SOME CONCRETE AND PRACTICABLE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS OF CORRUPTION IN NIGERIAN SOCIETY AND THE JOURNALISM PROFESSION

Abstract

The issue of corruption in Nigeria is nothing to write home about. This is because the name (Nigeria) can synonymously be used to represent a state where political office holders embezzle public funds to buy mansions overseas, operate fat accounts in foreign banks while a good percentage of the masses at home leave below one dollar per day, misappropriate project funds for selfish purposes, forge certificates to gain political offices, among others. Journalism practice in Nigeria on the other hand is not a sacred cow for this malignant cancer that has eaten and is still devouring the major fabrics of the nation’s political, economic, social and cultural sphere. The fact remains that the profession that is charged with the responsibility of educating, informing, and entertaining the public, needs to take urgent measures in addressing the numerous issues of corruption saddling not only the nation at large but the noble profession itself in particular. To do this, the paper strongly suggests: genuine democratization; tougher anti-corruption measures; redefinition of values; enhanced information flow from the government to the governed; and absence of sacred cow syndrome, as some concrete and practicable solutions to the problem of corruption in the Nigerian society. Finding practicable panacea to corruption in Journalism profession, the paper further recommends that; improvement of work conditions of Journalist; more vibrant peer review mechanism; professionalization; and networking with professional colleagues from other media organization as the practicable solutions to the menace of corruption in Nigerian journalism. It is believed that if these ideas proffered in this study are put into practice, the society would be a better place for all.