AN ASSESSMENT OF PUBLIC RELATION PRACTICE. A CASE STUDY OF NIGERIA TELEVISION AUTHORITY

AN ASSESSMENT OF PUBLIC RELATION PRACTICE. A CASE STUDY OF NIGERIA TELEVISION AUTHORITY

CHAPTER ONE

1.0    INTRODUCTION

“Corruption” is a major form of social evil in Nigeria, which lends to harbor perilous indices that would never support the emergence of a healthy nation, a strong economy, a just and egalitarian society that can become the pride of all. This is a malady that has been diagnosed time without number.

Alluding to the fact that Nigeria comprises a very large society would be an understatement, hence, views are bound to be divergent on how best to approach the crusade against corruption administration, corrupt tendencies and practices in order to suggest how best to deal with the scourge.

The phenomenal growth of corruption over the years devoid of statistical data on corruption cases in spite of its widespread manifestation in the last two decades led the present during its first tenure in office (1999-2003) to establish the Independent Corrupt practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC). It was envisage that when operational, the cat establishing the commission would wipe out or reduce the enigma of corruption to the barest minimum and sanitize the conduct of the public affairs thereby restoring hope and confidence in it once again.

Examined in detailed are the histories personal motivations, disclosure, and prosecution of several cases, architect John Poulson who systematically bribed politicians and public servants in his attempts to gain Government contracts for his firm.

Individuals also involved in conflicts of interest, acceptance of bribes and gifts and unethical use of political influences.

Following a historical analysis of how existing standards of conduct and mechanisms to prevent corruption and misconduct developed, this book discusses the circumstances surrounding the passage and the contents of the prevention of corruption acts.       

ORIGIN OF CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA

The word corruption is not the name of a person, rather, one of the major sins practiced even after the creation of man. Corruption is as old as man himself, so its origin is from the old Testament.

The background of corruption is based on no other thing than sin. Biblically, what does the Bible say about the sin which corruption is included, in Romans 7:19-25 it says:

For good that I would I do not; but the evil which I would not, that I do not, but the sin that dwelleth in men.

I find then a law, that when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man;

But I see another law in very members, warning against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is my members. O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind, I serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

As the entire human race is affected with this parental sins, so also the Nigerians, but we should say thanks be to God through Christ who was sent to save us out of sins.

Development of corruption in Nigeria’s has not been a recent problem, it has been in existence for over years like a malignant tissue growth, it then continued to spread into every part of the nations structure, as the nation attains it fortieth year of existence.

Revelation twinkles out of the various probes are so mind boggling, that the serve as a confirmation that corruption is a lifestyle in Nigeria.

Perhaps, during this anniversary period Nigerians practices act “vis-à-vis” and corruption itself.

• THE BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM

The Church, from the inception was seen as the ground and the foundation of truth. And so, church members were seen as those who should adorn themselves with this outstanding attribute of God. Jesus Christ as the Head of the Church, founded it upon Apostle Peter as His principal agent, and Peter in his part, did not mess it up with his position by diverting his attention to something else and allowed Ananias and his wife Sapphire to introduce lies which is not Godly in nature to take pre-eminent in the Church (Acts6:1-10). The action taken by Peter, still retained the status and standard of how Christ want the church to be, for there was great fear upon every member in the Church (Acts 6:11).

But today, there is a clear indication that leaders are no more on the  path of truth  as Apostle Peter. Our Church leaders today introduce foreign attitudes and creeping things to come in and have a seat in the Church of Christ because they don’t know their chief responsibilities.

Our Church leaders fail to note that without discipline, people will still migrate in with their family ways of life and worldly characters to distort the nature of the church, and pollute it completely. They fail to note that discipline is a great teacher and an instructor. Once it is applied in any field, every Tom and Dick will seat up and behave well.

Leaders should also note that discipline is ecclesiastical in nature that is Assembly discipline.

• That it is that of a fatherly care for a child.
• That it is the exercise of individual love and grace glowing from the father’s love toward the erring child.
• That discipline is the father’s care over his family.
• That if discipline is not maintained in the church, it will soon be evident that the lack of it will hinders the operation of the Holy Spirit and quenches His Ministry. The point is, if discipline is not practiced in the church, how can we expect sanity in the world, as our church Bishops, Apostles, Pastors, Elders, Deacons, Deaconesses, Committee members, Choristers and others are members working in political arenas, education, hospitals, armies and police barracks, and in other fields of disciplines in our nation. If we follow the scriptural pattern, and shurn what is not Godly in nature from our families to the national, then shall the church be able to see herself as the leaders and the light of the world. The background of this topic is, let us do on earth as it is done in Heaven (Matt.6:10)

1.2    STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM 

Before expatiating fully on the actual point of our discussion, let us in a moment pause and have a glance to and full understanding of the term “PROBLEM”.

