Problems Associated With Contemporary Social Problems In Nigeria JSS1 Social Studies Lesson Note

CAUSES OF CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL ISSUES IN NIGERIA. 

Some causes of social problems we have today include: 

1. Corruption – This is the biggest social problem facing Nigeria and once this issue is tackled there won’t be much problem. Corruption cannot be separated from bribery, nepotism, favoritism, tribalism, etc. 
2. Greed:  which means the inner drive to get more or the strong desire to acquire money, material things, power, and other possessions for the sake of acquiring them to the detriment of others. 
3. Lack of Parental care – Rearing up children now is no longer the duty of the parents, children are now on their own, taking care of the home while their parents are out in pursuit of money and other material things. This puts the children in a position to instruct, guide, direct, correct, and scold themselves which results in unruly, wild, stubborn, and lazy children, etc. Without proper guidance, a child falls into the ditch and gets entrapped in the wicked trap of the evil one. 
4. Peer influence – Peer influence remains the strongest influence on a child, children influence their peers in such a strong way that a child from a good home can get bad because of the group or friends he keeps. Students should run away from anybody that they do not learn anything good from. 
5. Poverty – This is a situation in which people hardly make ends meet. Poverty also means the lack of necessities of life E.g. good food, good clothing, and good shelter. Since many Nigerians live below the poverty line, it then means the wave of social problems will be high as some will take to begging, stealing, etc. 
6. Selfishness – This is a situation where a person thinks of himself before others. He wants the best of all things in society but contributes little or nothing to the progress of society. A selfish person is usually undisciplined and self-centered. 
7. Ethnicity: Nigeria is a multi-ethnic country. Therefore, people in positions of authority will prefer to employ or promote somebody from their place bribes without considering whether the person is fit for it or not. This type of attitude may cause a problem in the society.  
8. Fear – This is the feeling of danger that makes the youths in our school join the secret cult group. 
9. Weak and Ineffective Social Institutions – Social institutions such as religious, traditional, economic, legal, etc. are today very weak and ineffective. These institutions or bodies reward and promote social problems such as robbery of all kinds, prostitution, embezzlement, child stealing, examination malpractices, etc. 

The traditional institutions confer chieftaincy titles to notorious criminals whose sources of wealth are dubious. This helps to instill bad manners in those who know their sources of wealth. 

The religious institutions have become polluted with fake pastors. Those whose stock-in-trade is to make people get all the money, the highest care, and girls to marry without tears. Corrupt public officers go to hide in power churches. Some pastors give information to robbers and get their share in return. 

On the side of law enforcement agents, they openly (before minors) demand and receive bribes. This social act multiplies the sin of bribery twofold. If those who are supposed to protect the law break it with reckless abandon, ordinary citizens will jump and pass it. 

10. Indecent dressing among the old and new generations: The new-age churches who want to win new members allow any form of dressing into the churches. This has made the young appear half-naked in the street. If these social institutions that ought to uphold integrity, honesty, contentment, and the like, condescend to the level of condoning evil social vices, justice, peace, harmony, growth, and development will disappear, the society will stagnate.