ASSESSMENT OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ VIEWS ON THE ICPC’S ROLES AND FUNCTIONS
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Corruption has plagued Nigeria, as it has a large number of other African countries, particularly in the public sector. This single act has diminished Nigeria’s standing in the international community and slowed the country’s growth rate, as investors are hesitant to invest in such an economy (Ordu, 2014). Corruption, as we all know, is a cankerworm that has infiltrated every level of our society. It has led to physical, social, and human deterioration and dereliction within the government and society. Corruption has been a source of instability for succeeding governments since the republic’s inception. Since then, every coup has been committed in the name of curing the disease known as corruption. Regrettably, the cure has sometimes been worse than the disease.
Nigeria has suffered as a result of the ailment. When our allegedly corrupt country began to rank at the top of every corruption ranking, Nigeria’s external image took a significant hit.
In its efforts to strengthen the rule of law and significantly reduce official corruption, the government of Nigeria’s fourth republic, led by Olusegun Obsanjo, correctly observed in Obasanjo (2000) that “without corruption, neither sustainable development nor political stability are possible; by breeding and feeding inefficiency, corruption invariably strangles the system of social organization; indeed, corruption suffocates the system of social organization.” As a result, a number of anti-corruption policies have been developed. The primary goal of this policy initiative is to establish a new independent anti-corruption body.
authority over all types of official corruption, including the recovery of misappropriated public funds stored in the United States or abroad.
In accordance with this, the corrupt practices and other related offenses legislation, colloquially known as the anti-corruption act, was signed into law on Tuesday, June 13, 2000, establishing an independent corrupt practices and other related offenses commission (ICPC) (Ordu, 2014).
“The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) is the supreme court charged by law with combating corruption and other related offenses in Nigeria, and it should use all available legal means to rid the country of all forms of corruption and thus promote transparency, probity, accountability, and integrity in public and private life.”
As a result, Emeka (2012) claims that
The ICPC is expected to be a change agent in the fight against corruption and other related offenses in the polity, restoring Nigeria to its enviable position of honor in the community of nations.
1.2 THE PROBLEM’S STATEMENT
Secondary school students and the general public in Imo State’s Ideato South Local Government Area, in particular, and throughout Nigeria in general, are unaware of the ICPC’s presence. Many students are unaware of the ICPC’s duties and functions, let alone its effectiveness (or lack thereof) (Emeka 2012). This is due to either the commission’s incompetence or the public’s ignorance of its existence.
In response to these concerns, this study will be carried out.
1.3 THE STUDY’S OBJECTIVES
The overarching goal
The purpose of this research is to assess secondary school students’ perceptions of the ICPC’s roles and functions. Other specific goals of this research include:
i. To assess the roles and functions of the ICPC.
ii. Determine the level of ICPC awareness among secondary school students.
iii. Determine whether the presence of the ICPC has reduced the rate of corruption.
1.4 QUESTIONS FOR RESEARCH
This study will be guided by the following research questions:
i. What are the ICPC’s roles and responsibilities?
ii. To what extent are secondary school students aware of ICPC’s roles and functions?
iii. Has the presence of the ICPC reduced the rate of corruption?
1.5 THE STUDY’S IMPORTANCE
This research will help to make the world a better place.
complete and accurate knowledge of how the ICPC, which the government established to uncover, prosecute, and investigate corrupt personnel in the country, has fared.
It will gauge public opinion about the ICPC’s performance, particularly among secondary school students.
Furthermore, it will show how corruption can be contained, managed, and eradicated in a country like Nigeria.
1.6 STUDY OBJECTIVES
The primary goal of this research is to assess secondary school students’ perceptions of the ICPC’s roles and functions. This study is specifically focused on evaluating the ICPC’s roles and functions, assessing secondary school students’ awareness of the ICPC, and determining whether the presence of the ICPC has reduced the rate of corruption.
Students in secondary school
This study’s enrolled participants will be students from selected schools in Ikere LGA, Ekiti State.
1.7 THE STUDY’S LIMITATIONS
This study is primarily concerned with assessing secondary school students’ perceptions of the ICPC’s roles and functions. This study is limited to evaluating the ICPC’s roles and functions, assessing secondary school students’ awareness of the ICPC, and determining whether the presence of the ICPC has reduced the rate of corruption.
Secondary school students from selected schools in Ikere LGA, Ekiti State, will be enrolled in this study’s survey, so the sample size was limited because only a few respondents were chosen to answer the research instrument.
The findings cannot be applied to other secondary schools in the area.
The researcher also encountered some financial and logistical issues, but was able to resolve them because the study was completed successfully.
1.8 TERM DEFINITION
Assessment: The process of evaluating someone or something.
Secondary schools: A secondary school is an institution that provides secondary education, as well as the building in which it is delivered.
ICPC: The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is a Nigerian federal government agency tasked with receiving and investigating reports of corruption and, in appropriate cases, prosecuting the offender(s), as well as examining, reviewing, and enforcing the correction of corruption-prone systems and procedures of public bodies in order to eliminate corruption in public life.
and to educate and enlighten the public on and against corruption and related offenses in order to enlist and foster public support for the anti-corruption fight.
Roles: A role is a set of interconnected behaviors, rights, obligations, beliefs, and norms that people in a social situation conceptualize. It is an expected, free, or constantly changing behavior that may be associated with a specific individual’s social status or social position.
Functions: Working or operating in a specific manner.
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