Oxford Advance Learners Dictionary defines problem to mean “something that is difficult to deal with or understand”. As the meaning implies, the researcher is about bringing to bare the problem he encountered at the period he assailed solving the research problem. The problems were experienced in the following view points.

1.2.1 Lack of Much Financial Support: Mere glancing at the research topic, a co-researcher, a book reviewer, and even the general public one will notice instantaneously that it is never a cut and joint topic which can just be assessed locally, but so strenuous in order to prove the levels of the researcher’s development and maturity. At this period, fund was limited in supply, transporting oneself from one state the other was difficult in order to gather some datas from various government departments and parastatals.

In another development, language problem was another canker warm setting into the system as an hindrance in that, in some places, must people still have the problem of expression, though we have schools here and there. The researcher had to spent some days in some states, liaised with people who will be able to assist in the translation at the period of interview with his people.

In the same vain, time factor was another major barrier that was at the forefront to hinder the researcher. According Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary time is nothing than “what is measured in minutes, hours and days.” Therefore, during this period, the whole programme was interwovened with ministerial activities in the church. That alone, sets in limitations to those steps he could have lodged out at the period when the information were gathered.

1.3    PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

          Before the emanation of the study as a scholarly work, it had long been embedded in the researchers mind the is actual role of the church towards this rampant of crime and corruption exercised daily by the people in our nation, even in the midst of the Christians. To the researcher, it seems as if the church is playing truant, and fail to focus on their Chief responsibility. They age needs to be reminded that, perfection is yet to be attained, for this is the age written of in (II Timothy 3:1-5) which says:

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, ungodly, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, dispersers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

Having the foam of godliness, but denying the power thereof, from such turn away.

Having a perfect insight about the above mentioned crime scanned and unveiled by the Holy Spirit to the Church, it should then be their place to rise up and face the challenge, by fighting and eliminating these crimes out from our nation.

1.4    SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

          This topic is raised in order to order tell the people to the inheritance of this nation both young and old, male and female that the creator and the controller of the universe is still in existence. He is the Amen, the one most powerful in nature, he cannot slumber nor sleep, and He is very active in His administration.

On the side of the church, the scholarly work is going to act as an eye opener to the blind, the feeble will be made strong through it, the irresponsible, will become responsible.

On the part of those who have no concern about the great commission, will now take it up upon themselves as a special duty assigning here on the planet earth.

Again to the church, the write up is to prove to them that, though they are in the world, they were called out of the world to be:

1. “The salt of the Earth”. That apart from its obvious use in cooking, salt was widely used in the ancient world to keep perishable foods from decay (Lev.2:13). Because of salt’s uses and characteristics, the Bible refers to it to illustrate aspect of the lives of Christians. Just as salt gives food a good taste, so the gracious qualities of their new life in Christ should make the speech of Christians wholesome and pleasant (Col.4:6).       

If they are living as they should, Christians will be a good influence in a world corrupted by sin as seen in (Matthew 5:13).

Because of its use in flavouring and preserving, salt symbolized a close and permanent relationship between people. It had a ceremonial use in making covenants, where it symbolized the unbroken loyalty that the two parties promised to the covenant (Leviticus 2:13).

Sometimes, however, salt symbolized judgment and desolation. This was because salty land was useless for farming and became a barren waste. Therefore, a conqueror may have sprinkled salt over a destroyed city to symbolized that it was to be left in permanent desolation (Deut. 29:23; Jer. 17:6).

1. The light of the World: by common usage, in the Bible times as well as today, light is figuratively associated within things that are good. In like manner, darkness is usually associated with things that are bad (Job 30:26; Psalm 112:4).

In particular, light is associated with God. As light can have no partnership with darkness, so God’s people have no partnership with sin (Prov. 4:18-19; Isaiah 2:5).

Those who turn to Christ for salvation are by God’s grace, transferred from kingdom of darkness into a kingdom of light (Col. 1:12-13). They became light in the world, as they take the goodsnews of Jesus Christ to those who are still in darkness (Matthew 5:14-16; Acts 13:47).

Ye are the light of the World, A city that is set on the hill cannot be hid. Neither do man light a candle, and put it under a basket, but on a candle stick, and it giveth light into all that are in the house.

Let your light so shine before man, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven. (Matt. 5:14-16).

1.5    RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS AND QUESTION  

The use of questionnaire was very paramount in this work and it aids the researcher to gather basic information pertaining to the work.

