Intersection Detailing Chapter Five
Intersection Detailing Chapter Five
BY:
MATHIAS LYDIA
MATRIC NO: 2021/142876BP
SUBMITTED TO:
OCTOBER, 2023
i
DECLARATION
I hereby declare that this project work entitled “The Effects of Corruption on Poor Service
Delivery in The Public Service of Nigeria (A Study of Bida Local Government Area)” has
been prepared by me and under the guidance of Mr. Sabo Micah, Department of Public
in partial fulfillment for the award of Higher National Diploma in Public Administration.
I also declare that this project is the outcome of my own effort, that it has not been submitted to
any other Higher Institution of Learning for the award of any Higher Certificate. Information
ii
CERTIFICATION
GOVERNMENT AREA)” by MATHIAS LYDIA with Matric No: 2021/142876BP meets the
regulation governing the award of Higher National Diploma of Federal Polytechnic Bida, and its
iii
DEDICATION
iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
My profound gratitude goes to God Almighty for His endless mercies and grace, for the six years
spent in this institution and the successful completion of my Higher National Diploma program,
To my supervisor, Mr. Sabo Micah, you more than just a supervisor to me, you were a father, a
friend and a guardian to me. Thanks for your relentless efforts towards me; for you love and
support, for being there for me when the wind of life was boisterous against me, I want to say a
To the Head of Department of Public Administration Mr. Abdulrahman Ahmed Shuaibu and the
entire lecturers, words are never enough to say how grateful for the knowledge you all have
impacted me with. You all are part of my success story and that story is never complete until
To my mother Mrs. Margret Mathias who never relented in her support and dedication in
ensuring that I emerge as a graduate in my field of study, with a deep heart of appreciation, I
To Mr /Mrs Hillary Isah for always coming through for me financially and to my siblings,
blessing, Elizabeth, Sarah, Mercy, Emmanuel and Favour, and Mr. Moses Momoh for all your
love and support I'm truly grateful to God for giving me an amazing family like you all. Thank
y'all so much, May God bless you all for your love, prayers and support, I love y'all.
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ABSTRACT
Corruption had remained a persistent issue in Nigeria, particularly in local and state
governments, with Bida, situated in Niger State, being no exception. Reports of corruption
scandals had impeded effective public service delivery, resulting in inadequate provision of
basic services. Despite existing literature on corruption's impact on service delivery in Nigeria,
a research gap had existed concerning the extent of corruption in Bida, Niger State, and its
effect on public service delivery. This research aimed to investigate the forms of corruption
exhibited in Bida Local Government Administration from 2015 to 2022, explore how corruption
affected service delivery in the public sector of Bida Local Government, and identify measures to
combat corruption and improve service delivery. The study's population consisted of 150
government employees in Bida Local Government Council, and it addressed various aspects of
corruption within this context, encompassing its root causes, impact on public service delivery,
and potential recommendations. Root causes of corruption encompassed internal control issues,
political interference, cultural norms, and job dissatisfaction, with respondents' opinions
varying. Corruption was found to have hindered efficient public service delivery, negatively
affecting the quality and efficiency of services. Specific public services most affected by
corruption were identified. Respondents widely supported recommendations such as
strengthening internal controls, mitigating political interference, promoting a culture of
integrity, addressing job dissatisfaction, and implementing anti-corruption measures from
successful organizations. In conclusion, this study underscored the need to address specific
issues within Bida Local Government Council to combat corruption and improve service
delivery while maintaining public trust. The recommendations provided offered a roadmap for
enhancing governance, accountability, and public service quality in Bida, Niger State.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page..........................................................................................................................................i
Declaration......................................................................................................................................ii
Certification....................................................................................................................................iii
Dedication.......................................................................................................................................iv
Acknowledgement...........................................................................................................................v
Abstract...........................................................................................................................................vi
Table of Contents...........................................................................................................................vii
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study........................................................................................................1
1.2 Statement of the Problem.......................................................................................................3
1.3 Research Questions................................................................................................................4
1.4 Objectives of the Study..........................................................................................................4
1.5 Statement of Hypotheses.......................................................................................................5
1.6 Justification of the Study.......................................................................................................5
1.7 Scope and Limitations of the Study.......................................................................................5
1.8 Conceptual Definitions..........................................................................................................6
1.9 Chapter Presentation..............................................................................................................6
References........................................................................................................................................8
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Historical Background of the Study......................................................................................9
2.2 Review of Related Literature...............................................................................................10
2.2.1 Concept of Corruption......................................................................................................11
2.2.2 Concept of Service Delivery.............................................................................................12
2.2.3 Concept of Local Government..........................................................................................13
2.3 The Multi-Dimensional Concept of Local Government......................................................14
2.4 Corruption in Nigerian Local Government Administration.................................................16
2.4.1 Types of Corruption that Occur in Local Government.....................................................20
2.4.2 Demographic Factors Causing Corruption.......................................................................21
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2.5 Reasons for the Establishment of Local Governments........................................................23
2.6 Roles of Local Government:................................................................................................25
2.7 Corruption and Service Delivery in Nigeria's Local Government System..........................26
2.8 Theoretical Framework (Principal Agent Theory)...............................................................27
References......................................................................................................................................30
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Sources of Data Collection..................................................................................................32
3.2 Research Population and Sampling.....................................................................................32
3.2.2 Sampling Techniques........................................................................................................32
3.3 Validity and Reliability of Research Instruments................................................................33
3.4 Methods of Data Presentation and Analysis........................................................................33
3.5 Methods of Testing Hypotheses...........................................................................................34
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
4.1 Data Presentation and Analysis...........................................................................................35
4.1.1 Background Characteristics of the Respondents..............................................................35
4.1.2 Root Causes and Contributing Factors of Corruption......................................................37
4.1.3 Impact of Corruption on Public Service Delivery............................................................40
4.1.4 Recommendations and Strategies.....................................................................................43
4.2 Test of Hypothesis...............................................................................................................45
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary of Findings..........................................................................................................50
5.2 Conclusion...........................................................................................................................51
5.3 Recommendations................................................................................................................52
Bibliography..................................................................................................................................54
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Corruption is a major challenge and threat to the long-term economic health of any country
Africa and other developing nations. Corruption discourages investment and trade, which can
reduce a country's wealth. According to Nageri, Umar, and Abdul (2013), corruption is one of
the biggest problems hindering Nigeria's economic development. This problem has persisted
across different historical periods, from pre-colonial times to the present (Nageri, Umar, &
Abdul, 2013).
Corruption involves seeking to acquire wealth or power dishonestly for personal gain at the
expense of the public good, or abusing one's position of public trust for private gain
(Abdulwaheed & Ohida, 2022). It affects different aspects of society, including the economy,
government, society, or culture. According to Ajao, Dada, and Olaoye (2013), corruption can be
assessed based on the pervasive orientation in a given society that dictates how people ought to
act in relation to other people and the economy, politics, and culture.
Political corruption, as defined by the World Bank and Transparency International (TI), is any
form of dishonesty that undermines the established political order (Ajao, Dada, & Olaoye, 2013).
Corrupt practices in governance and other sectors primarily harm the poor and distort public
policy (Abdulwaheed & Ohida, 2022; Ajao et al., 2013). Therefore, tackling corruption is crucial
According to Abdulwaheed & Ohida (2022), citing Rao, corruption at the state and local
government levels cannot be eliminated as the state serves as a root or training school for all
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political leaders in the country. To ensure a comprehensive anti-corruption crusade in the
corruption at the state level are typically linked to public financial management among civil
servants and government personnel in general, which has led to the recent abandonment of
public projects and contributed to the economic retardation of the country (Abdulwaheed &
Ohida, 2022).
