The media and war against corruption in nigeria ppt

The Media and War against
Corruption in Nigeria
By
Nzeaka,Emmanuel Ezimako

Introduction
The media and society are like the two sides
of a coin mutual and inseparable, each
determines the other in a peculiar way.

The main functions of the media in society are
for surveillance, correlation, transmission of
culture information dissemination,
management, instruction and mobilization
(Harold Lasswell1948; Wilbur Schramm 1964;
Elizabeth Noelle Newman 1973; Dennis
McQuail 2005.

To do this in the right way, the media should
monitor people, objects and activities to be
certain they conform with the social norms for
control and regulations.
This is done by exposing any violation and
releasing to the public the pieces of
information in anticipation of expected
reaction or action on the matter(Seema
Hasan,2014).

This is done through the news. Some of these
newsworthy items that the media want to
draw our attention to may include a social
problem like corruption.
By doing these, the media have performed
some of their functions to society.

What is Corruption?
The word corruption connotes varied
meanings and consequently it is very complex
to define.
The United Nations Convention against
Corruption points out that it is so multifaceted
that that it defies a definite
definition(Stople,2008).

What is Corruption?
It can also be seen neglect of duty and abuse
of social norms (Windsor& Gertz, 2000).
A teacher/an academic who plagiarizes
without due recognition of the original work is
involved in academic corruption.

What is Corruption?
There are many attractions that elicit
corruption:
political and economic power.
Drug addiction.
Gambling.
Human trafficking.
Pecuniary gains to get undue recognition in
society.

Corruption in Nigeria is endemic.
It has permeated the social fabric.
This appalling situation could be connected
with the social challenges that have bedeviled
the country since colonialism, which eroded
the traditional norms of society.

Some of these reasons include:
Colonialism, dictatorship, under development,
cash economy, lack of education, lack of
nationalism, coupled with dearth of ethical
and moral values(Callaghy 1986;Ossei
1999;Ruzidana 1988).
It has been elevated to a statecraft.

According to African Union, corruption
consumes about $140 billion every year from
the continent, which is about 25% of the GDP
(Ribadu, 2009)
In the past fifty years, an estimated $ 1 trillion
left the continent through corruption
(Adeyemi, 2017)

Corruption in Africahttp://allafrica.com/stories/201705250313.html

In Nigeria, according to reports, government
official have stolen about$440 billion, six
times the money used to reconstruct Europe
after the Second World War ( Sorunmi et
al,2010).

From 1999-2014 Nigeria made $592.34 billion
from oil and gas
Non –oil sector made N149.52 billion
Non can be accounted for due to corruption
Reports from National Exractive Industries
Transperency Initiative(NEITI)

In 2016, transparency international ranked
Nigeria 136 least corrupt nation on earth
according corruption perception index. See
graph below:

Nigeria is the 136 least corrupt nations out of
175 countries, according to the 2016
Corruption Perceptions Index reported by
Transparency International.
Corruption Rank in Nigeria averaged 119.14
from 1996 until 2016, reaching an all-time
high of 152 in 2005 and a record low of 52 in
1997.

The Media and the War against
The media have made concerted efforts in
Nigeria to fulfill its duties to the public as
regards corruption by giving news to the
people about corruption.

It has fulfilled its duties by publishing news
about corrupt people and unethical practices
in the country.
From destruction of personal files in the
ministry, judiciary, bank heist, armed robbery,
advanced fee fraud.
Embezzlement of public funds by politicians
and top public servants.

Therefore beyond just awareness, it also
pushed for consequences and trials of the
culprits through investigative and exhaustive
journalism.

The World Bank states that, the media is
entrusted with a crucial role in presenting an
environment that will check corruption and
fraud as the press is a powerful means of
checking graft in society. (PREM networks,
1997).

There seems to be a correlation between the
media and the extent of corruption in Nigeria.
So, the more the press is liberated, the more
acts of corruption are exposed, vice versa.

The media in Nigeria especially the print
media have exposed multitudes of news items
on corruption.
This has led to several court trials, conviction
and resignation of many people in important
positions.

The media keep tag and monitor government
projects .
The contractors connected with them to see
that the job is done as planned by the
government.
Any corrupt practice is promptly reported to
the people.