1. To know really the number of people in various fields who are in support of the fact that the church has a part to play before corruption is completely eradicated.
2. To draw out information on what necessitated corruption in our nation.

• To bring to bare why church leaders and members involved themselves in this brutal acts.

1. To show the level of capital punishment imposed upon the culprits of this act, but that cannot abridged corruption.
2. To collect data which will help in the testing of the research hypothesis.

When the questionnaire was in process, a diligent and a systematic order of following it adequately was adopted. Above all, the guiding principles to the whole work are as follows:

1. The need to cover the scope of the study adequately was at the foremost, and it makes the questionnaire looked so concise in nature.
2. The need to avoid exaggerative.

Steps taken at the time the questions were compiled: Approach were made to people in various disciplines to contribute their quotas verbally on what measures could be taken in abolishing corruption in the nation. On the issue of related literature to the work, various bodies were reviewed as touching the subject matter, just for the purpose of aiding in the advancement of making the scholarly work be so authentic and paramount to the researcher.

1.6    DEFINITION OF TERMS 

Corruption: This is a “deviant aspect of social behaviour that is more than a criminal problem arising out of the incompatibility of economic and political systems in certain respects”.

Progress: It is the advancement of achievements in the provision of all kinds of infrastructures in a particular society.

Bribery:  It is the payment that is taken or given in a corrupt relationship, such as: kickbacks, gratuities, payoff greasing palms, etc (Bayant, et al, 1997, p.11).

Fraud: It involves some kind of trickery, swindle and deceit, counterfeiting, racketing, smuggling and forgery.

Extortion: This is money and other resources by the use of coercion, violence or threats to use force.

Favouritism: This is a mechanism of power abuse, implying a highly biased distribution of states resources.

Nepotism: This is a special form of favouritism in which an office holder prefers his/her kinfolk and his family members.

Myraid: This is the amount of corrupt practices in large numbers.

1.6.1:    Role

The 7^th edition of Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines it to mean “the function or position that has or is expected to have in an organisation, in society or in a relationship.”

In another development, Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English adds that “it is a part taken by someone in life or in any activity, especially the part of same particular actor in a play”.

Finally, Abia – 2009 defines ROLE to mean one taking an active or an outstanding part in a play or any activity.

1.6.2 The Church: Here, we are going to see about the meaning of the word church in a very wider scope.

Concise Bible Dictionary by (Don Fleming ) (1990-2004), says “The word which Jesus used and which has been translated “Church” meant originally a collection of people, a meeting, gathering or community.”

R.K. Campbelt (1994) in his book “The Church of the Living God in his definition says “the church is a body of true believers in Christ, baptized by the Spirit of God into the body of Christ and joined to the Lord and to one another by that same spirit”.

Charles C. Ryrice (1999) gives the meaning of the word church in three dimensions

1. English Word Church (and the cognate form Kirk) are derived from the Greek word Kyriakon, which means “belonging to the Lord”.
2. The Hebrew word jahal “means simply an assembly”.

1. The Greek Word ekklesia meant an assembly and was used in a political, not a religious, sense. It did not refer to the people but to the meeting, in other words when the people were not assembled formally they were not referred to as an ekklesia. That the word is used I n this same secular Greek way two times in the New Testament (Acts 19:32, 41).

When the Greek Word is used in the New Testament, it takes on much richer and fuller aspects to that basic secular meaning. For example, the people themselves, whether assembled or not, are the ekklesia. Nevertheless, the word as used in the New Testament still retains the basic meaning of an assembly and does not take on a supposed theological meaning (based on the breakup of the word into its two parts, “call” and “out of ) of a “called out” people. If the word is going to be translated on the basis of etymology, then it should be translated “called together”, not called out”.

1.6.3 Corrupt: The word corrupt according to Longman Dictionary of contemporary English means “to make morally bad: cause to change from good to bad, or to influence a person, especially a public official improperly”.

Moreso, the 7^th Edition of Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines the word corrupt to mean “people willing to use their power to do dishonest or illegal things for money or get an advantage.

1.6.4 Nation: Oxford Advanced Learner’s  Dictionary the 7^th Edition defines Nation to mean a country considered as a group of people with the same language, culture and history, who live in a particular area under one government:” an independent nation e.g. Nigeria.

Abia (2009) defines a Nation to be a place or a country where people of various ethnic groups lived together, practicing diverse cultures and traditions according to their believes.

1.6.5 Some Major Recorded sins in the Bible Practiced Today in      our Nation

          Below are some major recorded sins in the Bible which are the main sources of corruption practiced today by the people in our nation. Since most of these sins formed the basis of my write up, I at this juncture, have decided to list them out one after the other and then give Bible explanation on each.