Public projects play a critical role in the political and economic progress of any nation or state as
they receive funding from the government with the intention that it will eventually be owned and
operated by that government on behalf of the general public. Buildings for drinking water,
and sports and recreation complexes are all examples of such endeavors (Nageri, Umar, &
Abdul, 2013). According to Ajao et al., (2013), public projects are defined by the World Bank as
a coordinated effort to improve a country's economic and social conditions. They argued that
public works projects should serve as "engines of growth and glue to economic development",
and therefore, public infrastructure is crucial to the economic development of any nation or state.
Public works projects are driven by the ever-increasing wants and possibilities of humanity.
Typically, governments start these projects and provide the funding necessary for their
completion, as the private sector may not be able to manage and administer such large-scale
projects (Oyinlola, 2018). Given the substantial funding required, it is the government's
responsibility to provide the necessary funding from generated revenue and ensure the prudent
However, due to Nigeria's cultural and linguistic diversity, various forms of corruption, such as
tribalism, nepotism, and favoritism, are common in the public sector (Oyinlola, 2018).
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There is a widespread perception that government projects are poorly managed, resulting in
budget and schedule overruns (Likpe & Henderson, 2016, p. 22). Corruption has been identified
as the primary cause of slow development in Nigeria (ICPC, 2022). While eradicating corruption
may be impossible, Lipsky (2010) argues that reducing it can increase the government's honesty
and reliability, allowing it to carry out its core responsibilities more effectively and fairly.
However, Ibietan (2013) asserts that Nigeria's punishments for serious offenses like corruption
are too lenient and do not deter criminals. He also notes that bureaucratic discretion, or the
authority to decide how policies should be implemented, is granted to public officials. However,
if this authority is abused, it can amount to corruption. The public bureaucracy plays a crucial
role in ensuring the equitable distribution and delivery of public goods and services. Yet a
corrupt bureaucracy can reduce the quality of government services and programs (Likpe &
Henderson, 2016).
The poor project management that leads to economic stagnation in Nigeria, Niger State and Bida
Corruption continues to be a pervasive issue in Nigeria, and the local and state governments are
corruption affecting both the local government and state abound in the media. This situation has
contributed to poor service delivery in the public sector, with citizens receiving inadequate
For instance, in 2021, the media reported that the former Chairman of Bida Local Government,
Mohammed Kuduru, was arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related
Offences Commission (ICPC) for allegedly misappropriating funds meant for the council's
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development. Also, there have been reports of embezzlement of funds meant for public projects
Several authors have studied the issue of corruption and its impact on public service delivery in
Nigeria. Okonkwo (2017) argues that corruption has been a significant barrier to effective public
service delivery, particularly at the local government level. Adegbite and Osabuohien (2016)
assert that corruption has negative effects on service delivery in Nigeria's public sector and slows
down the country's economic development. Similarly, Ogunrinde et al. (2019) found a significant
However, despite the existing literature on corruption and public service delivery in Nigeria,
there appears to be a research gap regarding the extent of corruption in the local government and
state in Bida, Niger State, and how it affects service delivery in the public sector. Therefore, this
study aims to explore the extent of corruption in the local government and state in Bida, Niger
1. What are the forms of corruption exhibited in Bida Local Government Administration
2. How does corruption affect service delivery in the public service of Bida Local
Government?
3. What measures can be implemented to curb corruption and improve service delivery in
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2. To assess the impact of corruption on service delivery in the public sector of Bida Local
Government.
3. To identify and evaluate measures that can effectively address and reduce corruption in
H0: There is no significant relationship between corruption and poor service delivery in the
H1: There is a significant relationship between corruption and poor service delivery in the public
H0: The implementation of measures to curb corruption will not lead to an improvement in
H1: The implementation of measures to curb corruption will lead to an improvement in service
Corruption in the public sector of Nigeria is a widespread and persistent problem that has
significant negative effects on economic growth, social welfare, and sustainable development.
Niger State, in particular, has been identified as one of the states with high levels of corruption in
the country. Bida, a local government area in Niger State, is not exempt from this problem.
Therefore, there is a need to investigate the issue of corruption in the public service of Bida,
Niger State, to understand its impact on service delivery and identify measures to address it. The
study aims to provide policymakers, public officials, and the general public with evidence-based
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1.7 Scope and Limitations of the Study
This study will focus on exploring the effect of corruption on poor service delivery in the public
service of Nigeria, specifically in Bida, Niger State. The study will investigate the causes and
effects of corruption on public service delivery from the year 2015 to 2022, as well as identify
the measures that can be taken to reduce corruption and improve service delivery. The study will
be limited to Bida, Niger State, and will not cover other areas of Nigeria or other countries.
Corruption: the abuse of public office for private gain, including bribery, embezzlement,
Service Delivery: the provision of public goods and services by the government to citizens,
Public Service: the sector of government responsible for providing public goods and services to
Accountability: the obligation of public officials to be answerable for their actions, decisions,
Transparency: the degree to which government activities, decisions, and policies are open and
Good Governance: the principles and practices that promote ethical, effective, and accountable
Public Trust: the confidence and belief that citizens have in the government to act in the best
interests of the public and to provide quality public goods and services.
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Economic Development: the process of improving the economic well-being and quality of life
of citizens through sustainable economic growth, job creation, poverty reduction, and other
measures.
Chapter One provides the introduction to the study, giving an overview of the research problem,
Chapter Two reviews the relevant literature on corruption in the public service and its effect on
service delivery in Nigeria. It also examines the theoretical frameworks that will guide the study.
Chapter Three presents the research methodology adopted for the study, including the research
design, population and sampling technique, data collection and analysis methods, and ethical
considerations.
Chapter Four presents the findings of the study, including the analysis of data collected from the
Chapter Five summarizes the study's findings, draws conclusions, and makes recommendations
based on the research objectives and questions. It also highlights the study's contributions,
7
References
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CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Bida, a traditional emirate and town located in Niger state, situated in west-central Nigeria, is
positioned alongside the Bako River, a minor tributary of the Niger River. It stands at the
crossroads of roads connecting Jebba, Zungeru, and Agaie. Originally a modest settlement
inhabited by the Beni people, a subset of the Nupe ethnic group, Bida was captured around 1531
by Tsoede (Edegi), who founded the Nupe kingdom and became its inaugural etsu Nupe, or
"king of the Nupe people." In 1806, Fulani warriors conquered the Nupe kingdom, assimilating
its central region into the Nupe emirate within the Fulani empire. Emir Usman Zaki, in 1835,
declared himself etsu Nupe and designated Bida as the new emirate capital, succeeding the
former capital at Raba (Rabba), located 67 miles (110 km) to the west.
