ABSTRACT

Corruption has been one of Nigeria’s most publicised evils since independence. Many members of successive military regimes succumbed to it, although one of the soldiers’ main excuses for their overthrow of civilian government in 1966 was the extent of its corruption. So concerned about this problem were the makers of the new civilian constitution that it contains a six-page “schedule” setting forth a Code of Conduct for “public officers”, including the President and Governors, all civil servants and even staffs of colleges owned and financed by governments or local councils. The code is enforced by a Code of Conduct Bureau, appointed by the President but responsible to the National Assembly, which can make public declarations of the property and assets given to it at stated intervals by public officers. A Code of Conduct Tribunal, appointed on the recommendation of the Federal Judicial Service Tribunal, can hear cases remitted to it by the Bureau and impose punishments.