Corruption in the police force in Nigeria an Afro-centric ethical critique.
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Date
2014
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Abstract
This dissertation discusses corruption within the Nigeria Police Force as a moral decay facing the
institution. It provides an overview of the historical background and establishment of the Nigeria
Police Force as an institution charged with the responsibility of protecting life and property, and
maintaining peace and order in the country. The dissertation identifies various forms of police
misconduct, such as bribery and extortion, mass arrests and detention, illegal bail charges and
corruption within the leadership of the police. This deviant behavior has undermined the integrity
of the force, with the result that public perception of the police force is negative and national
security and development is undermined. Despite numerous anti-corruption strategies that have
been devised to curb police misconduct, it remains difficult to reduce corruption within the force.
This dissertation argues that implementing documented strategies in the workplace requires a
deeper moral consciousness of their civic duties on the part of the police. This would promote the
common good and increase the effectiveness of community policing.
To support this view, the dissertation critically analyses the inadequacies in the anti-corruption
strategies from an ethical perspective, and reveals the contending ethical implications facing the
strategies. In search for solution to curb police corruption, the dissertation proposes incorporating
in policing certain virtues embedded in the Afrocentric ethic of Omoluabi, such as good character,
respect, diligence and communalism. This approach could provide insights to complement the
existing anti-corruption mechanisms that aim to reduce police misconduct. In conclusion, the
dissertation argues that embracing values in traditional African culture could contribute to the
ongoing search for ways to combat police corruption. Therefore, there is a need to look into
admirable values gleaned from an African indigenous understanding of morality, in order to
address the ethical issues facing the police force in Nigeria.
Description
Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2014.
Keywords
Police--Nigeria., Police misconduct--Nigeria., Police ethics--Nigeria., Nigeria--Social policy., Theses--Ethics.