shows that a country’s development is directly linked with the respect for rule of law and the absence of impunity. Thus, there is direct correlation between the rule of law and a country’s ranking in poverty index, corruption perception index, justice administration, health and education rankings, attraction of foreign direct investments, citizen welfare and social security. To address this malady four civil society organizations with the support of the Ford Foundation started the “Stop Impunity Nigeria” (S.I.N) Campaign. The main objective of the Campaign is to awaken public awareness to the corrosive effects of impunity on the prospects for development in Nigeria and galvanize public action with a view to eradicating impunity in Nigeria. The strategy is to use research, training, advocacy and media engagement to address the ills of impunity. The outcome of the research component is the content of this publication. We are highly indebted to all the members of the research team across the country and all the respondents from the public, various agencies, key officials across all MDAs, arms and levels of government who participated in the survey. They have contributed greatly to the success of this project. Our deepest appreciation goes to the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) who are collaborating organizations in this Campaign. Finally, we thank the Ford Foundation for supporting this project to Stop Impunity in Nigeria. Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye Executive Director, Human Development Initiatives For: Media Rights Agenda (MRA) Community Life Project (CLP) Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) v Impunity in Nigeria: Knowledge, Attitude and Perception Findings from a National Survey SECTION ONE: BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY 1.1. Introduction and Background Impunity plays a very significant role in the socio-economic and political development outcomes of any country. This is more so in democratic dispensations, where people expect public conscience and accountability to drive development positively, in order for the dividends of democracy to be visible. The word ―impunity‖ derives from the Latin word impunitas, which means everyone does as s/he likes in blatant disregard for the law and state institutions however, without punishment. Impunity therefore, means ‗without punishment‘. That is, no sanction for bad behavior, no punishment for misdeeds. Impunity can thus be likened to an unmitigated and an uncontrolled emancipation, freewill and free choice. It is the attitude encouraged by an unlawful liberty from retribution or recrimination among citizens and government of a country. It is an anti-social (although not necessarily criminal/but can be) behaviour that disregards punishment or sanction and is a deliberate disregard for prosecutorial system. It is disobedience to the rule of law, due process/procedure, electoral misconduct, fiscal impropriety and lack of patriotism. States bedeviled with impunity are characterized by infrastructural decay, debt burden, poor welfare and inefficient public institutions. Impunity is therefore, a significant determinant of the socio-economic and political development outcomes of any state. It determines a state‘s investment climate, both in the short and long run. This is due to its impact on Peer Nations‘ Perception Index (PNPI) of a state. Thus, a state with a preponderance of impunity is perceived negatively and treated with disdain by its citizens, potential investors and the international community at large. The outcome of a negative perception is the poor flow of Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) and other supports to the state. Impunity is therefore, one of the most dangerous challenges a nation could face. It constitutes the fundamental root of most of the misdeeds, in both the public and private spheres of a nation. Impunity explains why government officials, groups and individuals act contrary to the expectations of the law of the state. In effect, impunity leads to bad governance with the attendant mass poverty, high rate of crime, corruption, unemployment, insecurity, etc. In Nigeria, years of military dominance in governance created and entrenched the culture of impunity. The military ruled with absolute disregard for the rule of law and so created a national psyche of ‗militarization‘.