The construction of Bida's town wall, which currently encloses an area of 5 square miles (13
square km), commenced during the 1850s. During Emir Masaba's second reign (1859–73), Bida
flourished as the dominant kingdom in central Nigeria, witnessing the establishment of three
royal palaces, the central mosque, and the night market. Trade ties with the British Royal Niger
Company were established in 1871, but disputes over trade and slave dealings led to British
military action against the Nupe people, resulting in the defeat of the Fulani army in Bida in
1897. British occupation followed in 1901 after the Nupe reinstated the deposed Fulani emir.
Under British rule, the Nupe emirate became known as the Bida emirate and was integrated into
9
the newly created Niger province in 1908. The emir of Bida resides in a palace located outside
In the contemporary era, Bida is renowned for its artisanal crafts, particularly brass and copper
goblets, metal items, glass beads and bangles, raffia products like hats and mats, and locally dyed
cotton and silk fabrics. Craftsmen operate individually within distinctive wards, organized into
close-knit guilds. The predominantly Nupe population of Bida primarily lives in traditional mud
houses grouped into customary compounds. The town serves as a primary collection point for
swamp rice cultivated in the floodplains of the Niger and Kaduna rivers. Bida is also engaged in
the trade of various agricultural products including yams, sorghum, millet, shea nuts, tobacco,
cotton, peanuts, palm oil and kernels, onions, indigo, sugarcane, fruits, goats, sheep, and pottery.
Bida hosts a federal polytechnic and other educational institutions, contributing to its modern
landscape.
(Akindele & Adeyemi, 2011) posits that for financially independent local governments to exist,
responsibilities and functions must be allocated in accordance with their taxing power and ability
to generate funds internally. The Nigerian 1999 constitution attempts to do this by granting each
tier of government stipulated powers in this regard. These measures, coupled with a review of
revenue sharing, the granting of fiscal autonomy and fiscal discipline as well as making local
government responsive, responsible and accountable to the people will set local government free
from the fiscal stress promoted and strengthened by the 1999 constitution.
According to the 1976 local government reforms, local government is the government at the
local level, exercised through representative council established by law to exercise specific
powers within a defined area. These powers would give the council substantial control over local
10
affairs as well as the staff and also institutional and financial powers to initiate and direct the
provision of services and determine the activities of the state and federal government in their
areas, and ensure through devolution of functions to these councils and through the active
participation of the people and their traditional institutions, that local initiative and response to
According to research presented by Nagari, Guru, and Abdul (2013), corruption significantly
undermines democracies by undermining their electoral processes, subverting the rule of law,
spawning bureaucratic traps, and discouraging FDI. When corruption permeates the democratic
institutions of a state, not only will that country be politically and economically stagnant, but it
will also be a political backwater. While Adebayo (2011) acknowledges that corruption exists
everywhere, he argues that in Nigeria it is more pervasive and has longer- lasting consequences.
According to Tolu and Qgunro (2012), the government's futile fight against the cankerworm is
due to the fact that the government is itself heavily infected with the virus, and the average
Corruption is described as the abuse of power for personal benefit (Transparency, 2022).
Corruption is a complicated social, political, and economic issue that affects all nations.
growth, and leads to the instability of governance (Nations, 2021). According to Nweke (2019),
corruption enables a few privileged individuals to convert what belongs to the public into their
personal property, resulting in widespread poverty and deteriorating infrastructure, among other
societal issues. Salihu (2020) said that corruption by Nigeria's public personnel manifests in
11
activities like as bribery, embezzlement, fraud, forgery, pilfering, and inflation of contracts and
procurements, among others, in the course of carrying out their mandates. According to
overbilling, bribery, embezzlement, tribalism, nepotism, money laundering, open theft of the
treasury, etc. Nweke (2019) stated that corruption has become a culture to the extent that people
no longer view corruption as evil in the society. As a result, corrupt public office holders are now
highly regarded in public activities, making corruption a recurrent decimal in the community.
According to Transparency International, corruption may occur anywhere, can involve anyone,
Service Delivery refers to the provision of tangible and intangible goods and services by the
government with the aim of improving the well-being of the citizens. It encompasses the
relationship between policy makers, service providers, and the underprivileged, as described by
Kayode et al (2013) and Carlson et al. (2005) in Kayode et al (2013). Service Delivery includes
various services and systems that are typically considered the responsibility of the government,
such as social services (primary education and basic healthcare) and infrastructure (water,
sanitation, roads, and bridges), as mentioned by Kayode et al (2013) and Bello-Imam & Roberts
Zakari (2010) as quoted by Agba et al (2013) states that the original intention of Nigeria's local
government system was to positively impact the lives of people at the grassroots level. However,
the system has unfortunately been corrupted by politicians and senior bureaucrats who exploit it
for personal gain. Consequently, local government in Nigeria has become a place where the
chairman and other officials meet to distribute money among themselves on a monthly basis.
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Agba (2006) in Agba et al (2013) argues that the provision of basic social services, such as
education, healthcare, road maintenance, and public utilities within most local government areas,
is merely a myth and illusion. The primary focus of local government chairmen is seen as
accumulating wealth rather than delivering services to the people. As a result, despite 70% of
Nigeria's population residing in rural areas, as acknowledged by Effiom (2001) quoted in Agba
et al (2013), the average residents at the grassroots level continue to suffer from issues like lack
of clean water, inadequate healthcare facilities, poor hygiene conditions, and unemployment.
Local government is a government at the grassroots level. According to (Akindele & Adeyemi,
2011) the word “local” connotes that councils are meant for small communities and the word
“government” means that they have certain attributes of government. Thus, local government can
constituted by law and has substantial control of local affairs including the power to impose
taxes or to demand labour for prescribed purposes. The governing body of local government
councils like the state and the central governments are elected for a fixed tenure, it is executed
that the federal, state and local governments have in them some degree of administrative
autonomy.
However, in Nigeria, local government autonomy is a myth rather than a reality. There are three
separate standards to local autonomy which are the amount of responsibility involved, the size
and number of resources assigned and the degree of discretion conferred (Onibokun, 2009). It is
argued that corruption is caused in local government administration by some problems such as
dependence on statutory allocations from the federal and state governments, deliberate evasion
by the local citizenry and creation of non-viable local government areas, differences in the status
13
of local governments in terms of rural-urban dimensions, and inadequate revenue and restricted
fiscal jurisdiction.
The aforementioned definitions of local government listed, clearly shows that local government
SOCIAL DIMENSION:
From the social dimension local government is basically a social institution. It is an organized
social entity based on the feelings of oneness. This emanates from the fact that man is a social
animal and must of necessity interact with other people (Ola & Tonwe, 2014). Local government
provides a platform for people in a locality to express and fulfill their human urge to interact
with one another and in the process of interaction, the feeling of convergence brings to the fore
the commonality of basic needs of the people in the neighborhood of food shelter, clothing,
water etc. It is those facets of their feeling of oneness that are a binding force, not only among
themselves but also between the local authority and the local people (Ola & Tonwe, 2014).
ECONOMIC DIMENSION:
Local government is basically an economic institute with a foremost role to play in promoting
the economic well-being of the people of its locality. The economic dimension of the concept of
local government relates to its economic viability. Thus, revenue generation becomes a primary
function of local government. A local government that is not economically viable cannot do
much to improve the economic conditions of the people in its locality (Ola & Tonwe, 2014).
GEOGRAPHIC DIMENSION:
Local government also has a geographical dimension. From the perspective of a specific and
defined territorial jurisdiction over a particular human habitation, the local government may be
14
conceptualized in geographic terms. The geography of local government which includes the
demographic, physical and economic features have its impact on its policies, administration and
law. These various features are of universal characters. The geographical dimension of local
government stems from the fact that among the inhabitants of a given area, there is a
consciousness that they are differentiated from the inhabitants of other areas in the same country.
This is what is called the concept of neighborhood which makes the inhabitants of an area
automatically aware of the interests which infringe upon them more directly upon others (Ola &
Tonwe, 2014).
