Corruption permeates all facets of the Nigerian society. It degenerates and permeates every sector in Nigeria, because those who are in the right place to help get rid of it are themselves the most corrupt. They are politicians, elites and the bourgeoisie, who have institutionalised corruption.
This study appraises the level of corruption that obtains in Nigerian tertiary institutions, which continuously degenerates across times, as it seems to have defied practical solutions. That is, it aims to ascertain the level of corruption in these institutions. It relates the corruption obtained in tertiary institutions to that of the Nigerian polity, from where it sprang to the institutions. It conceptualises corruption, along with the conceptions of several other scholars. It makes distinction between elitist (institutionalised/formalised) corruption and that of the common masses, a derivation and minor/micro-phase of the former. The study thus interrogates the inefficacy of the various anti-corruption crusades and programmes of the various Nigerian governments, both military regime and civilian dispensation alike. The effects of corruption on Nigeria and Nigerians also constitute its scope. It attempts a trace of corruption, which it asserts to have risen during the colonial era. It also tells why corruption permeates Nigerian tertiary institutions, and why it degenerates in the institutions as well as other sectors of the country.
Being a position paper, it involves text-content analysis, qualitative approach, intuition and the non-participant observation. Its offered recommendations include ensuring of good leadership; the evolving and imbibing of the multi-dimensional syndromes of ethics; strong and operational legislations and penalties against all categories of offenders without sparing any sacred cows; and attitudinal change by both government and the citizenry are the panacea.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Concept of Corruption
3. Theoretical Background
4. Effects of Corruption on Nigerian Society
5. Why Corruption Degenerates and Permeates Deeper in Nigeria and the Tertiary Institutions
6. Recommendation
7. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper aims to appraise the level of corruption within Nigerian tertiary institutions, investigating whether it is high or low, and analyzing its relationship with the broader pervasive institutionalized corruption in the Nigerian polity. It seeks to interrogate the inefficacy of anti-corruption programs and explore why these practices continue to degrade educational and social sectors.
- Institutionalized corruption within the Nigerian political and educational elite.
- Distinction between elite-driven corruption and the struggles of the common masses.
- Ineffectiveness of government anti-corruption crusades and military regimes.
- Socio-economic impact of corruption on national development and institutional integrity.
- Examination malpractices and the decay of academic standards.
Excerpt from the Book
Why Corruption Degenerates and Permeates Deeper in Nigeria and the Tertiary Institutions
Corruption degenerates and permeates deep into Nigerian tertiary institutions because it has been institutionalised therein too, like in the polity and all other sectors of the nation. All the plagues inflicted on academics constitute the rousing factors for most loose and indiscipline ones to take to corrupt practices. For instance, staffs of tertiary institutions, who are owed months of salary, have their salaries slated or deliberately delayed, and all industrial actions by Labour, ASUU, ASUP, etc. are futile, are most likely tempted to take to sharp practices. In the words of Aper and Iorhemen (2015:37), lecturers and authorities contribute largely to corruption in institutions of higher learning in various ways. To that, we note that the case is not quite different in other institutions of learning– secondary and primary anyway.
Abject poverty prompts individuals do what they would never ordinarily do. Odo (2012:10) aptly puts it ‘The citizens are forced to follow what would have otherwise been considered unacceptable ways and those who resist are punished.’ Poverty has also made corruption permeates deep into Nigerian tertiary institutions. Teachers/lecturers in Nigeria are one set of the poorest. They are found in a sector that only the least budget is assigned to. The academia has got in deep touch with stinky corruption of politicians. Most of them have soiled their hands. Some are agents of the unscrupulous corrupt politicians. Internal academic politics these days is most often than not bloody.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Provides an overview of corruption as a persistent, institutionalized issue in Nigeria that affects all sectors, including the political elite and academic institutions.
2. The Concept of Corruption: Examines various scholarly definitions of corruption, distinguishing between moral failings and the systemic abuse of ethics and laws by state agents.
3. Theoretical Background: Adopts the Dialectical Materialist approach to argue that corruption is a structural product of a neo-colonial, dependent capitalist system that benefits a privileged few.
4. Effects of Corruption on Nigerian Society: Discusses the multifaceted and grave impacts of corruption on national development, including its role in undermining democracy, the economy, and the rule of law.
5. Why Corruption Degenerates and Permeates Deeper in Nigeria and the Tertiary Institutions: Analyzes how systemic corruption manifests in universities through exam malpractices, bribery, and exploitation of both staff and students.
6. Recommendation: Proposes urgent measures such as the promotion of good leadership, ethical re-orientation, and the establishment of independent, strong institutions to combat corruption.
7. Conclusion: Summarizes that corruption is an endemic, all-involving issue that requires collective attitudinal change and the removal of "sacred cows" to restore integrity to Nigerian society.
Keywords
Corruption, High level, Effects, Tertiary institutions, Institutionalized corruption, Nigeria, Socio-economic, Political elite, Governance, Academic malpractice, Poverty, Development, Ethics, Dialectical Materialism, Anti-corruption.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this publication?
The work examines the high levels of institutionalized corruption in Nigeria and how this phenomenon has permeated and degraded the country's tertiary educational institutions.
What are the central thematic areas?
Key themes include institutionalized corruption, the influence of political elites, the decay of educational standards, economic stagnation, and the failures of past anti-corruption efforts.
What is the primary research goal?
The study aims to determine the extent of corruption in Nigerian tertiary institutions and to relate it back to the pervasive corruption within the Nigerian political system.
Which scientific approach is utilized in this paper?
The research employs a qualitative approach, utilizing text-content analysis, intuition, non-participant observation, and the Dialectical Materialist theoretical framework.
What core topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers the conceptualization of corruption, the historical roots of Nigerian political corruption, the severe implications for national development, and specific academic corrupt practices like exam malpractices.
How can one define the most important keywords of the work?
The work is primarily defined by terms related to corruption, its systemic impacts on Nigerian society, and the specific context of institutional collapse within tertiary education.
How does the author characterize the role of the Nigerian political elite?
The author identifies the political elite as the primary drivers of corruption who maintain "sacred cows," create "corruption immunity," and utilize anti-corruption crusades as mere political propaganda.
What connection does the paper draw between lecturers and corruption?
The paper argues that lecturers are pushed towards corruption due to poor working conditions, poverty, and an environment where political corruption has become the accepted norm.
What specific impact does corruption have on the educational system?
Corruption manifests as "sorting," sex-for-grades scandals, and leaked examination papers, ultimately leading to the production of under-qualified and "half-baked" graduates.
- Quote paper
- Odey Robert (Author), Godfrey Atunu Dibie (Author), 2017, The High Level of Corruption in Nigerian Tertiary Institutions. The Rising Menace of Degenerating Corruption in Nigerian Schools, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/375879
