The Media, Corruption and Democratic Accountability in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic

Abstract

Transparency and accountability are essential pillars of democratic government the world over. These virtues are significant in measuring the success or otherwise of any democratic system. Apart from the activities of anti-graft agencies in combating corruption in the society, the mass media are often looked upon as important institution in the fight against corruption in any democratic system. This is because of their watchdog function of monitoring the actions and inactions of those in power. Thus, this article examines the activities of Nigerian media in the fight against corruption and the promotion of accountability in leadership of the country. The paper discovers that the Nigerian media have recorded a huge success in bringing public officers to account by exposing corrupt practices among government functionaries. The article further reveals that the mass media are constrains by factors such as; corruption, legal laws, lack of access to information, inadequate funds, media ownership, and lack of freedom of expression. The paper concludes by recommending measures to address the identified challenges.

Key Words: Mass Media, Corruption, Democratic Accountability and
Nigeria