INFLUENCE OF JOB STATUS AND EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT ON EMPLOYEE PERCEPTION OF AN ORGANIZATION’S INTEGRITY SYSTEM

Abstract

The problems of corruption poses a serious challenge to human development, especially in developing economies such as Nigeria, where inefficiencies and retarded economic growth have been attributed to lack of transparency and accountability in public institutions and government agencies. The introduction of Integrity System in Nigerian bureaucratic organization generated both negative and positive reactions among Nigerians and foreigners. This study therefore examined the
perception of workers on the introduction of Integrity System in Nigerian public service. The participants for the study were 500 employees of the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Transport, Abuja. The participants responded to Perception of Integrity
System Questionnaire that elicited information on several perceptions that employees hold concerning Integrity System in the Ministry. The results showed that the employees have favourable perception of the Integrity System: X2 = 17.68, df = 1, p<.01. The results also showed that job status had significant influence on perception of the Integrity System in the Ministry, with the senior workers supporting the introduction of the integrity system more than the junior workers: X2 = 86.87, df = 1, p<.001. Educational level was also found to be significantly related with support for Integrity System in the Ministry: r = .41, p<.001. These findings were discussed based on Nigeria’s socio-economic realities and suggestions were made for further studies.