Crime By Government Officials JSS2 Social Studies Lesson Note

CRIMES BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

Corruption simply refers to the act of using one’s position for unofficial or personal benefits or advantages. 

Corruption is a major problem in Nigeria as a nation.  It exists in every facet of Nigerian society both in private and government establishments etc.  Corruption includes malpractice, electoral malpractice, extortion, and many others.

FORMS OR TYPES OF CORRUPTION

1.    Extortion: This is an act of forcing someone or an individual to pay for a service that should be a free example.  When a police officer asks for money at checkpoints even when a driver’s vehicle papers are completed.
2.   Embezzlement of funds: Embezzlement is an act of diverting money meant for official use to private or personal use e.g. if money meant for road repair is shared by the officials in charge of the contract.
3.   Bribery: it is an act of inducing someone by using monetary and non-monetary means to secure favor.  Giving and taking bribes are both punishable offenses.
4.   Preferential treatment: All forms of man-know-man arrangements are acts of corruption.  This is a situation where someone gets favors, contracts, or jobs not based on qualification or merit but based on friendship, tribe, immoral relationship e.t.c.

CAUSES OF CORRUPTION

1.  Poverty: Anyone from a poor family may likely engage in corrupt practices to bail himself and his family out of poverty.
2.   Greed: A greedy fellow is not satisfied with what he has as a result gets involved in corruption of different types.

        3 . Misplacement of social values

4.  Impatience
5.  Lack of commitment on the part of government
6. Poor upbringing

CONSEQUENCES OF CORRUPTION

1.                 It dents the nation’s image
2.                 It brings hardship on average citizens
3.                 It retards the economic growth
4.                 It leads to poverty
5.                 It discourages honesty, integrity, and hard work
6.                 It leads to unemployment

PREVENTION OF CORRUPTION

1.    Stiff punishment for corrupt leaders and officials
2.    Confiscation of poverty
3.   Introduction of civic and moral instructions.
4.   Honesty, integrity, and hard work should be rewarded
5. The government should give ICPC, and EFCC a free hand to administer justice to corrupt citizens
6.    Display of wealth should be discouraged

CONSEQUENCES OF CORRUPTION ON THE NATION

1. Dents the nation’s image: Nigeria has been known to be a corrupt nation all over the world. An international organization known as Transparency International has ranked  Nigeria among the ten most corrupt countries in the world. This has so many negative implications for all Nigerians.
2. Retards economic growth: The economy cannot grow in a nation where corruption thrives.

CONSEQUENCES OF CORRUPTION ON INDIVIDUAL

1.     Leads to poverty: The higher the rate of corruption, the higher the level of poverty.
2.     Causes hardship: Many people go through unnecessary hardship due to corrupt practices.

CONSEQUENCES OF CORRUPTION ON THE SOCIETY 

1. Increases social vices.
2. Leads to unemployment.