POTENTIALITIES OF WHISTLEBLOWING IN DEALING WITH UNETHICAL PRACTICES IN THE NIGERIA CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES

ABSTRACT Construction industry is a very challenging and complex sector. The ability to control and communicate with various stages, process and parties to meet the project objectives are not an easy job and these responsibilities are on the professionals shoulders. Besides that, the professionals are also facing their own crisis and dilemma as an ethical professional. This study is focusing on three group of professionals; engineers, architects and quantity surveyors. The objectives of this study are: to identify the elements of unethical conducts; the characteristics and responsibilities needed to avoid unethical conducts; and also trying to identify ways to reduce these problems. 100 sets of questionnaire surveys were distributed to the professionals in Bauchi state. From this study, the political and social behavior elements is identified as the most common element of unethical conducts with 90% agreement by the professionals. A total of six characteristics that are listed as important to the professionals which include integrity; accountability; trust; being responsible; self-discipline; communications skills and certain personality traits. For the responsibilities needed, including: to protect the interests and welfare of the client; to be loyal and not to engage in conflicts; and the professional as advisor to a client were the highest agreement between the professionals. A successful code of ethics is when the professionals perceive that it was created to guide the behavior of the professionals besides reinforce a company’s shared value. The professionals agreed that this method is the best solution to the ethic’s problems. The finding of the study can also be used by the industry to increase the level of ethics among the professional in Nigeria.


TABLE OF CONTENTS Cover page -----------i Declaration-----------ii Certification ----------iii Dedication -----------iv Acknowledgement----------v Table of contents ----------vi Abstract -----------vii
CHAPTER ONE 1.0Introduction-----------1 1.1Background of study---------1 1.2Problem Statement ---------6 1.3Aim and Objective ---------7 1.4 Scope and Limitation ---------7 1.5 Importance of the Study ---------7 1.6 Research Question---------8 1.7 Research Methodology ---------8
CHAPTER TWO 2.0 Literature Review----------10 2.1 Introduction ----------10 2.2 Professional ----------10 2.2.1 Professional ethics ---------12 2.2.2 Professional Responsibility --------13 2.2.3 The Professionals Dilemma --------14 2.2.4 Professional’s Organization--------16 2.3 National and Internal Sources of Law On Whistle Blowing----21 2.4 Ethics of Construction Industry--------25 2.5 Definition of Ethics---------27 2.5.1 Ethics History ----------27 2.5.2Codes of ethics ---------29 2.5.3Internal Regulation Problems --------30 2.5.4Ethical Behavior---------30 2.5.5Ethical Dilemma ---------32 2.5.6The Ethical Crisis ---------33 2.5.7 Ethical culture ---------34 2.5.8Creating Ethical Culture --------35 2.5.9Ethical Work Environment --------37 2.6Concepts of Ethics and Ethical Performance------37 2.7Effects of Unethical Behavior and Conduct on The Industry----38 2.8Checking Unethical Practices--------40 2.9Unethical Professional--------41
CHAPTER THREE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3.1Introduction----------45 3.2Research Methodology---------45 3.3 Target Respondents---------45 3.4 Sample Size Determination---------45 3.5 Questionnaire Design and Administration ------46 3.6 Method Of Data Analysis---------46 3.7Conclusion----------46
CHAPTER FOUR RESULT AND ANALYSIS 4.1 Introduction----------47 4.2Data Presentation---------47 4.3Categories Of Practice By Respondents------47
CHAPTER FIVE CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 5.1Conclusions----------77 5.2Recommendations---------77 REFERENCES----------79