CORRUPTION IN AWKA SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ANAMBRA STATE; THE NEED FOR ATTITUDINAL CHANGE

Abstract

Bribery, extortion and other forms of graft are arguably often the outgrowths of a deeper culture of corruption which has proved disconcertingly resilient in the face of several attempts to stem the tide by the various anti graft agencies in Nigeria. This paper investigated the prevalence of corruption in the local government system in Awka south local government area of Anambra state. The factors responsible for corruption, the consequences of corruption and the suggestions on how to curb the menace of corruption were examined in the paper. To effectively execute the stated mandate, the paper adopted the cross sectional survey design and applied both the quantitative and qualitative instruments for data collection. The rational choice theory constituted the theoretical framework for the paper and the two hypotheses stated in the paper were tested using the One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The study found among others that corruption in the Awka south local government system was principally caused by the prevalent values for materialistic propensity. Social reaction to affluence such as the inability to question people’s sources of wealth was also found to inflame involvement in corrupt practices. Consequently, the paper recommended among others the need for value reorientation and attitudinal change.