ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ANTI-CORRUPTION INSTITUTIONS IN THE FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVICE OF NIGERIA
ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ANTI-CORRUPTION INSTITUTIONS IN THE FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVICE OF NIGERIA
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Date
2011-10
Authors
MUSA, IDRIS
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
One of the major challenges of governance in Nigeria is corruption especially in
the public realm. In response to this challenge, the Federal Government
established the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent
Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Code of
Conduct Bureau (CCB) to combat corruption and promote transparency and
accountability. Over the years however, the fight against corruption seems not to
have achieved the desired result in view of the rising incidence of corruption as
indicated by Transparency and International’s Corruption Perceptions Index for
the country among others. The major objective of the study was to assess the
effectiveness of the anti-corruption institutions in combating corruption in the
Federal Public Service of Nigeria for the period 1999 – 2009. Specifically, the study
intended to; determine the degree of autonomy of the anti-corruption institutions,
ascertain the level of effectiveness of corruption reporting system in the public
service and determine the level of enforcement of punishments for corruption
offences and how each of these variables have affected the effectiveness of the
anti-corruption institutions. Both primary and secondary data were sourced. These
were presented and analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistical
methods. The study revealed inter alia that; the activities of the institutions were
severely constrained by undue political interference, especially the EFCC. Both the
ICPC and CCB were not adequately funded and that they all lacked financial
autonomy. The study also discovered that the trial of suspects for corruption
offences have been slow, while punishments for corruption offences were mild.
The corruption reporting system in the federal public service was also found to be
ineffective. The anti-corruption institutions were found to be ineffective in fighting
corruption in the Federal Public Service. The study concludes that the degree of
autonomy of the anti-corruption institutions, level of effectiveness of corruption
reporting in the Public Service and the level of enforcement of punishments for
corruption offences have all affected the effectiveness of the anti-corruption
institutions in combating corruption in the Federal Public Service. The study
recommended among others for exercise of greater political will to free the anticorruption
institutions from political interference, adequate funding of the ICPC
and CCB, greater financial autonomy to all the institutions and the timely passage
of the freedom of Information Bill into an Act to facilitate detecting and reporting
of corruption offences. Others include legal reform, compulsory Public declaration
of assets and liabilities of Public Servants, and severe punishments for corruption
offences in the Federal Public Service.
Description
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
NIGERIA.
Keywords
ASSESSMENT,, EFFECTIVENESS,, ANTI-CORRUPTION,, INSTITUTIONS,, FEDERAL,, PUBLIC,, SERVICES,, NIGERIA.