LEGAL DIMENSION:
Local government is a legal institute in the sense that it is established by law of a competent and
higher authority. This makes local government a miniature body politic and a corporate body. In
its former capacity, it is the agent of state and as such, it represents public interest. In that
capacity, it exercises a part of the power of the state legally delegated to it within specified
POLITIAL DIMENSION:
ADMINISTRATIVE DIMENSION:
Local government has an administrative dimension. In other words, it has its local bureaucracy
like other higher levels of government that co-ordinate the activities and the operations of the
On the whole, it may be said that local government is basically an organized social entity based
on the feelings on oneness. In political terms, it is concerned with the governance of a specific
15
local area, constituting a political sub-division of a nation, state or other major political units
In performance of its functions, local government acts as an agent of the state. In other words,
local government is an integrant of the political mechanism for governance in a country, the
geography, demography and economic factors of a local area, offer important dimensions in the
According to Akanbi (2015), corruption, the greatest bane of our society today, will be tackled
head on. No society can achieve anything near its full potential if it allows corruption to become
the full-blown cancer it has become. The above statement illustrates the state of pervasion, rot or
decay within the Nigerian state arising from widespread of corruption. Along this line,
(Familoni, 2015) depicted thus: becoming corrupt in Nigeria is almost unavoidable as morality is
lax, because to survive, people have to make money. One of the fundamental problems of
Corruption has been institutionalized to the point of accepting it as part of our system. Although
corruption is ubiquitous, it is found all over the world, but the degree of its manifestation varies
In another dimension, the widespread of the phenomenon of corruption in Nigeria has been
pointed out by Nwabueze while trying to illustrate the prevalence of corruption in Nigeria. He
opines that: Corruption in Nigeria is endemic and anomic, somewhat systemic. In terms of
dimensions, corruption is moral-cum-ethical, on the one hand and structural on the other, and its
explanation and attempts to find solution must address these two sources. It manifests as
political, economic, bureaucratic, judicial and even moral corruption. For example, when an
16
official as a result undue bribe or promise in any of these spheres, abuses his or another person’s
office by putting aside due process and compromising fairness and equity in distribution of
In Nigeria, ethnicity (nepotism), lust for power, poverty and personal monetary gains are also
major factors in corruption in public offices. Corruption has been described as a major cause of
comatose state of local government administration in Nigeria, and also a major hindrance to
good government (Onwuemenyi, 2010) It has been identified as one of the problems confronting
officials, lifestyles that are not similar with official sources of income, imposition of leaders on
the local government through corrupted political process and low wages of local government
officials (Ali 2008). Along this line, Farida Waziri, former chairperson of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alongside (Onwuemenyi, 2010) lamented that; waste of
government resources at the council level had reached monumental proportions. The local
government council in the country could not explain the mismanagement of over N3.313 trillion
allocated to them in the last eight years. Unfortunately, local government officials have not left
their hands unsoiled in this regard. She said “it is with great regard that I am forced to observe
that the local governments of the good old days have become a mere memory of times gone by”.
Local government have become so far removed from the lives of the people to a point where
some chief executives of local council no longer reside in the domains they were elected
administer. They drive to the council headquarters in their jeeps from the state capitals, pay
salaries and share other monetary funds and disappear. Waziri went further to emphasize that the
17
disconnection between the government of the people and the grassroots was happening at a time
huge volumes of public funds were allocated to local government councils. According to her, the
old argument that services cannot be delivered to the grassroots because of shortage of funds
does not hold water anymore in the face of much subvention. (Onwuemenyi, 2010).
(Onwuemenyi, 2010) observed that the high rate of corruption at local government level is as a
result of over dependence on oil revenue, with its attendant laxity on the part of the three tiers of
government to explore other sources of revenue. Revenue generations and its effective
management are critically important for the survival of local government councils. According to
her, local government administration has abused the weak tax regulatory system for personal
gains, a situation which had complicated the tax system and led to cases of multiple taxation in
the economy. Omoiguiokavio also condemned some local government officials for instituting
personal and unofficial revenue generation machinery, thereby encouraging multiple taxation
and placing heavy burden on tax payers. She noted that many local government chairmen
generate personal taxes for personal gain using the so-called levy collectors who themselves
Also, along this line Arowolo (2008) opined that hard earned and limited resources accrued to
and raised by local governments are always mismanaged. Priorities are misplaced, projects are
done not according to or as demanded by the people but regrettably in tune with the selfish end
and exalted in honour of the political leadership in collaboration with senior bureaucrats at the
local government level of administration. This reform empowered the local administration to
collect rates and levy pools and income taxes. However, according to Adedokun (2012) these
18
inadequate. Comparatively, local authorities were partially successful in the north but
2. Lack of proper structures (i.e the role of local governments in the development process
4. Low funding.
Accordingly, these local authorities could hardly perform their requisite responsibilities, and for
these reasons among others, the local governments in the country underwent fundamental
transformation, through the enactment of the 1976 local government reform, which for the first
time, established a single tier structure of local government as a substitute for the different
structure in various states. The national assembly was empowered by the 1979 constitution to
determine what proportion of the federation account and from the revenue of the state to be
allocated to the local governments. This allocation from the state was mandatory. Accordingly,
in 1981, the national assembly fixed these proportions at 10 percent of the federal account and 10
percent of the total revenue at the state. In 1985, the state’s proportion was reduced to 10 percent
of the internally-generated revenue; local government’s allocation from the federation account
was later adjusted to 20 percent. This was increased to 35 percent apparently because local
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2.4.1 Types of Corruption that Occur in Local Government
There are several types of political corruption that occur in local government administration.
Some are more common than others, and some are more prevalent to local governments than to
larger tiers of government. Local governments may be more susceptible to corruption because
interactions between private individual and officials happen at greater levels of intimacy and
with more frequency at more decentralized levels. Forms of corruption that concerns are bribery,
extortion, embezzlement etc are found in local government systems. Other forms of corruption
1. Bribery is the offering of something which is most often money as well as goods and
to unjustly obtain money, actions, services or other goods from that person. Blackmail is
a form of extortion.
3. Embezzlement is the illegal taking or appropriation of money or property that has been
entrusted to a person but is actually owned by another. In political terms, this is called
graft, which is when a political office holder unlawfully uses public funds for personal
purposes.
4. Nepotism is the practice or inclination to favor a group or a person who is a relative when
giving promotions, jobs raises and other benefits to employees. This is often based on the
concept of familism which believes that a person must always respect and favor family in
all situations including those pertaining to politics and business. This leads some political
20
officials to give privileges and positions of authority to relatives based on relationships
local public office holder or candidate for a political office in return for political support. Many
times, patronage is used to gain support and votes in elections or in passing legislation.
Patronage systems disregards the formal rules of a local government and use personal instead of
Socio-economic characteristics and the size of the population of people that make up a
municipality can be encouraging factors for local government officials to engage in corrupt
practices. Patterns of political corruption can be found in places that have a similar demographic
make-up. Demographic factors that have been known to lead or to increase the likelihood of
corruption in a local system are religion, race, class, size of the municipality, local economic
conditions, education, political cultural and gender. Some factors are interrelated or can lead to
SIZE OF A MUNICIPALITY:
Smaller municipalities tend to encourage corruption to take place within a local government.
Smaller municipalities require more local officials to represent and run the local government.
