ASSESSMENT OF THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA IN ANTI – CORRUPTION CAMPAGIN

ABSTRACT:

This study evaluates the role of mass media in the fight against corruption in Nigeria, focusing on their contribution to the dissemination of anti-corruption efforts led by bodies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). Corruption has long plagued Nigeria’s socio-political and economic landscape, often earning the nation unfavorable rankings in global transparency indices. Against this backdrop, the study assesses the effectiveness of mass media—television, radio, newspapers, magazines, and the internet—in creating public awareness and influencing attitudes toward corruption.

A descriptive research design was employed, with data collected via structured questionnaires distributed among media consumers. The findings indicate that the mass media play an indispensable role in informing the public about anti-corruption activities, influencing public opinion, and fostering societal accountability. However, gaps remain in the media’s ability to hold powerful individuals and institutions accountable effectively.

The study highlights the need for more investigative reporting, increased public participation through media platforms, and enhanced media independence to strengthen the fight against corruption. These findings emphasize the critical role of the media as a watchdog, capable of driving societal change by exposing corruption and advocating for transparency.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

          Nigeria has become a country playing host to the victory of wrong over light, falsehood over the truth and supremacy of personal irresponsibility over fundamental values. It is a country perpetuating a policy that fails to value human life and cherish human beings above material possession, power and pleasures, it is a place where men and women of honor, experience, credibility and self consciousness have been cut their prime for daring to talk. It is a place where crooks are not protected by the powers-that-be and where leaders are not determined by the citizens. Votes. Without doubt, Nigeria is breeding fraud of corruption.

          For a Nigerian, it is quite disheartening to note that to a foreigners, the mere mention of Nigeria confuses up the thought of corruption, or is it that corruption remains them of Nigeria. Whichever angle one look at the simple point is that Nigeria has become almost interchangeable with the vicious word “corruption”

          However, as one person noted, nothing is so bad that something good cannot come from it: the truth of those words can be seen in the activities of some honest, conscientious and positive goal oriented individuals as well as corporate bodies who are bent on redeeming  the tainted image of Nigeria. The government on its part set up a corruption checking commission to help in pruning down irregularities in government and public offices. And with the aid of the mass media of communication, the proceedings and going on are being carried wide for the participation of the entire citizenry

          Yes, the mass media are brought into focus because of the indispensable part they play or are meant to play. The mass media which include musically the Television, Radio, Newspaper, magazine and internet are the means through which information are disseminated and communication is done with a wide anonymous heterogeneous and diversified individuals and group simultaneously. Because of this far reaching ability, journalist are expected now and then to use them in promoting national unity and development in economic, social, political and educational spheres. They have also been found to be very effective in influencing peoples opinions and ideas on government activities. Thus the mass media have been employed in propagating programmes that are geared towards righting the wrong in a given society.

          Nevertheless, in a country like ones where the government put so much emphasis in the fight against corruption with nothing to show for it such that the globally-respected “transparency International” has consistently rated Nigeria either as the most corrupt country – what are the media doing in the campaign against corruption. In fact what is the role of mass media in anti-corruption campaign? This work is to assess the role of the media in this regard

1.2     STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

          There is much corruption in Nigeria. Especially is this disheartening when one notices that they are perpetuated by the people in government, who almost are seen as sacred cows – the untouchable. But in recent times, the government has indicated interest in the fight against corruption, thus setting up the “Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)” and the “Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences commission (ICPC)” other bodies also exist that fight corruption in public as well as in private quarters.

          With this state of affairs the mass media are called into play because they are the only medium which the proceedings of these anti-corruption bodies can be disseminated. Additionally, the mass media on their own have the responsibility of society servicing. Thus are the mass media playing their role well?

          To find that out, we are set to assess the role of the mass media in this area.

1.3     PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

          This research work is meant to assess the role the media play in the ant-corruption campaigns. The objective in the process is to examine the activities of the Nigeria media, whether paint or broadcast, to find out how they enlighten the masses in the light of the widespread corruption in Nigeria. Whether the media are living up to expectation will be assessed through the opinion of the media consumers.

1.4     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

          The study will be of immense important to both the Nigerian media and the masses who are of course the media consumers. The media are conventionally said to be the watch dog of the society who not only entertain but enlighten and inform on what is happening near and far.

          The media would hardly be informing and enlightening the public: if they don’t cover report and even broadcast daily happening, if they do not examine and investigate irregularities and report findings, if they do not create avenue for the public to contribute their own opinion as part of corporate citizenship, thus helping everybody to feel part and parcel of society development.

          To that end, the findings of this work will reveal whether the media have been living up to expectation in the area of anti – corruption campaign. If at the end, the opinions of people revealed that the media have not been measuring up, it then requires that the next study be or how to make the media live up to their roles.