Jurisprudence and the Implications of Morality for Democracy in Nigeria from 2015 to 2020 (Published)
In 2015, a general election was conducted that led to the change of baton from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that pioneered the journey of the fourth republic which started in 1999. The change of baton brought in the All Progressive Congress (APC), a coalition of four different political parties representing different geopolitical region in Nigeria. As it is, the four political parties before the coalition had their own values which is a reflection of their moral and world outlook in a heterogeneous nation like Nigeria. The campaign slogan which was the basis of the contract of the political party with the masses was the need for change. A change that will guarantee socio-economic development, security of lives and property and justice for all. The expectation of the people was high on the assumption of office of the president in 2015 but the change promise has now been confirmed as a mirage. The objective of the study is to examine the implications of the application of the norms of morality in government in a heterogeneous state with diverse moral values like Nigeria. The study is doctrinal with data obtained from both primary and secondary sources. The study found out that the people and elected leaders were not on the same page as to the concept of change employed by the political party in government. The paper concluded that an elected president in Nigeria who is bound to emerge from one ethnic and religious background must shed the toga of personal morality and where norms of morality are to be employed in governance, the norms of public morality generally acceptable to the people should be employed.
Keywords: Democracy, Ethics, Jurisprudence, Morality, Security, norms
A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION FROM THE CHRISTIAN AND ISLAMIC POINT OF VIEW (Published)
The act of procreation exists vehemently for all people in their quest to producing and this idea (procreation) is common to all humans whether religious or impious. However, most couples have this dream of bringing forth children of their own shattered. Childlessness is often stigmatized and leads to profound social suffering for couples especially women in the developing nations. So, in the wake of infertility, many individuals may seek assistance elsewhere (scientific means) and very common is by the use of In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF). The birth of Louise Joy Brown in 1978; the world’s first successful In-Vitro Fertilization with the expertise and assistance of Drs. Patrick Steptoe and Robert Edward was the start of a revolution in infertility treatment. What was then an innovative scientific advancement now has become a routine medical treatment. Beside these help that is being brought to humanity by these advances in biomedical technologies, the adverse effects of them should not be overlooked. In line with this, the article has examined the technique involving In-Vitro Fertilization as well as some ethical concerns from the Christian and Islamic points of view.
Keywords: Christianity and Islam, Ethics, In-Vitro Fertilization, Infertility, Procreation
AN ASSESSMENT OF PERCEPTIONS AND KNOWLEDGE OF HEALTH CARE ETHICAL PRINCIPLES AMONG HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS IN THE KUMASI METROPOLIS (Published)
Ethical theories and principles in health care are the foundations of ethical analysis. This is because they have become the viewpoints from which guidance can be obtained along the pathway to a decision. Each theory emphasizes different points such as predicting the outcome and following one’s duties to others in order to reach an ethically correct decision. However, in order for an ethical principle to be useful, the theory must be directed towards a common set of goals. Health care ethical principles are the common goals that all health practitioners try to achieve in order to be successful. These goals include beneficence, non-malficence (least harm), respect for autonomy and justice. In addition, are other related principles like; confidentiality, informed consent and truth telling. The objective of the paper finds whether or not health care practitioners in Kumasi are aware and knowledgeable of the use of the ethical principles which their profession confer on them. The research employed the use of questionnaires and interviews to obtain views from 220 respondents from the Kumasi metropolis (Ghana). Respondents gave diverse opinions in respect of their knowledge about these basic principles. The research identifies that many health care practitioners in the Kumasi metropolis attach little or no attention to the implementation of ethical principles. Several recommendations are made in reposting the challenges faced in the implementation of ethical principles. It is to be understood that ethical theories and principles bring significant characteristics to the decision-making process. This therefore makes a research into ethical and moral responsibilities among health care practitioners exclusively relevant.
Keywords: Ethical Principles, Ethics, Health Care, Knowledge, Perception, Well-being
National Security and Journalism Practice: Emerging Considerations for Nigerian Journalists (Published)
National security has in recent times become a planetary concern with the security beat even more daunting for journalists. This has therefore necessitated the need to streamline the ethical issues involved in covering national security with a view to averting the disclosure of information that may create bedlam, cause damage and endanger national security. The nature of study was thematic and this necessitated focus group discussions among select journalists and officials of some law enforcement agencies in Nigeria. Discussions however revealed that most journalistic reports tend to blur the line of distinction between the right to know and the need to know. This was equally found to be borne out of a marketing concern by newspaper proprietors to have headlines that will sell their papers. Conversely, it was also found that some government officials, in the guise of national security, overtly classify information bits that ought not to be classified. Drawing from the foregoing, it was recommended that journalists should develop checklists that will ensure that national security reports must predominantly be devoid of technical and location details that are capable of putting lives and programmes in jeopardy. It was further recommended that news reports on national security must be truthful, accurate and must also be backed by a compelling need to reveal it in an ethical manner in contradistinction to wanton disregard.
Keywords: Ethics, Information, Journalists, National, Security