With more officials, it is more difficult to keep watch on each one and establish a decent
administration and to supervise their activities. Small municipalities may also have inadequate or
insufficient policing and prosecution of corrupt local officials. This also encourages corruption in
local governments because there is less likelihood of getting caught or prosecuted, therefore
21
CONDITIONS OF THE LOCAL ECONOMY:
Low economic development has been found to be an encouraging factor for political corruption.
Economic practices like dependence on raw materials, industries are characteristics of poorer
cities and areas with increased amount of corruption. Economic dependence on certain industries
will also lead to less stable governments and less money available to fund government. Fragile
economy leads to increased levels of poverty and less opportunities to get out of poverty. Poverty
is a known factor that encourages corruption in local governments. Places with failing economies
and poverty sometimes get loans or start aid programs to support the local economy and people,
and public officials are often able to unlawfully take the money or goods for private gain. With
less money available, local officials are more likely to get lower wages, which is seen as another
factor that leads to corruption. Officials who get lower wages, which is not enough to provide for
their necessities, will become more corrupt and try embezzling money from the local government
treasury. Low wages can also cause economic insecurity and encourage politicians to take
advantage of current opportunities as public figures of authority. On the other hand, some
researchers argue that the more money a local government has to spend, the more tendency it
will have to do so inefficiently, which can lead to suspicions of corruption. Above all, smaller
municipalities are more often perceived to have corrupt local governments than bigger
municipalities.
EDUCATION:
Lower levels of education which are often caused by poverty are seen as factors which
encourage corrupt government practices. Those with less education are not well informed on
how the government works or what rights they have under the government. It is easier for
corrupt office-holders to conceal corrupt activities from a poorly educated society. Uneducated
22
citizens are unaware of the corruption taking place in their society and also don’t know how to
stop it, therefore corruption remains in such society and spreads. Without some form of political
awareness, citizens will not know which candidates to elect during elections. This often leads
municipalities to be continually governed by one or more corrupt local officials who use
patronage or nepotistic practices to stay in office or keep influence in the government for a long
period of time. When local political leaders are less educated, they will be less likely to find
Many local governments have an established political culture with certain expectations and
practices that often determine what is seen as acceptable in local politics. In municipalities with
an undeveloped political culture accountability and legitimacy is usually low and principles of
ethics in government are not established. This can encourage corruption to take hold in the local
government because citizens do not know what is considered corrupt because of the low
accountability.
In some places the local governments have been corrupt for so long that the citizens think that is
how it is supposed to work because that is all they have been exposed to. Long periods of
political instability will also lead to corruption in the government because people are unsure of
how the government should operate, and thus do not know that practices are corrupt or how to
A lot of reasons have been given for the evolution and creation of local governments in Nigeria.
These range from political, social and economic reasons. Over the years, there has not been a
general consensus as to the precise role local governments should play, this singular factor
23
makes the problem regarding the objectives of local governments most important. The following
are seen as some of the purpose for the creation of local governments in Nigeria.
Local government functions to bring democracy to the local citizens as well as to educate and
help them socialize politically; participation of the citizens in governance is one of the
underlying percepts of democracy. Due to vast nature of the country (Nigeria), the presence of
governments whether at the federal or state level is not well felt by the people, and this led to
neglect and distrust of government by the people. In a bid to bring the activities of government
closer to the people, local governments were created to serve as conduits through which
government policies are communicated to the people (Aigbakoba and Ogbonna 2014).
Local government serves as a channel through which policies and programes from the state and
the federal government are communicated and implemented. This is because there are many
functions that will be cumbersome for the state and federal governments to perform because of
the distance separating them and the people e.g Collection of rates, radio and television licenses;
The local government was also created to serve as the representative of both the federal and state
It is a channel through which policies are communicated and implemented (Gboyega, 2009)
This is to arouse in the citizens the zeal or willingness to contribute financially, materially and
morally to the management of local affairs. Local governments are created to bring about
meaningful development in the rural areas through the effective mobilization of resources. Local
24
government uses funds made available to it by both federal and state governments and their
internally generated revenue to improve on the lives of the people within their areas of
Local governments in Nigeria have enormous responsibilities to perform. These includes the
mobilization of local resources, promoting social and economic developments and improvements
as well as national integration. In addition, they are expected to carry out regional policies with
(Gboyega, 2009).
(Odey, 2012) added that local governments at work also revolve round revenue generation,
budgeting, development planning, provision of services and community mobilization. Others are;
3. Construction and maintenance of roads, streets, street lights, drains and other public
highways.
8. Formulation of economic planning and development schemes for the local government
area.
9. Establishment, maintenance and regulation of slaughter houses, markets and motor parks.
25
10. Assessment of privately owned houses or tenements for the purpose of levying such rates
The primary purpose of government is to deliver services that enhance the quality of life.
However, it is widely agreed among scholars and professionals that local governments in Nigeria
have failed to fulfill their purpose by providing effective services to rural communities. This
sentiment was expressed by former President Obasanjo in 2003, as cited in Agba et al (2013),
where he criticized the local government system for its abysmal performance and
federal government.
This observation highlights that local governments have failed to achieve their original
objectives. Ukiwo (2006) in Agba et al (2013) argues that instead of bringing government and
development closer to the people, local governments have produced absentee chairmen who only
appear at council headquarters when the monthly allocations arrive. These chairmen then swiftly
disappear with their luxury vehicles and police escorts after overseeing the distribution of funds
The Nigerian state is plagued by prebendalism, a system where public office is primarily used to
serve the interests of the officeholder rather than the public. This environment has fostered
affairs. An example of corruption within local government is the misuse of funds intended for
26
Oviasuyi et al (2010) made the observation that corruption in the local government system in
Nigeria is pervasive, unapologetic, and persistent, much like in other levels of government. The
According to Oviasuyi et al (2010), corruption thrives in various areas within local government,
including the inflation of prices for purchased items, overestimation of project costs, the
existence of ghost workers, the awarding of contracts followed by abandonment, and the
Lawal & Oladunjoye (2010) stated that corruption has detrimental effects on the political
landscape, leading to the erosion of democratic values. When corruption flourishes, values such
neglected. Corruption hinders development as resources that should be utilized for the betterment
and progress of the local government are diverted for personal gain. The rule of law is
undermined, giving way to the misuse of power. Local government officials who engage in
corruption manipulate rules and regulations to ensure that their illicit activities go unnoticed
during their tenure in office. These actions have serious implications for service delivery, as
facilitates inflated contracts, bribery, kickbacks, and the awarding of contracts to fictitious
The principal-agent theory provides a valuable framework for analyzing the dynamics of
corruption and its impact on service delivery in local government systems. This theory explores
the relationship between the principal (the citizens) and the agent (the local government officials)
27
and the challenges that arise due to information asymmetry, conflicting interests, and limited
accountability.
Information Asymmetry: In the local government context, citizens often lack complete
information about the actions and decisions taken by government officials. This information
asymmetry gives rise to opportunities for corruption, as officials can exploit their positions to
engage in corrupt practices without being detected or held accountable. As a result, the delivery
Conflicting Interests: Local government officials may have their own self-interests, such as
personal enrichment or political gains, which may deviate from the best interests of the citizens
they are supposed to serve. This misalignment of interests creates incentives for corruption,
where officials prioritize their personal gains over delivering efficient and effective services to
the community.
Limited Accountability: In local government systems, the mechanisms for holding officials
accountable for their actions and decisions are often weak or insufficient. This lack of
accountability allows corrupt practices to thrive, as officials face minimal consequences for their
misconduct. Consequently, service delivery suffers, as resources intended for public welfare are
misappropriated or misused.
a. Moral Hazard: The existence of corruption creates a moral hazard situation, wherein local
government officials have the opportunity to exploit their authority for personal gain, knowing
that the risks and costs of detection and punishment are relatively low.
