Abstract
The study was on corruption and underdevelopment in Nigeria public service. A case study of Bayelsa civil service commission. One of the greatest threats to socio-economic and political development of any nation is corruption. It is anti-social behavior conferring improper benefits contrary to legal and moral norms, and undermines the authorities’ capacity to secure the welfare of all citizens. The paper used qualitative approach to analyses issues by adopts secondary data such as journal publications, newspapers, textbooks etc. The paper observes that Nigeria is faced with myriad of dilemmas Prominent among which are poverty, insecurity, kidnapping, ethno-religious crisis, bad governance, and many more, these problems can be attributed to corruption. The paper suggests that government should urgently initiate moves to work with the National Assembly to review Nigeria constitution and legal order so as to empower the anti-corruption agencies to work assiduously without being molested or interfered with by the government. The paper concludes that entrenchment of constitutional principle that will allow citizens in their respective constituencies the power to recall at any point in time any elected official who has been found by due process to corrupt, abuse or betray the people mandate.
Chapter one
Introduction
1.1Background of the study
Without a doubt, corruption has ruined the foundation and organization of the Nigerian state, making comprehensive progress impossible or at the very least illusory. Despite having enormous material and people resources, Nigeria is suffering at the bottom of the development scale (Dike, 2008). Without a question, issues of corruption and underdevelopment have dominated scholarly discourse (Omotoye, 2003, Bala, 2001, Agbiboa, 2010, Mustapha, 2008). This is true because corruption has a detrimental effect on a country’s overall advancement and development. Therefore, suffice it to say that corruption, particularly in the fourth republic where it is rising, is the cankerworm and cog in the wheels of Nigeria’s progress in the post-independence era.
The definition of corruption is the use of public office for personal gain, or, alternatively, the use of an office holder’s official position, rank, or standing for the profit of the individual. Following from this definition, examples of corrupt behaviour would include: (a) bribery, (b) extortion, (c) fraud, (d) embezzlement, (e) nepotism, (f) cronyism, (g) appropriation of public assets and property for private use, and (h) influence peddling
Corruption is a far bigger problem than just a moral one. It undercuts democracy and public services. It poses a threat to society as a whole when people must pay bribes to obtain healthcare or fair policing, or when contracts are given to those who do. By directing funds to dishonest politicians, businesses, and their agents, corruption wastes tax dollars. By purchasing judgments that serve the interests of the wealthy and powerful elite, it perverts decisions made on public policy. It embezzles money from nations and deposits it in tax havens for the benefit of criminals (Steve Mitchell, 2008)
One set of issues relates to how much each public official requests bribes from the general populace in order to give the service to which they are legally authorized. Thus, public services are compromised. It must be eliminated by putting in place workplace policies, including compensation, that reduce the temptations to corruption and increase the rewards for moral behavior.
The more serious issues relate to the corrupt networks of top officials, lawmakers, and local and international corporations. These systems’ core components are privatizations and government contracts. Policies that support privatization also foster an environment that is most conducive to corruption. (2003) Hellman
A common misconception about corruption is that it exclusively affects developing nations. The countries themselves are criticised for having weak “cultures” that accept corruption. This is in contrast to the facts demonstrating that the vast majority of people across all nations have a great intolerance for corrupt behaviors (Michael Johnston, 2005)
Ending corruption involves political and public organizing to hold political leaders accountable and to demand that they represent the public interest, not the interest of wealthy individuals and influential corporations. Key components of this include transparency, accountability, and public engagement, as well as robust and independent auditing systems and courts ready to prosecute, penalize, and outlaw corrupt businesses and politicians (Kaufmann, 2010)
Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa, is rich in natural and human resources and has a population of over 150 million. Nigeria was a leader in the production of agricultural goods such groundnuts, palm oil, cocoa, cotton, beans, lumber, and hides and skins at the time of her political independence on October 1, 1960. Then, during the 1970s oil boom, Nigeria gained notoriety for its oil wealth as a nation with abundant oil and natural gas resources that could finance a number of significant projects to meet basic consumption and development demands (Salisu, 200:2). With a per capita income of roughly $1,100 in the late 1970s, Nigeria was recognized as the Sub-Saharan African nation with the quickest rate of growth (Salisu, Ibid). But it persists. Yet it remains predominantly underdeveloped due to the scourge of corruption that has corroded it.