Some Media Reports on
Corruption
Halliburton scandal in 2009.Thisday
Newspapers
Siemens scandal which involved a former
minister of communication and companies
from Libya and Russia to the tune of EUR 10
million –Cellular News
Vaswani Brothers tax evasion scandal to the
tune of N2.5 billion unpaid taxes to the
government

Corruption
Nigerian Ports Authority in 2004 which led to
the prosecution and conviction of topmost
government officials of the agency involved in
contract splitting to the tune of millions of
Naira. Thisday Newspaper, November 4,2009
The board Chairman and some members of
staff were given various prison terms from 2-5
years.

Corruption
An internet based newspaper, The Osun
Defender, also reported the acts of corruption
in INEC in 2009 in the governorship election in
Idi –Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State.
Beam Newspaper also reported corruption in
Brass Local Government in Bayelsa.
The local government officials diverted about
N27 million.

Persecutions
The media also faced persecution because of
the potency of the news items.
Many have been killed , some have also been
put in prison unjustly.
Some newspaper houses and TV stations have
been closed unjustly because of reports of
corruption

Assassinations
Newswatch -Dele Giwa, 1986,
 The Guardian- Bayo Ohu 2009,
 Punch -Omololu Folabi 2006,
Thisday Newspaper- Godwin Agbroko 2006,
The News -Bagauda Kaltho 1996,
 The Guardian -Tunde Oladepo 1996,

Impediments to the Corruption
War in Nigeria
The Constitution,
The Official Secret Act
Laws of Sedition
Defamation Law

War in Nigeria
Law of Contempt
Obscene and Harmful Publication Law,
Copyright Law,
Advertising Law
local government and state edicts
(Ese Malemi, 2009).

War in Nigeria
The brown envelope syndrome
Media ownership
Most of the media are financially dependent
on the owners who are also politicians in
government (Sowunmi et al, 2010).

Conclusion
The media in Nigeria have lived up to its
bidding in this fight against corruption in spite
of all odds.
They should be encouraged in gatekeeping
and agenda- setting duties
Autonomy of the media is paramount
They should exploit The Freedom of
Information Act

Conclusion
The media should fight for the adoption of
traditional African oath taking to combat
corruption in Nigeria.
Let government officials swear by AMADIOHA
and SANGO or in a powerful shrine or deity.

Conclusion
Stamping the emblems of traditional divinities
on official government documents and
contract papers may reduce, if not eradicate
corruption because it is our culture. This will
apply instant justice on the culprits.
(Ilechukwu, 2014).

References
REFERENCES
Adebowale,Y & Ali,A.M.(2009).Halliburton –US seeks Extradition of Briton in NLNG
Bribe Scandal .Reprieved on June 2, 2017 from
http://www.africanloft.com/halliburton-bribe-scadal
Adesina, F (2008) Analyst Examines Journalists Role in Anti-Corruption War.
Nigerian Compass 9th December.
Callaghy,F.(2008).Politics and vision in African, Chapal , P (Ed)Political Dominion in
Africa. Reflections on the limits of Power. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press.
Ilechukwu,L.C.(2014).Adoption of traditional religious practices in combating
corruption in Nigerian education system. Journal of Education and
Practice.Vol 5.No 5.
Macrae, J.(1982)Underdevelopment and the economics of corruption. A game of
theory approach. World develop,Vol 10 No8 pp.677-687.
Melami,E.(2009).Mass media law. Lagos: Princeton Educational Services
PREM Network (1997).Helping countries combat corruption: The Role of World
Bank. Washington DC, P.44.

References
Ribadu ,N.(2006)Corruption :The trouble with Nigeria. Retrieved from
http://www.gamji.com article
Ruzidiana ,A(1998)Corruption must be made more risky. Sunday Vision
Uganda.August 6th Page 9.
Salisu , M.(2000). Corruption in Nigeria. Retrieved from
http://www.lums.co.uk/publications.
Sowunmi, F A.,Raufu ,A A.,&Salako,M A.(2010)The role of media in curbing
corruption in Nigeria. Research Journal of Information Technology.Vol. 2
No.1.
Stople ,(2008)Corruption and anti –corruption in Nigeria. A paper presented at a
one day workshop in reporting corruption in Nigeria organised by UNODC,
EFCC and NUJ.
Tanzi,V.(1998).Corruption around the world ,causes ,consequences scope and cure.
Retrieved from http://www.imf.org/external

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