28
b. Adverse Selection: The prevalence of corruption attracts individuals who are more likely to
engage in unethical behavior into positions of power within the local government. This adverse
selection process further perpetuates corrupt practices, hindering effective service delivery.
corruption and improving service delivery. Aligning the interests of local government officials
with the welfare of citizens through transparent and performance-based incentives can help
independent audits, and accountability mechanisms can enhance transparency and detect corrupt
Overall, the principal-agent theory provides insights into the underlying mechanisms that
contribute to corruption and its detrimental effects on service delivery in local government
better governance practices for the benefit of citizens and overall development.
29
References
Adegbite, E., & Osabuohien, E. (2016). Corruption and service delivery in Nigeria. International
Journal of Social Economics, 43(7), 794-805.
Ajao, O. E., Dada, A. O., & Olaoye, R. A. (2013). Political corruption in Nigeria: Causes, effects
and remedies. Journal of Politics and Law, 6(1), 128-137.
Akindele, T., & Adeyemi, O. O. (2011). Corruption and the Nigerian State: A Critical
Discourse, Saarbrucken Germany. Lap Lambert Academic Publishing:.
Gboyega, A. (2009). Political Values and Local Government in Nigeria. Ibadan: Malthouse
Press Ltd.
Ibietan, J. (2013). Corruption and national development in Nigeria: The way forward. African
Journal of Political Science and International Relations, 7(3), 46-56.
Lawal, T., & Oladunjoye, A. (2010). Local Government, Corruption and politics Democracy in
Nigeria. Journal of Sustainable Development, Volume 12, No. 5. Retrieved from
[Link]
Likpe, N., & Henderson, H. (2016). Public sector management in Nigeria. Commonwealth
Secretariat.
Nageri, S. S., Umar, S. U., & Abdul, A. M. (2013). Corruption and its effect on the Nigerian
economy. European Journal of Business and Management, 5(26), 39-46.
Odey, O. J. (2012). Democracy, Our Lofty Dreams and Crazy Ambitions. . Enugu.
Ogunrinde, R., Ogunrinde, O., & Adenuga, A. O. (2019). Corruption and public service delivery
in Nigeria. Journal of Public Administration and Governance, 9(2), 302-321.
30
Okonkwo, O. R. (2017). Corruption and public service delivery in Nigeria. International Journal
of Public Administration and Management Research, 5(3), 14-24.
Ola, R. O., & Tonwe, D. A. (2014). Local Administration and Local Government in Nigeria.
Lagos: Amfitop Books.
31
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
For this research on "Effects of Corruption on Poor Service Delivery in the Public Service of
Nigeria” structured questionnaires will be designed and distributed to the population of Bida
Local Government Area of Niger State to gather their perspectives on corruption and public
service delivery. The questionnaire for the study will be administered to the respondents
personally by the researcher. This approach was adopted to have the advantage of revealing the
views and perceptions of majority of the different cadres in the case of study.
Population is described as the entire member of object that needs to be studied. The population in
this research work is 150 total population of government employees in the Bida Local
Government Council
The stratified random sampling technique was used in selecting the population of Bida Local
Government Area staff used for the study. The sample size is very necessary for a clear
understanding of the population in question. Therefore, given the total population to be 150, the
researcher adopted the Yamane Yaro formula for finite population (Yamane, 1973:723). The
32
N
n= 2
1+ N (e)
Where
N = total population
e = error margin
I = constant
n=150
150
n=
1+0.375 (0.0025)
150
n=
1.375
n = 109.09
n = 110
To enhance the validity and reliability of the research instruments (questionnaires and interview
guides), a pilot study will be conducted prior to data collection. This will involve testing the
instruments on a small sample of Public Servants in Bida and making necessary adjustments
Collected data will be organized, categorized, and presented using appropriate methods such as
tables, charts, and graphs. Qualitative data from interviews will be analyzed thematically,
33
identifying patterns and themes related to corruption and public service delivery. Quantitative
data from surveys will be analyzed using statistical techniques such as descriptive statistics.
Hypotheses will be tested using statistical methods such as correlation analysis, regression
analysis, or other relevant statistical tests based on the nature of the research questions and data
collected. The results of these tests will help to draw conclusions and make evidence-based
recommendations.
34
CHAPTER FOUR
In this chapter, we provide an examination of the data collected and engage in a conversation
about the results. To achieve this, the researcher distributed 110 questionnaires to the relevant
region, and 100 questionnaires were completed and sent back. This indicates that 91% of the
The chosen sample sizes were supplied with questionnaires. The responses given were
subsequently presented and interpreted. The data that had been collected were analyzed using
The participants comprised 76 males and 24 females, as indicated in the table above. In terms of
percentages, males make up 76%, while females make up the remaining 24%. Based on this
analysis, it's evident that there are more male respondents than female respondents.
35
According to the data presented in the table above, 15% of the respondents fall within the age
range of 20-29 years, 43% fall within the age range of 30-39 years, 27% fall within the age range
of 40-49 years, and 15% fall within the age group of 50 years and above. This indicates that the
age group with the highest percentage of respondents is between 30 and 39 years old.
According to the earlier examination, it was determined that 8% of the total respondents,
equivalent to 8 staff members, had a tenure of less than one year. Roughly 18% of the
respondents had a work history ranging from one to five years, while 44% had served in the
Local Government Council for approximately six to ten years. The remaining 30% had
accumulated over a decade of service. This data suggests that a significant portion of the staff
had tenures within the range of six to ten years and beyond.
36
Table 4.5: Educational Qualification of Respondents
SSCE school certificate, 33% completed their education with an OND certificate, 45% possessed
Frequency Percentage
%
Strongly Disagree 48 48.0
Disagree 23 23.0
Undecided 2 2.0
Agree 7 7.0
Strongly Agree 20 20.0
Total 100 100.0
Source: Field Study (2023)
Based on the result in Table 4.6 above, majority (71%) of the respondents disagreed with the
significant concerns that warrant attention and potential improvements. These findings
underscore the importance of addressing and enhancing internal controls to maintain stakeholder
37
Table 4.7 Influence of Political Interference on Corruption Level
Frequency Percentage
%
Strongly Disagree 20 20.0
Disagree 26 26.0
Undecided 5 5.0
Agree 18 18.0
Strongly Agree 31 31.0
Total 100 100.0
Source: Field Study (2023)
Table 4.7 presents findings examining the perceived influence of political interference on the
level of corruption. The data reveals that 46% of respondents either strongly disagree (20%) or
disagree (26%) with the idea that political interference significantly contributes to corruption.
This suggests a notable portion of participants do not consider political interference as a major
factor. However, 31% strongly agree and 18% agree that it does, indicating a substantial portion
holds the view that political interference plays a significant role in corruption. These results
highlight a significant divergence in opinions and emphasize the importance of addressing the
Administration Council.
Frequency Percentage
%
Strongly Disagree 29 29.0
Disagree 9 9.0
Undecided 4 4.0
Agree 40 40.0
Strongly Agree 18 18.0
Total 100 100.0
Source: Field Study (2023)
Based on the data provided in Table 4.8, it's clear that a combined 58.0% of the total
respondents, which corresponds to 58 individuals, believe that the organization's cultural norms
38
and practices inadvertently promote corrupt behavior. In contrast, 38.0% of the respondents
disagree with this notion. As a result, it is evident that cultural norms and practices within the
corrupt behaviour.
