How the Nigerian PLEDGE can turn Nigeria around
Recently, I listened to a Nigerian teen recite the Nigerian Pledge at a Nigerian party here in Baltimore. It was so moving that my mind went back to old good days at the Community Primary School Umueze Amaimo in Ikeduru LGA of Imo State. No school day began and ended without the Pledge. At home, the Pledge resonated daily through the media. IBC (Imo Broadcasting Cooperation) TV would close at midnight with the Pledge. If you forgot to turn off your radio before going to bed, NTA would wake you up with the Pledge early in the morning. I am not sure what the practice is today. Nonetheless, while everyone else ate, drank and danced…
How Professional Associations can stop Corruption in Nigeria
Professional associations are umbrella organizations that bring people of same profession or career together mainly to protect and advance their career interests. There are ‘a million’ of them across the globe! Some that come to mind in Nigeria include: Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Association of Nigerian Medical Practitioners (ANMP), Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), etc. I asked several Nigerians what these associations stand for. Hundred percent of those asked said they fight for the right of their members. “Why do you think so?” I asked. “Because they are always going on strike because the Government won’t pay them their salaries,” they said. Rightly, fighting…
Should Nigerian Public Employees (Government Workers) also accept TIPS?
Whether you are cashing a cheque over the counter, going through immigration at the airports, making a complaint to a police officer, renewing your driver’s license, receiving a title from a royal father, ordering a drink in a bar, obtaining your transcripts from your college, arranging for a funeral with a clergy or even being rushed into the emergency room in Nigeria, be prepared to TIP. Technically, tip means “a sum of money given to someone as a reward for their services”. It is not to be confused with wage or salary, which is a sum of money due to someone for their services. Generally, tip is often optional and the amount determined by the…
How “Whistleblowing” Can Save Nigeria
Chioma has just discovered that her new employer (a pharmaceutical company licensed by NAFDAC to produce certain drugs in Nigeria) is producing fake drugs for sale in the Nigerian market. She is deeply troubled. On one hand she worries that the fake drugs may hurt unsuspecting Nigerians, if she does not speak out. On the other hand she is worried that she may loose her job, if she speaks out. So, she called again asking: “What should I do?” “Whistleblowing”, as Professor Michelle Cotton of the University of Baltimore has described it, “is the action of bringing to public attention or to the attention of law enforcement an instance of company misbehavior, for the benefit…
Nigerian Physicians and Our Right to Know
Chioma called again! You remember her? The woman her boss was pressing for an affair (See https://theleaderassumpta.com/category/columns/ethics-corner/ or www.csaaeinc.org/blog for full story). I thought she was going to talk about this affair. No. This time it was about her sick mother. “Could you please pray for her, she is in a hospital at Owerri”, she said. I know her mother, a 65 year old “rural woman”. I called this woman. “Mama, what’s the matter?” “The Doctor has not told me anything”, she answered. “What medication has he given you?” “He did not tell me, he just said that I will be fine.” I have heard this several times, especially from poorer and less educated Nigerians. Regardless…
Work Place Romance: How Ethical?
Good news! Chioma finally secured a job in a hospital at Enugu. You remember Chioma: The lady that refused to have sex with her various recruiters in exchange for a job (See Ethics Corner in April 21, 2013 edition of the Leader Newspapers or visit www.csaaeinc.org/blog/ for full story). As I argued in that article, the behavior of Chioma’s recruiters – known as quid pro quo – is a highly unethical behavior common in the Nigerian Job market. It is thus good news that her recruiter this time did not ask for sex in exchange for a job. However, just a few weeks into the new job, Chioma’s new boss – a physician – is…
