1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background of the Study
Corruption has become a household word in the Nigerian society. It pervades all strata of society, from the highest levels of the political and business elites to the ordinary person in the village. There are divergent opinions on what constitutes corruption just as is commonly the case with other concepts in the Social Sciences. This according to Akindele (1995) has long been ideologically, morally, culturally, politically and intellectually elusive to the point of losing sight of its detrimental and parasitic influence on people and the society at large. Divindi citing Aluko (2002) argued that corruption includes nepotism, favouritism, bribery, graft and other unfair means adopted by government employees and the public alike to extract some socially and legally prohibited favours.
However, there is the need for a legal and or formal institution to at least help to ensure meaningful socio-economic and national development.
Thus, the foundation for meaningful socio-economic and national development in any society is hinged on state of security, which is to be strictly monitored by the civil police.
In Nigeria like in many other nations, the police have been the major organization charged with the responsibility of maintenance and preservation of public peace. Effective Police force is therefore necessary in every society for maintenance of peace in that society, as effective Police force will make sure that all members of the community are safeguarded in their persons and properties so that their energies are not exhausted by the business of self-protection (Ehindero, 1986).
The above implies that, maintenance of peace does not only entail the protection of life and property but also embraces the prevention and detection of crime; the apprehension of the offenders and the due enforcement of all laws and regulations with which they are directly charged with. The assumption here is that, effective execution of the above-mentioned functions is tied to the smooth running of daily activities in every society, be it economic, social and political.
The Nigerian Police as an entity is confronted by a lot of problems which invariably affect their efficient and effective functioning. Despite all the shortcomings, Police is often considered a necessary evil as people were prepared to put up with occasional excesses in hope of achieving a degree of order and security. At the same time, one cannot ignore the hues and cries that permeate the entire country over the perceived corruption of Nigerian Police.
There has been widespread concern over the state of insecurity and seemingly inability of the Police to deal with the problems. In response to this, there were several calls for reform of the Police in order to achieve the objective for its establishment. The political crises of the 1960s and 1980s in Nigeria have raised serious questions about the quality and fairness of Police performance. Other factors such as increasing crime rates, Police corruption, Police militancy/brutality and cost (both human and material) of policing the community have served to keep issues of police reform alive.
In virtually every parts of the country, people tend to look elsewhere for alternative sources of protection for their lives and properties. Many prefer to keep any information that is vital for crime prevention to themselves. Many have resorted to jungle justices. It is in the light of the above that the research therefore focuses on the effect of corruption in public sector with an in-depth emphasis on Nigerian Police.
1.2 Statement of Research Problems
Corruption has become a socio-economic malaise, which has infiltrated the whole Nigerian society and has constituted serious impediment to development. Apart from economic and material effect, corruption also has political implications and constitutes direct threat to the legitimacy of government and leaders. It does not only constitute a drain on limited government/societal resources which could have been utilized for other more profitable ventures in the economy, it also gives a country a bad reputation and may mar her diplomatic image and scare investors.
With particular reference to the Nigerian Police Force, the public confidence and trust which was already low and has become virtually destroyed, scholars have asserted that the perceived ineffectiveness is occasioned basically by the incidence of corruption within the Police force (Soyombo, 2003). The incidence of corruption according to them has gradually infiltrated and overwhelmed the entire Police system to the extent that their constitutional right to prevent and maintain law and order has gradually become weak and their effectiveness questioned.
In view of this, what is the future of the Nigeria state if the Police are corrupt? How can we build the state Police that is devoid of corruption? How can the Nigerian Police be reorganized in order to be free of corruption?
1.3 Research Questions
- What is the extent of corruption within the Nigerian Police?
- What are the factors responsible for corrupt practices among the Nigerian Police personnel?
- What effects is corruption having on their primary duty of maintenance of law and order?
- What are veritable steps to ensure total reorganization and proper reorientation of Police Force in Nigeria?
1.4 Objectives of Study
The general objective of this work is to understand the effect of corruption on Police's primary responsibility of maintenance of law and order.
Specific Objectives
- To examine the factor(s) that is/are responsible for the prevailing corruption within the Police?
- To investigate the level of corruption within the Nigerian Police.
- To examine the effect of corrupt practices on how the Police could carry out its primary task of maintenance of law and order.
1.5 Scope of the Work
The research work is limited to Nigerian Police Owerri and its scope is on the understanding of effect of corruption on Nigerian's Public Sector.
1.6 Significance of the Study
The essence of undertaking this research is to assess the effect of corruption in Nigerian Police, since escalation of crime in Nigeria has been attributed to corruption-induced ineffectiveness of the Police, the fear of insecurity will create uneasiness in the country.
This has economic implications on the society as it leads to low productivity on the part of the individual. The understanding of environmental factors that influence prevalence of corruption among the Police officials will enhance the governmental policies aimed at fighting corruption in Nigeria. Furthermore, it will contribute to the existing knowledge by serving as baseline data for those who intend to make further studies on corrupt practices among the Police and its impacts on their traditional roles in the society.
1.7 Limitation of the Study
It is necessary to highlight some of the problems that i encountered in the course of carrying out this research work which includes;
Inadequate fund:
This made the project a problematic one, hence as a student without a good +financial base struggled in collection of data for the project, and high cost of transportation in running to and fro, from one library to another. It was so difficult combining my assignment work with this project.
Insufficient Material:
This is another problem I encountered in the course of this work, going from libraries, internet, newspapers, magazines, journals, tertiary institution, textbooks and lectures, consultations before I could come up with the materials on the topic and all these involved money.
Non-chalant Attitude and Unwillingness:
it is another problem on this research work, the respondents were unable to give out some vital information needed either for the fear of being implicated or not to disclose the secret of the establishment.
1.8 Definition of Terms
Accountability:
This is proposals for greater police accountability.
Corruption:
Mean dishonest or illegal behavior especially of people in authority.
Corruption:
Mean dishonest or illegal behavior especially of people in authority.
Police force:
A body of trained officers entrusted by a government with maintenance of public peace and order, enforcement of laws and prevention and detection of crime.
Public Sector:
This refers to all members of all public institutions, financed and maintained by the tax payers, and the involvements of whose members regularly authorized by the legislature acting in concert with the execution.
Public:
Connected with ordinary people in society general.
Organization:
A group of people who form a business club, etc together in order to achieve a particular aim.