Frequency Percentage
%
Strongly Disagree 12 12.0
Disagree 15 15.0
Undecided 1 1.0
Agree 37 37.0
Strongly Agree 35 35.0
Total 100 100.0
Source: Field Study (2023)
In Table 4.9, the data highlights the perception of job dissatisfaction as a potential root cause of
corruption. Notably, 27% of the respondents either strongly disagree (12%) or disagree (15%)
with the idea that job dissatisfaction is a significant contributor to corruption, while 72% agree
(37%) or strongly agree (35%) with this notion. Only 1% of respondents remain undecided. This
suggests that a majority of respondents believe that job dissatisfaction has a substantial role in
fostering corruption within the organization, while a smaller percentage holds a different
viewpoint. These results emphasize the importance of addressing job satisfaction to mitigate
corruption risks.
Table 4.10 Inadequate Training and Awareness Program as A Root Cause of Corruption
Frequency Percentage
%
Strongly Disagree 55 55.0
Disagree 30 30.0
Undecided 4 4.0
Agree 3 3.0
Strongly Agree 8 8.0
Total 100 100.0
39
Source: Field Study (2023)
Table 4.10 focuses on the perception of inadequate training and awareness programs as a root
cause of corruption. The data reveals that a substantial 85% of respondents either strongly
disagree (55%) or disagree (30%) with the notion that inadequate training and awareness
programs contribute significantly to corruption. Conversely, only 11% agree (3%) or strongly
agree (8%) with this statement, indicating a minority viewpoint. A small 4% of respondents
remain undecided. These findings highlight a clear consensus among the majority that the
organization's training and awareness programs are not seen as a major cause of corruption,
Frequency Percentage
%
Strongly Disagree 10 10.0
Disagree 16 16.0
Undecided 9 9.0
Agree 28 28.0
Strongly Agree 37 37.0
Total 100 100.0
Source: Field Study (2023)
Referring to the data provided in Table 4.11 above, it becomes clear that a collective 65% of the
survey participants, comprising a total of 65 individuals, agree with the idea that corruption
within the public service of Bida Local Government hinders the delivery of essential services to
the local population. In contrast, 26 respondents, making up 26% of the total, hold an opposing
view on this matter. Consequently, the data indicates that corruption is present in the study area
and as such can fully compromise the overall efficiency of public service delivery within the
institution.
40
Table 4.12 Quality and Efficiency of Public Services
Frequency Percentage
%
Strongly Disagree 7 7
Disagree 6 6
Undecided - -
Agree 28 28.0
Strongly Agree 59 59.0
Total 100 100.0
Source: Field Study (2023)
Analyzing the data presented in Table 4.12 above, it is apparent that a substantial majority of
59.0% of the surveyed participants, comprising 59 individuals, strongly agree with the notion
that there exists negative perceptions and experiences among local residents in Bida Local
Government regarding the quality and efficiency of public services, and they attribute this to
Consequently, it is clear that negative perceptions and experiences related to the quality and
efficiency of public services in the study area are prevalent among local residents, as indicated
by the data.
Table 4.13 Patterns or Trends in the Types of Public Services Most Affected by Corruption
Frequency Percentage
%
Strongly Disagree 10 10.0
Disagree 18 18.0
Undecided 9 9.0
Agree 27 27.0
Strongly Agree 36 36.0
Total 100 100.0
41
Source: Field Study (2023)
Referencing Table 4.13 presented above, a substantial 63% of the total respondents, comprising
63 individuals, express agreement with the assertion that there are patterns or trends in the types
of public services most affected by corruption within the Bida Local Government
Administration.
Frequency Percentage
%
Strongly Disagree 10 10.0
Disagree 16 16.0
Undecided 14 14.0
Agree 21 21.0
Strongly Agree 39 39.0
Total 100 100.0
Source: Field Study (2023)
Based on the data provided in Table 4.14 above, it is evident that a significant segment, precisely
60% of the total respondents, equivalent to 60 individuals, agree that external factors, including
political interference, exert an influence on the level of corruption within Bida Local
Frequency Percentage
%
Strongly Disagree 10 10.0
Disagree 4 4.0
Undecided 2 2.0
Agree 18 18.0
Strongly Agree 66 66.0
Total 100 100.0
Source: Field Study (2023)
42
Referring to the data presented in Table 4.15 above, it is clear that a substantial majority,
specifically 84% of the total respondents, which corresponds to 84 individuals, strongly believe
that job dissatisfaction or frustration plays a role in encouraging corrupt activities within Bida
Local Government Administration. This data underscores the significance of job dissatisfaction
This section highlights recommendations and Strategies for the Federal Road Safety Corps
Suleja.
Frequency Percentage
%
Strongly Disagree 9 9.0
Disagree 2 2.0
Undecided 17 17.0
Agree 24 24.0
Strongly Agree 48 48.0
Total 100 100.0
Source: Field Study (2023)
Based on the data provided in Table 4.16 above, it is clear that a combined 72.0% of the total
respondents, amounting to 72 individuals, believe that reformed measures and policies have the
potential to effectively deter corruption and enhance public service delivery within the Bida
Local Government Council. Conversely, 11.0% of the respondents express dissenting views on
this matter. This suggests that there is an expectation for increased efforts from the government
and the Bida Local Government Council's governing body to consistently review and improve
policies and measures within the organization to combat corruption and enhance public service
delivery.
43
Frequency Percentage
%
Strongly Disagree 8 8.0
Disagree 10 10.0
Undecided 3 3.0
Agree 18 18.0
Strongly Agree 61 61.0
Total 100 100.0
Source: Field Study (2023)
Based on the information provided in Table 4.17 above, it is clear that a significant majority,
specifically 79.0% of the total respondents, which amounts to 79 individuals, strongly agree that
Frequency Percentage
%
Strongly Disagree 20 20.0
Disagree 4 4.0
Undecided 7 7.0
Agree 23 23.0
Strongly Agree 46 46.0
Total 100 100.0
Source: Field Study (2023)
Drawing from the data presented in Table 4.18 above, it is evident that a significant majority,
precisely 69% of the total respondents, equivalent to 69 individuals, strongly agree that the Bida
Local Government Council should actively promote a culture of integrity and ethical behavior
among its employees. This perspective indicates that addressing corruption within different
branches of the Bida Local Government Council, along with potential restructuring of units and
Frequency Percentage
%
44
Strongly Disagree 14 14.0
Disagree 11 11.0
Undecided 2 2.0
Agree 33 33.0
Strongly Agree 40 40.0
Total 100 100.0
Source: Field Study (2023)
Based on the information provided in Table 4.19 above, it is clear that a significant proportion,
precisely 73.0% of the total respondents, which amounts to 73 individuals, strongly agree that
increasing the salaries and benefits of Bida Local Government Council personnel has the
Frequency Percentage
%
Strongly Disagree 9 9.0
Disagree 2 2.0
Undecided 1 1.0
Agree 18 18.0
Strongly Agree 70 70.0
Total 100 100.0
Source: Field Study (2023)
Referring to the data presented in Table 4.20 above, it is evident that a significant majority,
specifically 88.0% of the total respondents, equivalent to 88 individuals, strongly agree that
H0: There is no significant relationship between corruption and poor service delivery in the
public service of Bida, Niger State.
