Ejohwomu, O; Olugboyega, O; Omopariola, E D and Ejohwomu, I J (2024) Exploring the discrepancy between bribery-related legal and social norms in public project procurement in Nigeria. In: Thomson, C (ed.) Proceedings of 40th Annual ARCOM Conference, 2-4 September 2024, London South Bank University, UK.
Abstract
Over the past few decades, Nigeria has made strides in combating corruption through anti-corruption laws and dedicated institutions. Despite these efforts, concerns persist about the misuse of accepted practices to undermine these laws, particularly in the construction industry. This study examines the impact of bribery on the Nigerian construction sector and the conflicts between social norms and anti-corruption measures. The study reveals an artificial gap between bribery laws and social norms, exploited by individuals with questionable motives to legitimise their actions. Societal expectations often view bribery as necessary for establishing legitimate and socially approved connections. While the cultural practice of gift-giving can enhance performance and efficiency, its association with bribery hinders effectiveness and creates challenges for public procurement officers. Overall, the study highlights the need for a nuanced understanding of cultural practices in anti-corruption efforts and suggests that aligning legal frameworks with social norms is crucial for the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures in Nigeria's construction industry.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | bribery; corruption; Nigeria; legal and social norm; public project procurement |
| Index terms: | construction sector, construction industry, effectiveness, social norms, public project, efficiency, corruption, motive, Nigeria |
| Subjects: | industry analysis, Geography, performance management, social justice, professional ethics, psychology, infrastructure engineering |
| Topics: | Geographical Context, Human Resources, Legal Issues, Research Practice, Quality Management, Engineering Principles, Ethics |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here