The basic means of subsistence are taken away from the average citizen by corruption, which also worsens unemployment and damages our reputation as a country and as individuals (Danjuma Goje 2010). With a per capita income of $340, Nigeria today ranks among the least developed nations in the World Bank League Table, undermining its ability to grow economically and prosper (Salusi, op.cit). Nigeria’s higher education system, which was formerly thought to be the best in Sub-Saharan Africa, is in serious trouble.
The crime rate is growing, graduate unemployment is horrendously high, and health services are terribly inadequate (Salisu, Ibid). This pervasive culture of corruption poses a threat to grassroots development since it is so pervasive at the national level. It has contributed significantly to the widespread failure of local governance and used as justification for suspending representative institutions (Humes and Ola, N.D: 104). Corrupt actions have been harmful not just because they take money intended for public use and put it in private pockets, but also because they weaken local governance.
1.2 Statement of the problem
Numerous economic reforms programs were put together by different Nigerian administrations in an effort to reverse these nasty trends of corruption in the public sector, particularly in the state of Bayelsa. For instance, the Babangida administration introduced the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) in 1986 to address the fundamental and structural imbalances in the economy, strengthen the currency, and construct a viable, sustainable industrial infrastructure that can serve as the foundation for real economic growth and development. The Abacha Administration unveiled the reform plan known as Vision 2010 in 1998.
“Develop a blue print that will alter the country and firmly establish it on the path to become a developed nation by year 2010” was the stated goal (vision 2010 Report 1998). The Obasanjo Administration again proposed the NEEDS reform package in 2004. The National Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) initiative was based on four main strategies (NEEDS, 2004): – Reforming Institutions and the Government Growing the private sector; putting a social charter into effect; and reorienting values The Yar’ Adua administration unveiled a seven-point agenda for fostering national development in 2007. In 2011, the Transformation Agenda was developed by the Goodluck government. The Buhari-led administration returned to office in 2015 with a change agenda and a policy focus on reducing public sector corruption as a cure-all for better economic transformation. The overarching goal of all these reforms is for Nigeria to be among the world’s 20 most developed nations by the year 2020. Nigeria is remains primarily underdeveloped despite all these reforms and transformations, which are caused by the epidemic of economic and financial swindling and a lack of political commitment from the government to combat corruption (Adenuga 2001; Sorunke 2013). It is against this back drop that this study seeks to analyze the impact of corruption on the development of the public sector in Nigeria.
1.3 Objective of the study
The main objective of the study is to find out corruption and underdevelopment in Nigeria public service. The specific objectives are;
- To investigate the causes of corruption in Nigeria public service
- To determine the impact of corruption on the Nigerian public service
- To determine the relationship between corruption and under development
1.4 Research Question
The following research questions are formulated to guide the study;
- What are the causes of corruption in Nigeria public service?
- What is the impact of corruption on the Nigeria public service
- What is the relationship between corruption and underdevelopment in Nigeria public service
1.5 Research Hypotheses
The following research hypotheses are formulated to guide the study;
H1: There are no causes of corruption in Nigeria public service
H2: There is no impact of corruption on the Nigeria public service
H3: There is no relationship between corruption and underdevelopment in Nigeria public service
1.6 Significance of the study
The significance of this study lies in the fact that it will serve as a guide to both policy planners, implementators on the mechanisms of I checkmating excessive abuse of power by public office holders in Nigeria public service. Equally, this will help in bringing good policies that will yield to the completion of projects embarked upon by the Ministries. It shall further stress the model for integration into development paradigm of the country. The work shall be an academic contribution on rural integration and development administration. It will become a stimuli and basis for future research in the field. This work will also serve as a foremost recorded document in its entirety. Scholars, policy planners and implementators including the general public whose aim geared toward improving their research desire as well as transforming the society will find the work relevant.
1.7 Scope of the study
The study will covers corruption and underdevelopment in Nigeria public service. The study will be limited to Bayelsa state public service
1.8 Definition of terms
Corruption: Corruption is a form of dishonesty or a criminal offense which is undertaken by a person or an organization which is entrusted in a position of authority, in order to acquire illicit benefits or abuse power for one’s personal gain.
Underdevelopment: Underdevelopment, in the context of international development, reflects a broad condition or phenomena defined and critiqued by theorists in fields such as economics, development studies, and postcolonial studies
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