H1: There is a significant relationship between corruption and poor service delivery in the public
service of Bida, Niger State.
45
H0: The implementation of measures to curb corruption will not lead to an improvement in
service delivery in the public service of Bida, Niger State.
H1: The implementation of measures to curb corruption will lead to an improvement in service
delivery in the public service of Bida, Niger State.
H0: There is no significant relationship between corruption and poor service delivery in the
H1: There is a significant relationship between corruption and poor service delivery in the public
Question: Reformed measures and policies could effectively deter corruption and enhance
Total 100
46
Test Statistics
Corruption within the public service of Bida Local
Government hinders the delivery of essential services to the
local population
Chi-Square 28.441a
Df 4
Asymp. Sig. <.001
Source: Field Study (2023)
The hypothesis test results indicate a chi-square value of 28.441 with 4 degrees of freedom and a
significant p-value of <0.001. Since the calculated p-value of 0.001 is less than the standard
significance level of 0.05, the null hypothesis is rejected, and the alternative hypothesis is
accepted. Therefore, based on the research study conducted at a 5% level of significance, it can
be concluded that there is a significant relationship between corruption and poor service delivery
H0: The implementation of measures to curb corruption will not lead to an improvement in
H1: The implementation of measures to curb corruption will lead to an improvement in service
Question: Corruption within the public service of Bida Local Government hinders the delivery
47
Strongly Agree 9 20.0 -11.0
Total 100
Test Statistics
Corruption within the public service of Bida Local
Government hinders the delivery of essential services to the
local population
Chi-Square 22.250a
Df 4
Asymp. Sig. <.001
Source: Field Study (2023)
The test of hypothesis reveals a chi-square value 22.250 a at a df of 4 with a significant figure of
<0.001. The tested significant value (p = 0.001) is a value less than 0.05, p value of = 0.001 <
0.05 and hence the null hypothesis is rejected and the alternate is accepted and conclude from
curb corruption will lead to an improvement in service delivery in the public service of Bida,
Niger State.
The researcher adopted Cronbach’s Alpha for the reliability test of questionnaire. Cronbach's
alpha is a measure of internal consistency, that is, how closely related a set of items are as a
Case Processing
48
N %
Excludeda 0 0
Reliability Statistics
0.985 20
Cronbach's
Scale
0.9 ≤ α Excellent
0.8 ≤ α < 0.9 Good
0.7 ≤ α < 0.8 Acceptable
Questionabl
0.6 ≤ α < 0.7 e
0.5 ≤ α < 0.6 Poor
Unacceptabl
α < 0.5 e
The reliability test for this research was done using the Cronbach’s Alpha Scale. The Cronbach’s
analysis for the 20 items questionnaire returned a value of 0.985 this result shows that the
questions and response from the questionnaire excellently passed the reliability test.
49
CHAPTER FIVE
The study investigated several critical aspects related to corruption within the context of the Bida
Local Government Council, focusing on its root causes, impact on public service delivery, and
1. Notably, the findings from the root causes of corruption revealed a divergence in
organization's internal controls and disagreed with the idea of inadequacies, there was
50
play a substantial role in encouraging corruption, emphasizing the importance of
awareness programs, on the other hand, were not seen as a significant cause of
3. In terms of the impact of corruption on public service delivery, the study indicated that
respondents supporting this view. Negative perceptions and experiences regarding the
quality and efficiency of public services were prevalent among local residents, and these
were commonly attributed to corruption. Furthermore, patterns and trends in the types of
respondents, underscoring the need to address specific issues within the organization.
4. The recommendations and strategies put forth in the study were met with substantial
support from respondents. Reformed measures and policies were considered crucial in
mechanisms were seen as a priority in the fight against corruption. A culture of integrity
and ethical behavior was endorsed as a means to drive positive change within the
organization, and enhancing salaries and benefits for personnel was viewed as a potential
other organizations garnered strong support, highlighting the need for learning from
within the Bida Local Government Council, shedding light on its root causes, impact on service
51
delivery, and potential solutions. The findings underlined the importance of addressing specific
issues related to internal controls, political interference, cultural norms, and job satisfaction,
while also emphasizing the need for robust anti-corruption measures and strategies to improve
5.2 Conclusion
This study provided a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of corruption within the
Bida Local Government Council, shedding light on its root causes, impact on service delivery,
and potential solutions. The findings underlined the importance of addressing specific issues
related to internal controls, political interference, cultural norms, and job satisfaction, while also
emphasizing the need for robust anti-corruption measures and strategies to improve service
5.3 Recommendations
Based on the comprehensive insights gained from this study regarding the dynamics of
corruption within the Bida Local Government Council, the following recommendations are put
forth to address the root causes and enhance service delivery while maintaining public trust:
issues related to internal controls. It is crucial for the Bida Local Government Council to
invest in enhancing its internal control mechanisms. This includes regular audits,
for corruption.
making processes. It is recommended that the organization establish clear guidelines and
52
boundaries to prevent undue political influence on administrative and service delivery
matters.
3. Promote a Culture of Integrity: Cultural norms and practices were seen as potential
integrity and ethical behavior among its employees. Training and awareness programs
should focus on ethics, emphasizing the importance of honesty and integrity in public
service.
encouraging corruption. To mitigate this, the organization should take steps to improve
employee satisfaction. This includes fair compensation, opportunities for career growth,
and creating a positive work environment that values and recognizes the contributions of
its workforce.
organizations. The Bida Local Government Council should establish a robust anti-
53
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56
QUESTIONNAIRE
SECTION ONE: DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
1. Gender:
a. Male [ ]
b. Female [ ]
2. Age:
a. 20-29 [ ]
b. 30-39 [ ]
c. 40-49 [ ]
d. 50 and above [ ]
3. Length of Service in Bida L.G.C:
a. Less than 1 year [ ]
b. 1-5 years [ ]
c. 6-10 years [ ]
d. More than 10 years [ ]
4. Religion
a. Christianity [ ]
b. Islam [ ]
c. Others [ ]
5. Educational Background
a. SSCE [ ]
b. OND [ ]
c. BSc / HND [ ]
d. Others [ ]
57
influence on corruption level within the Local
Government Council
8. Cultural norms or practices within the organization
inadvertently encourage corrupt behaviour
9. Job dissatisfaction or frustration contribute to
engagement in corrupt activities within the Local
Government Council
10. Inadequate training and awareness programs
contribute to the prevalence of corrupt practices
within the Local Government Council
Questions 1 2 3 4 5
11. Corruption within the public service of Bida Local
Government hinders the delivery of essential
services to the local population
12. There is a negative perceptions and experiences of
local residents regarding the quality and efficiency
of public services in Bida Local Government due to
corruption
13. There are patterns or trends in the types of public
services most affected by corruption within the Bida
Local Government Administration
14. External factors, such as political interference has
influence on corruption level within Bida Local
Government Administration
15. Job dissatisfaction or frustration contribute to
engagement in corrupt activities within Bida Local
Government Administration
Questions 1 2 3 4 5
16. Reformed measures and policies could effectively
deter corruption and enhance public service
delivery within Bida Local Government
Administration
17. The organization should consider whistleblower
protection mechanisms in addressing corruption
within Bida Local Government Administration
58
18. The Bida Local Government Administration should
promote a culture of integrity and ethical behaviour
among its employees
19. Enhancing the salaries and benefits of Bida Local
Government Administration personnel could help
mitigate corruption
20. Successful anti-corruption practices from other
organizations could be adapted for Bida Local
Government Administration
59