Nnadiebube Journal of Social Sciences

Effective governance depends on how well public institutions translate policies into real outcomes for citizens. In Nigeria, local government administration has often faced persistent challenges that limit its ability to deliver basic services effectively at the grassroots level. These difficulties are further compounded by ethical concerns within the public service. Therefore, this study examines the determinants of public servants’ ethical behaviour in Idemili North Local Government Area when confronted with ethical dilemmas in service delivery. The study used a mixed-methods design. The population was 639,009 residents of Idemili North LGA, from which a sample of 384 survey respondents were selected through stratified random sampling and 11–20 interview participants chosen purposively across key stakeholder groups. Data were collected through Likert-scale questionnaire and in-depth interview guide. Quantitative data were analysed using statistical tools and thematic coding was used for qualitative responses. The study found that public servants in Idemili North Local Government Area had mixed but generally aligned views on how organizational culture and peer pressure influenced ethical decision-making, with many acknowledging their impact while others remained uncertain. It also showed that both factors significantly affected ethical behaviour, as a strong organizational culture tended to improve ethical conduct whereas peer pressure sometimes supported and sometimes weakened it. It was recommended that the local government strengthen ethical standards through clear codes of conduct, regular ethics training, transparent reward systems, and secure whistleblowing channels to promote accountability and integrity.

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