AN ASSESSMENT OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT BUREAU AND CODE OF CONDUCT TRIBUNAL (CCB and CCT)’S PUBLIC ETHICS PRACTICES (1999 - 2007)

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Date
2012-12
Authors
AUDU, Jacob
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Abstract
The prevalence and ubiquity of unethical behaviours and practices in Nigeria is no longer debatable considering their obviously insidious plague and a wide range of corrosive effects on the Nigerian state. What is more perplexing, however, is why this problem has defied all attempts at combating it. Thus, this dissertation is an assessment of the Code of Conduct Bureau and the Code of Conduct Tribunal in the practice of public ethics in Nigeria’s democratic governance (1999-2007). In order to achieve this aim, the constitutional mandates of the Bureau and the Tribunal were used as parameters for assessment. Relying on the survey method of research and documentary evidence with the aid of descriptive statistics, the study found out that the CCB and CCT were established primarily to promote public ethics in public service. Other findings show that in terms of Assets Declaration Forms(ADFs) issued to public officers within the mandate of the Bureau, over 784,000 public officers returned the Completed Assets Declaration forms(CADFs) representing over 70% rate of return which is a far cry from an estimation that eligible people for the forms are over 4,000,000 within the periods under investigation (1999-2007) Also findings shows that out of the number of complaints received by the CCT, only 11,640 were referred to the CCT for trials, out of which only 3,304. The rest were either adjourned until it died down or struck out for lack of merit. With the prevalent nature of this menace and the number of convicts, it is a clear manifestation of ineffectiveness of the CCB and CCT. On the fourth objective of the study, which focuses on the performance assessment of the CCB and CCT, overwhelming majority of the respondents had indicated that the CCB and CCT had performed below expectation; but considering the efforts made at organizing workshops, retreat and the extent to which public officer on their come to fill, complete and submit Assets Declaration Forms today unlike in the past and the fact that some officers were tried and given a public show means they deserve a pass mark. The study, in agreement with the theoretical postulation of functionalism identified institutional framework, financial, manpower in terms of quality and quantity, legal and constitutional set back and lack of political commitment and willingness on the part of political leadership as factors responsible for the ineffective performance of their functions. This therefore buttressed the postulation of these scholars that establishing institutions alone does not solve the problem but providing what they referred to as functional prerequisites are very fundamental to effective performance of these institutions. However, we make the following recommendations for an improved performance. Theoretically, the study recommends that there is a need for the provision of the necessary requirements for the functioning of the institutions such as adequate funding, staffing, independence of the institutions to enable them function well. Above all, political leadership must display leadership by example at all levels of governance.
Description
A Dissertation submitted to the Post Graduate School, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Political Science. December, 2012
Keywords
ASSESSMENT,, CODE OF CONDUCT BUREAU,, CODE OF CONDUCT TRIBUNAL (CCB and CCT)’S,, PUBLIC ETHICS PRACTICES (1999 - 2007).
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