An Examination of Work Ethics and Ethical Conducts in the Nigeria Police Force

Abstract

The paper examined the professional practices and the legal framework on ethical conduct in the Nigeria Police with its service discipline and institutional procedures, as applicable in Nigeria. These were with a view to undertaking a holistic review of the nature and meaning of associated terms and various ethical instruments in the Nigeria Police.

The study adopted doctrinal methodology and placed reliance on both primary and secondary sources of information. The primary source included the successive Constitutions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, international laws and conventions, and various statutes in Nigeria relating to regimentary institutional ethics, unstructured interviews, and judicial decisions. The secondary source of information included books, journal articles, conference proceedings, newspaper and magazine publications and the internet. Data collected were subjected to content analysis.

The study found that damning past image remains the greatest of all the challenges which continue to haunt the police. The study also found that, if the police must fulfil the accomplishment of its noble objectives, in Nigeria, it needs the citizens’ support through an effective and selfless service. The study further found that, though there is enough legal framework or provisions in the Nigerian law for enhancement of sound moral values in the Police Force, individual officers’ greed, psycho-social imbalance and eco-political dilemma continued to play a counter-productive role in the attainment of sound ethical standards. In conclusion, the various constitutional and statutory provisions prescribing an ethical code are emplaced to impact police officers positively in the service of the nation.

KEY WORDS: Work Ethics; Ethical Conduct; Police officer; the Nigeria Police; Ethical Standard; Service

DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/146-03

Publication date: February 28^th 2025