Exploring The Role and Challenges of Ethical Values to impart Good Governance: The Case of Dessie Town, South Wollo, Ethiopia (Published)
The objectives of the study was to assess the role and challenge of realizing ethical values in promoting good governance. For this study the data was gathered from both primary and secondary sources. The primary sources of information was gathered through questionnaire and interviews whereas secondary data gathered from different types of documentaries, published materials and internet websites resources. The gathered data were analyzed and interpreted by using tables and percentages. As the study revealed, the overall objective of good governance is to ensure good conduct with the concern for values, practices and behavior. These values are inculcated in an individual by his/her parents, teachers, religion, society and the environmental of work place. The essential duty of governance principles is to effectively and equitably implement ethical values of the society. Hence, it demands highly competent, well administration, participatory and good deal of sound policy formulation and distinct citizen orientation. The promotion of ethical values in good governance implies legality of government action; rationality in policy and decision making; evolving a sense of responsibility; creating excellence; facilitating spirit of individual and organizational goals; developing responsiveness; protecting the national interests; and bringing and elevating integrity. The study identified the role and challenge of realizing ethical values in promoting good governance in Dessie Town. It is recommended by the researcher that the officials and religious institutions must give high consideration to ethical values and principles for realization of good governance in the study area.
Keywords: Challenge, Ethics, Good Governance, Morality, Promotion
Whistle Blowing Policy as a Mechanism for Energizing the ‘War against Corruption’ in Nigeria (Published)
Corruption in Nigeria, just like in many other countries in the world, is an existential problem. Apart from the billions of dollars lost annually to corruption in the public and private sectors, almost all the social, political, ethno-cultural and religious conflicts in Nigeria can be traced to corruption in one way or another. As a tool for fighting corruption, whistle blowing has proven to be effective in many parts of the world. Within the first six months, the Whistle Blowing Policy in Nigeria, officially launched by the Federal Ministry of Finance on December 22, 2016, attracted thousands of tips, some of which led to opening of over 3,000 investigations and the recovery of several billions of naira. However, while the Minister of Information of the Buhari administration, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, applauded the gains from the policy in different forums as evident of the progress being made in the ‘war against corruption’, controversy has continued to trail the conceptual, ethical and implementation frameworks of the policy so far. This paper is an attempt to examine the theoretical foundations of the policy as well as the current application of its provisions against the ultimate objective of fighting corruption in Nigeria. The Ethical Theory of Whistle Blowing, Universal Dignity Theory of Whistle Blowing and Framing Theory were used to structure the postulations of the study. The paper argues that the policy, which is still awaiting the backing of an enabling law at the time of this study, may need to be further tweaked to speak to the issues of ethics, protection of whistle blowers and impactful communication strategies, in order to serve as a potent energizer to the ‘war against corruption’ in Nigeria.
Keywords: Communication Strategies, Corruption, Ethics, Framing, Whistle Blower Protection, Whistle-Blowing