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Indiscipline in Nigeria: Causes, Patterns, Interventions and Implications for National Development

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 August 2021

Chikwendu Christian Ukaegbu
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Extract

The concept, ‘discipline’ has two broad meanings, namely, discipline as a field of knowledge, and discipline as order. The latter is the focus of this paper. Discipline as order has several sub-categorizations. These include the order by conduct and action which results from training, instruction, and education; the order maintained and observed by persons under control or command; a system of rules of conduct. Discipline is also used to denote control gained by enforcing obedience or compliance especially by use of punishment. In sum, discipline implies controlled and orderly behavior. By contrast, indiscipline means absence or lack of order. Simplistically defined, it implies unruly, wild, undomesticated and uncontrolled behavior. But when defined moralistically, indiscipline encompasses more serious violations such as crimes. Therefore, indiscipline refers to deviation from prescribed norms whether such norms are mere folkways, matters of etiquette or serious crimes.

Type
Research Article
Information
African Issues , Volume 25 , Issue 1 , 1997 , pp. 63 - 67
Copyright
Copyright © African Studies Association 1997 

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Footnotes

*

Chikwendu Christian Ukaegbu is a Visiting Scholar at the Department of Sociology at the University of Wyoming, Laramie, U.S.A.

References

Notes

1. The Concise Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1967.

2. Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam & Webster Company, 1981.

3. V.I. Okeke, 1988, “War Against Indiscipline (WAI) and National Consciousness.” Unpublished Manuscript.

4. C. Achebe, in V.I. Okeke, “WAI and National Consciousness: A Critique.” Unpublished Manuscript.

5. L., Diamond, “Nigeria: The Uncivic Society and Descent into Praetorianism,” in Diamond, L., Linz, J.T., and Lipset, S.M. (eds.) Politics in Developing Countries: Comparing Experiences with Democracy (Boulder: Lynne Rienner, 1995) pp. 417-91Google Scholar.

6. Merton, R., Social Theory and Social Structure, New York: Free Press, 1957 Google Scholar.

7. Faris, R., Social Disorganization, New York: Ronald Press Co., 1957 Google Scholar.

8. Ibid.

9. O. Nnoli, Dead-End to Nigerian Development, Dakar: CODESRIA, 1993, 10. P. Okigbo, “Abuse of Public Trust,” Newswatch, October 24, 1994, pp. 32-33.

10. P. Okigbo, “Abuse of Public Trust,” Newswatch, October 24, 1994, pp. 32-33.

11. D. Mbachu, “The Looting of Nigeria,” African Guardian, Nov 1, 1993, pp. 12-15.

12. R. Merton, op.cit.

13. L. Diamond, op.cit.

14. Ukaegbu, C., “Administrative Behavior in Nigeria: A Comparison of Private and Public Bureaucracies,” Nigerian Journal of Public Administration and Local Government, vol. v, No.1, June 1987a, pp. 113-28Google Scholar.

15. National Orientation Agency, New Directions, Abuja, Nigeria, 1994.Google Scholar