THE INVESTIGATION INTO OFFICE MANAGERS IN PREVENTION OF CORRUPT PRACTICES IN SELECTED GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHMENT IN OWERRI

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

There are two keywords in this topic, which are Office Managers and Corrupt Practices. Let us first define or know the meaning of these words before going further. Office Managers are known as administrative service managers or the business office manager, are responsible for making sure that a company’s support staff is running smoothly. This can take many forms and depends on the size and type of company, so it could mean organizing, planning and overseeing a large pool of administrative assistants, or working with one or two people in a smaller office.

Office managers make sure that the office runs smoothly, which includes keeping supplies in stock, making sure administrative and office staff are doing their job, working with vendors, planning events, supply and energy consumption to determine cost saving and efficiency savings.

Corruption in the 21^st century has become a big problem and subject of great concern to all corruption involves willful and illegal exploitation of power and authority of one’s office for personal gain. From every perspective, corruption or corrupt practices has to do with fraudulent activity especially siphon funds that are aggrandizement only. Right from the beginning, corruption has been a vermin that has been killing and discouraging Owerri from moving up or welcoming new innovations.

From historical point of view, government establishment in Owerri have been in the hands of those who care for themselves, putting aside the yearning of the entire populace. Gone are the days when merit, honesty and transparency, has meaning in government establishment in Owerri, and this was them actually helping the State to move up.

Due to the noticeable nature of corruption in the State, the State embarked on policies that will eradicate corruption completely in the State. The State promised to fight corruption at all levels of establishment so as to promote accountability, higher ethical values and exemplary leadership among public office holders. In this case, no one shall stop Owerri from having new norms, new values and standards, that elected and appointed public officials should be transparent at all levels.

Corruption in government establishment in Owerri has reached its alarming rate that everybody, even those in power who are the greatest perpetrators of the acts are crying for redness. It has reached the extent that some social critics and cynics now feel that hell is not as bad as Owerri.

Corruption has endemic oracular and cancerous tendencies. It is endemic because it normally catches up with people. It is just as people of ancient times spreads in a system people tend to believe it just as people of ancient times believed and worshipped oracles. It is cancerous because it spreads from one person to the other until it engulfs the whole society, (Edeki : 2003).

Corruption thrives in Owerri because the society sanctioned it. Take for instance during the regime of Mr. Ikedi Ohakam corruption was institutionalized and elevated to a state craft that it was a popularly recognized instrument for the achievement of objective at whatever level in whatever degree and for whatever thing. The situation became worse that nothing will be impossible to obtain in Owerri provided the affected individual is ready to “play ball” and “settle” all the interest that may involve. We now work for money, struggle for money and argue for money and with it, we can pass on the road, get employment, secure promotion, buy our freedom, win contract and secure our right.

The numerous corrupt practices that abound in government establishment in Owerri bribery, pen robbery, embezzlement of public funds, certificate forgery, fraud, extortion, favoritism, nepotism, election malpractice, tribalism, to mention but a few.

It is believed that the primary concern of reasonable, caring and competent leader should be the welfare of his followers, the case is different and so far while out leaders pay lip service to fight against corruption and poverty reduction, and they wallow in self – adulation and sycophancy, and never seem to be tired of asking for more benefits for themselves. It is no wonder them that Owerri people feel no sense of patriotism, as our leaders appear insensitive to the plight of the masses.

Ojinika (2001) wrote that corruption is a disease of the mind and soul. In a State like Owerri where corruption has eaten deep into fabrics of the society, effort should be made to eradicate it. Perhaps it is in an attempt to eradicate corruption in Owerri that the president Olusengum Obasanjo has promulgated the anti – corruption bill to fight corruption, (Akanbi 2000).

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