Abstract
Nigerian development problem is partly linked to corruption which begets malnutrition, illiteracy, poverty, unemployment, hunger and infrastructure decay. The 2019 corruption perception index report attest to the fact that corruption is on the increase in Nigeria. With the level of widespread corruption in Nigeria, it needs to be tackled for the country to remain relevant among countries of the world. This work is structured to examine how social media have helped in the fight against corruption. Due to the failures of numerous development strategies in Nigeria, this study provides an overview on public assessment of social media roles in fighting corruption. Similarly, the study applies social responsibility and development media theory in campaigning against the said corruption. Survey research method was adopted for the study and relevant information about corruption and social media, and questionnaire were analyzed using the graphical and percentage method with the aid of SPSS version 21. This study concludes among others that social media exposes corrupt practices and persons and ensures that persons indicted are prosecuted. The study recommends, among others that government should effectively use social media handles and encourage whistle blowing to help fight corruption in Nigeria
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
- Background of the study
It is no longer news that for donkeys of year’s corruption in Nigeria has become a hydra monster that crumbles all sector of the country (Sedeke 2022). The fight against corruption in Nigeria has been a difficult task for the government and citizens of Nigeria. There are many suggestions, publications and methods drafted to fight the hydra-headed monster, but none has achieved a giant stride towards the fight against corruption. Odekunle, (2017) in Moyosore, (2015) is of the view that every effort evolved at addressing the scourge has always been frustrated by the evolution of even more effective and sophisticated methods of corruption. At the virtual conference of Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) on corruption, the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said the fight against corruption is getting difficult daily and many will be discouraged in standing up against fraud (Adetayo, 2020). Corruption crime is a dishonest attitude carried out by persons and institutions with institutionalized authority to acquire illicit funds and properties for private use. Corruption has destroyed the entire Nigerian society (Uzochukwu, Ekwugha & Ukwueze 2014) and efforts aimed at reducing fraud in this society have not yielded much result. Corruption thrives in Nigeria and individuals severely affected by it are not willing to speak up or resist the practice of corruption. Bribery denies human beings maximum security, good education, health, roads and many other basic needs that human beings may require in their day to day activities (Ahmad, 2018).
Social media is fundamental in the fight against corruption in Nigeria. On April 18; 2020, a lady flogged by policemen in Iwo Osun state went viral on social media. Police officers flogged the Lady Tola Azeez for violating lockdown in Iwo, and the video of the assault went viral on the twitter account of Ruggedman which drew the attention of police authorities after the woman retweeted the video, the Police Commissioner in the state announced the arrest of the officers and subjected them to orderly room trial where they were found guilty and dismissed from Nigeria Police Force (Olabiyi, 2020). Social media is doing its part in curbing the increasing terrorism in the Northern part of Nigeria where Bokoharam elements have destroyed the socio-economic activities of that region. April 14th 2014, Bokoharam terrorists attacked Government Secondary School Chibok, Borno State and kidnapped 276 school girls. It sparked outrage nationally and globally and led the social media community to launch Hashtag (#BringBackourGirls) to draw the attention of the government and international community. The #BringBackourGirls group was championed by Dr Oby Ezekwesili with other eminent Nigerians to seek the release of the girls. Driving philosophy of the group is ‘a diverse group of citizens advocating for speedy and effective search and rescue of all our abducted girls and a rapid containment and quelling of insurgency in Nigeria’ (bringbackourgirls.ng). The group brought Nigeria to the limelight, which made the International community to provide material and human resources to help fight terrorism. The #BringBackourGirls campaign led to the establishment of a Safe School Initiative and a 20 million dollar fund championed by Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown aimed at protecting schools in the troubled region (Ogunlesi, 2014). Tackling corruption is notoriously difficult. Once it’s embedded in a country’s systems it is difficult to weed out. But a fresh approach is being pursued in Nigeria – with some startling results. Ordinary citizens are mobilising the use of technology and social media to produce evidence that’s used to hold officials to account. Over the years government has spent billions of dollars to provide social infrastructure such as road, electricity, hospital, housing provision is a problem too, and school rehabilitation and purchase of new equipment in many tertiary institutions but the same government is accused of having not done enough to make life worth living for its citizenry. The scenario portends a situation in which funds to improve infrastructure always seem to end up missing or misallocated. Researchers often report that infrastructure spending is regularly used by public officers and government officials across the continent to misappropriate funds. This study chronicles how social media, using a combination of grassroots and online activities, tracks whether government funds officially allocated to these infrastructural development projects do reach their targets.
- STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
There is much corruption in Nigeria (Moyosore, 2015). And its persistent is threatening the growth and scenic development of the nation. No wonder that Ribadu (2016) opined that corruption is responsible for perpetual collapse of infrastructure and institutions; the cause of the endemic poverty in Nigeria; the shadow behind the underdevelopment and cyclical failure of democracy to take root in Nigeria. This has eventually made Sowunmi, et al (2010) to conclude that corruption is worse than terrorism. Therefore, it is quite disheartening to note that the mere mention of Nigeria to foreigners, prompt the foreigners to think about corruption. Does it mean that corruption remains them of Nigeria? To whichever angle one perceived the concept, the point is Nigeria has become almost interchangeable with the vicious word “corruption”. However, due to the fact that successive governments have initiated various anti-corruption agencies like EFCC, ICPC to write off the scourge, there is a need to point from theoretical perspective, the power of media in handling such issues. This will serve as background for the objective of this paper. This paper therefore, examined the mass media roles in the scenic development of the Nigerian society through its anti-corruption campaigns drawing form the reports of Transparency International on the World Corruption Perception Index and more importantly with special attention to empirical responses from economic and political communication scholars on media, corruption and development in Nigeria. The problem; however is to evaluate how the social media have helped in the fight against corruption in Nigeria. The 2019 Corruption Perception Index by Transparency International in 2019 ranked Nigeria 146 out of 180 countries analyzed. This rating is a sad development to the socio-economic advancement of Nigeria as foreign investors, and highly quoted companies would not want to invest and do business in Nigeria. Corruption has destroyed the entire system of governance in Nigeria (Okolo & Akpokighe, 2014), and this makes it difficult to fight and reduce crime to the barest minimum. Prof. Patrick Lumumba a frontline fighter against corruption in Africa said: “the African Continent has lagged in most facets of human development and its largest country; Nigeria has remained in poverty due to fraudulent activities in public service” (Ogundipe, 2016). Internationally, Nigeria is a laughing stock because no country takes them seriously because of weak institutions caused by corruption.
- OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The study has one main objective which is sub-divided into general and specific objectives. The general objective is to examine is to examine the public assessment of social media roles toward fighting corruption in Nigeria. The specific objective are:
- To examine the frequency of exposure to issues of corruption on social media
- To explore the levels of preference given to corruption stories by social media users in Nigeria
- To assess the level of public involvement in corruption stories on social media
- To examine public disposition of social media treatment of issues of corruption in Nigeria
- RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The following research questions were formulated by the researcher to aid the completion of the study;
- Are the public frequently expose to issues of corruption on social media?
- Does social media users gives prominence to corruption stories in Nigeria?
- Does member of the public frequently get involve in corruption stories on social media?
- What is the public disposition of social media coverage of corruption in Nigeria?
- RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
The following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher in null form to aid the completion of the study;
H0: social media users does not gives prominence to corruption stories in Nigeria
H0: public disposition does not influence social media roles towards fighting corruption in Nigeria
- SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The scope of the study covers public assessment of social media roles towards fighting corruption in Nigeria. The study focused on social media messages and stories of corruption, the level of public engagement and trends on corruption post and cases on diver’s social media platform.
- LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
In the course of this study, there are some factors that limit the scope of the study which were beyond the researcher’s control;
AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study
TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.
FINANCE: The finance available for the research work does not allow for wider coverage as resources are very limited as the researcher has other academic bills to cover.
- SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
It is believed that at the completion of the study, the findings will be of great importance to student of public administration as the study will serve as a reference point to further studies on the subject matter, The study is of eminence benefit in regulating, the Use of social Media and the Mode of new Age communication, in regularizing the use of social media and its effect on the Masses. How ,it serve as a weapon to the Audience ,towards combating against corruption ,as there is freedom of expression in the public, towards disseminating information , within and outside the Country ,using the Social Media
- OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS
Corruption: dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery. the process by which a word or expression is changed from its original state to one regarded as erroneous or debased.
Social Media: websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking. Computer-mediated technologies that facilitate the creation and sharing of information, ideas, career interests and other forms of expression via virtual communities and networks.(facebook, twitter , Instagram, whatsapp).
Public: concerning the people as a whole, done, perceived, or existing in open view, of or provided by the state rather than an index.
Perception: the ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses. the way in which something is regarded, understood, or interpreted.
1.10 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY
This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows
Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), statement of problem, objectives of the study, research question, significance or the study, research methodology, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlight the theoretical framework on which the study its based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding. Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.
