CHAPTER 1----INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The civil service constitutes the arm of government involved in the interpretation and implementation of government policies and programs. Its workforce constitutes a large segment of the working population. Therefore, their efficiency and performance is significant to the development of the nation. However, the decline in moral values in the service is due to the high level of corrupt practices which have engulf the sector as a result of corrupt politician who head this government ministries and parastatals. The implementation of many economic reforms by government as a means to rebuild the economy has exacted severe economic downturn on the citizen as well as on the civil servants. This as a result has led to many sharp practices by civil servant to make extra earning to meet the cost of daily living in the country. Therefore, corruption which is viewed as the misuse of public office, authority, or resources from the intended purpose to satisfy personal needs for private gain has escalated in recent times, Thereby, requiring urgent measures to eradicate the menace. The government of Nigeria in a respond to fight corruption has instituted measures and policies. This anti-corruption policies ranges from the setting up of the anticraft agency-EFCC, the introduction of the single treasury account, banking reforms policies to check fraud, Economic reforms, foreign exchanges policies and devaluation of the currency etc. The devaluation of the national currency resulted in the value of the naira going down from 0.75 kobo per 1 US dollar to N360 per 1 dollar leading to increase in the prices of goods and high inflation in the economy. The anti-corruption campaign led to the introduction of market reform, deregulation, privatization, and other forms of economic policies to revive the economy. This policies undermined the sanctity and independence of the civil service and exact negative inflationary effects lead to poverty and economic downturn. Consequently, there is the need to revive the civil service to perform optimally as the development index is determined by the productivity level and quality of its civil service.
The study seeks to investigate the effect of anti-corruption policy on the Nigerian civil service.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The level of corruption has exacted untold hardship on the citizens. Corruption which was mainly attributed to politicians has found it strength into the civil service due to the influence exacted into it by corrupt politicians. The challenges faced in the economy due to economic downturn constitute significant reason why many civil servants indulge in sharp corrupt practices. Many of the policies implemented by government undermined the sanctity and independence of the civil service and exact negative inflationary effects lead to poverty and economic downturn. However, the government in its effort to eradicate the ills of corruption has instituted and pursued vigorously policies which have not yielded significant result in the fight. Corruption is viewed as the misuse of public office, authority, or resources from the intended purpose to satisfy personal needs for private gain. Corruption involving appointed civil servants has escalated in recent times thereby requiring urgent measures to eradicate the menace. The problem confronting the study is to investigate the effect of anti- corruption policy on the Nigerian civil service.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The main objective of the study is to investigate the effect of anti- corruption policy on the Nigerian civil service. The specific objectives of the study include;
- To determine the level of corruption in the civil service.
- To appraise the anti- corruption policy of government.
- To determine the effect of anti- corruption policy on the Nigerian civil service.
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
- What is the level of corruption in the civil service?
- What constitute the anti- corruption policy of government?
- What constitute the effect of anti- corruption policy on the Nigerian civil service?
1.4 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
Ho1: There is no significant effect of the anti-corruption policy on the Nigerian civil service.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study shall proffer relevant information on the effect of anti- corruption policy on the civil service.
It shall serve useful purpose to government policy makers.
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study focuses on the appraisal of the effect of anti- corruption policy on the Nigerian civil service.
1.6 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The researcher was confronted with both logistics and geographical constraints.
1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS
CORRUPTION DEFINED.
Corruption is viewed as the misuse of public office, authority, or resources from the intended purpose to satisfy personal needs for private gain.
CIVIL SERVICE DEFINED
The civil service constitutes the arm of government involved in the interpretation and implementation of government policies and programs.