1. The First Man’s Slaughter (Genesis 4:8), the portion says “And Cain talked with Abel his brother and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and slaw him.”

2. Drunkenness: (Genesis 9:24; 19:33-38)

“And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard. And he drank of the win, and was drunken, and he was uncovered within his tent.” (Gen.9:20) and Genesis 19:33-38) says “And they make their father drink wine night; and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father, and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also, and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. And they made their father drink wine that night also; and the younger arose and lay with him; and her perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their fathers. And the firstborn bane a son and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day. And the younger, she also bane a son, and called his name Ben-ammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.

3. Hatred (Genesis 27:41)

“And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing where with his father blessed him and Esau said in his heart, the days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I stay my brother Jacob”.

4. Incest (Genesis 35:21-22)

And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah this father’s concubine and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve.

5. Homosexuality (Genesis 19:5)

“And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, where are the men which came into thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.”

6. Lying (Gen. 26:7-8)

And the men of the place asked him of wife, and he said, she is my sister, for he feared to say, she is my wife, lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah, because she was fair to look upon. And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out of a window, and saw and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.

7. Jealousy (Gen. 31:1-2; I Sam. 18:8-11)

          And He heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our fathers, and of that which was our father’s hath he gotten all this glory.

8. Rape (Genesis 34:1-2)

          “And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.

And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, Prince of the Country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.”

9. Plotting Murder (Gensis 37:18-22)

          And when they saw him afar off, even them, they conspired against him to slay him. And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit and we will say, some evil beast hath devoured him and we shall see what will become of his dreams.

And Reuben heard it and he delivered him out of their hands, and said, let us not kill him. And Reuben said unto them, shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness and lay no hand upon him, that be might rid out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again.

10. Kidnapping (Genesis 37:27-28)

          Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelite, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content. Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen,, and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelite for twenty pieces of silver; and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

11. Adultery (Genesis 38:18) Says:

“And he said, what pledge shall I give thee? And she said, thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that is in thine hand. And he gave it her and came in unto her, and she conceived by him”.

12. Robbery (Joshua 7:21)

When I saw among the spoils of goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight then I coverted them, and took them, and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

13. Corrupting Selves (Judges 2:19)

The portion says “And it came to pass, when the Judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them and to bow down unto them, they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.

14. Taking Bribes (I Sam. 8:3), it says

“And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after luene, and took bribes, and persuaded judgement.”

15. Perverting Judgment (I Sam.8:3)

“And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribers and perverted judgment.

16. Despising Husband (II Sam. 6:16-23),

          But Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English defined despising to mean “something that is worthless, low and bad”.

17. Destruction of Holy Thing (II Chron. 28:24)

And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God and act in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the Lord, and he made him alter in every corner of Jerusalem.

18. Violence (Psalm 7:16)

The portion here according to King James version says, “His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his pate”.

19. Lack of Fear of God (Psalm 36:1) It says,

“The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes”.

20. Misusing the Law (Psalm 94:20) say thus,

“Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?”

21. Forsaking Parental Advice (Pro. 2:17)

“Which forsaketh the guide of her youth and forgeth the covenant of her God”.

22. Worshipping Planets (II Kings 17:16) it says,

And they left all the commandments of the LORD, their God, and make them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.

23. Giving Judgment for Reward (Micah 3:11)

The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money; yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, is not the Lord among us? None evil can come upon us.

24. Opposition to the Gospel (Acts 13:6-12)

And when they had gone through the Isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-Jesus: which was with the deputy of the country, sergius paulus, a prudent man, who called for Barnabas and Saul and desired to hear the Word of God. But Elymas the Sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

Then Saul, (Who also is called Paul) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou evening of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to permeate the right ways of the Lord?

And now, behold, the hard of the Lord is upon thee and thou shall be blind, not seeing the sum for a season. And now, behold, the hard of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shall be blind, not seeing the sum for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist of a darkness, and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

25. Changing God’s Glory (Romans 1:23)

The portion says “And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things”.

26. Evil Invention (Roman 1:30) It says

“Backbites, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents.”

27. Living in the Flesh (Galatians 3:3)

In this letter to the Galatians Apostle Paul States, “Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”

28. Loving Money (I Timothy 6:9-10)

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and unto many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drawn  men in destruction and perdition.  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

29. Fornication (Romans 1:29) says

Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers”.    

30. Living in Luxury and Sin (Amos 6:5-6),

The final portion here which rounded up some of the major recorded sins in the Bible says, that chant to be the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of music, like David; That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.

Download complete project material