CHAPTER
ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
TO THE STUDY
The destructive impact of corruption
in the live of nations throughout the world is acknowledged. Corruption is perhaps
the most important factor that is impeding the accelerated socio-economic and
political transformation of developing or Less Developing Countries (LDCs) of
the world. In fact, it is recognized by development scholars that the level of
reduction in corruption has a very direct link to the level of economic
development of nations in the world.
The media and Civil Society groups
have been identified as the two very important weapons to fight the scourge of
corruption worldwide. In Nigeria, the independent press, by which we refer to
the newspapers and the newsmagazines, have been actively involved in checking
the excesses of governments and as well as others in positions of authorities.
The most focused and far-reaching war
against corruption in Nigeria could be said to have started during the regime
of the erstwhile president of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo especially with
the establishment ot the two Anti-graft bodies; The Independent Corrupt
Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The establishment of the two bodies
provided great impetus for the press to perform the constitutionally ordained
role of effectively watching over the activities of the government so as to
ensure efficient survive delivery. Despite the strident criticism that the war
was biased and the agencies were being used to witch-hunt enemies of the
government, the press still provided great support to the ant-graft agencies in
its activities.
A search through Nigerian
Newspapers and Magazines in the last nine years of new democratic experiment
show that corruption and corruption related matters are among issues that take
up sizeable percentage of spaces available in newspapers and news magazines.
Major Nigerian Newspapers usually carry between five to ten corruption related
new stories per edition. Most of editorial opinions and news features also deal
with issues of fighting the scourge of corruption and enthroning transparency in
government businesses.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Since the inauguration of EFCC and
ICPC as an anti graft agents by the ACT 2000. It has ever been saddled with the
responsibility of preventing and fighting corruption. However, much have been
heard about EFCC and ICPC but little has been reported about those that have
been prosecuted since 2000 and suspects on their watch list on a regular basis.
Many also see EFCC and ICPC as tools in hand of
ruling party to hand pick their opposition and to oppress. Similarly, little is
known about various money and other recoveries made by the EFCC and ICPC.
Therefore, this research intend to x-ray the role expected of mass media in
reporting and disseminating the activities of EFCC and other anti graft
agencies.
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
i.
To what extent does NTA
Osogbo report bribery and corruption activities
in Nigeria?
ii.
Does NTA Osogbo educates
and enlighten the general public on the
effect of corruption on the national development?
iii.
Is there any challenge
facing NTA Osogbo in reporting corrupt activities of the Nigerian leaders?
iv.
Has NTA Osogbo educative
and enlightenment programmes reduce corruption in Nigeria?
v.
To what extent has
ownership influence affected NTA Osogbo in reporting on corrupt
leaders?
1.4 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
i.
To know whether mass media
report bribery and corruption activities in Nigeria.
ii.
To examine various mass
media educative and enlightenment programme
on the general public.
iii.
To study challenges facing
mass media in reporting corrupt activities of the Nigerian
leaders.
iv.
To know whether NTA
educative and enlightenment programmes have reduced
corruption in Nigeria?
v.
To examine the extent in
which ownership influence can affect mass media in reporting on corrupt
leaders?
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE THE STUDY
The research findings will benefit not
only the mass communication students but also benefit media practitioners on
how they can use their media to fight corruption. It will also enable
government the need to give press enough freedom to perform their day to day
activities.
1.6 SCOPE
OF THE STUDY
Because of time, geographical
locations, fund and other necessary logistics, the study is narrowed down to
NTA, Osogbo. Therefore, demographical factors like of age, sex, and educational
background, work experience of staff and management team of NTA Osogbo will be
considered before administration of questionnaire.
1.7 LIMITATIONS
TO THE STUDY
The report of this work is limited to
NTA. However, some of the problems faced are limited time which posed a serious
constraint to this work as other academic activities needed to be attended to
as well. Moreover, inadequate fund to cover all media houses in Nigeria created
another limitation to this work. Another limitation was that few literature
materials were available for this study. Therefore, gathering of materials for
this work became difficult.
