Greed, Family and Friends as Drivers of Corruption in Africa: A Case Study of Nigeria

Abstract

Corruption is generally regarded as unethical behavioural practices that inhibits economic growth and development, affects access to infrastructure, quality education and health care delivery. It is a pervasive global phenomenon, which continues to permeate each and every strata of Nigerian society in various forms including misappropriation, nepotism, favouratism, bribery, embezzlement, money laundering and  outright looting of the treasury. This study examines the relationship between greed, family and friends influence and corruption in Nigerian higher institutions.  The study applies quantitative approach through a cross-sectional survey of 400 respondents selected using stratified random sampling techniques with a close-ended self-completion questionnaire. A five-point Likert scale will be  used to test the dimensions of the three independent variables (greed, family and friends) as possible drivers of corrupt practices in Nigerian higher institutions, with each variable containing five different scores arranged in descending order from 5 to 1 respectively. Data collected was analyzed using multiple regression analysis with the help of SPSS software The findings reveal that greediness, family and friends influence are real drivers of corruption in tertiary institutions of Nigeria because it establishes a strong and significant relationship between greediness, family and friends and corruption in tertiary institutions of Nigeria. Consequently, it is recommended that people should be less greedy while at the same time government should introduce measures to make punishment against corruption more severe than the proceeds of corruption. In addition, family and friends of top executives in our institutions should not be interfering in their official assignment so as to reduce the probability of corrupt practices and academic malpractices.

Keywords: Corruption, Greed, Family, Friends, Higher Institutions, Nigeria`

DOI: 10.7176/DCS/13-5-03

Publication date:July 31^st 2023

NB: This research work was fully sponsored by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (tetfund), Abuja, Nigeria, through its Institution Based Research (IBR) 2022 Intervention.