EFFECT OF REMUNERATION IN PRIVATE SECURITY COMPANIES ON THE CONTROL OF PROPERTY VANDALIZATION AND CRIMES IN NIGERIA

(A CASE STUDY OF HALOGEN SECURITY COMPANY LIMITED)

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

One of the human security issues that Nigerians face is crime. Several countries have struggled to curb soaring rates of murder, armed robbery, and kidnapping, as well as drug trafficking, sex trafficking, illicit weapons trafficking, and a slew of other crimes that cause crime. In Nigeria, crime is manifested by a convulsive increase in both violent and non-violent crimes. (Okechukwu, 2011). Armed robbery, assassination, and abduction for ransom are now devouring the country like a wave, instilling concerns and anxiety about public safety (Okechukwu, 2011). Nigeria has been on the global crime map since the 1980s, therefore the increase in crime has been constant (Dambazau, 2007) Poverty, bad parental upbringing, and avarice among the kids; get rich fast mindset, and an ineffective crime control model of national security, among other factors, have all contributed to decades of crime.

According to Osawe (2015), crime depicts the government's inability to provide a secure and safe environment, stating that "increasingly lethal firepower is likely to cause higher levels of destruction; and that the augmentation of sophisticated weaponry creates a vicious cycle in which competing militias engage in an arms race to gain dominance in capability". Such contests are often violent. There are no crime-free zones in Nigeria. The incidence and mortality rate, however, vary.

According to the Nigeria Watch Third Report on Violence in Nigeria (2006-2011), criminality is the second most common source of violence in Nigeria, and it is particularly prevalent in the south, particularly in densely populated cities such as Lagos and Port Harcourt. As a result, it is critical to continue to investigate both violent and nonviolent crimes in Nigeria in order to identify trends and patterns. Given the alarming growth in criminal activities in Nigeria, such as armed robbery, terrorism, and other associated crimes, the environment for lives, properties, and the conduct of economic operations is critical (Osawe, 2015). Scholars and social analysts have identified many reasons of crime. The availability of weaponry in the hands of unlawful users, especially civilians, is one of them, and it promotes crime in Nigeria.

By definition vandalization is the willful destruction of public or private property, works, art and the beauties of nature, a person who engages in this act is known as a vandal (Uchegbu, 2002). The word originated from the name of a Germanic tribe, that was well noted for their barbaric way of life during the 4th and 5th century AD, and which sacked Rome in the year 455 AD.

According to Uchegbu (2002), a  vandal  is  therefore,   “a  person  who   has  no   regard   for  decency  and  civilization,  and  expresses  such  characteristics  by  consciously   destroying  what  others  have  spent   time, energy and money to build”. In the context of the present   situation   in our country we can see that every characteristic feature of the word vandalism has been exhibited in the looting and destruction of public properties in various parts of the country. However an additional and alarming feature in this issue is that acts of vandalization reported in the country in recent year’s exhibit a touch of sophistication in the mode of operation which indicates proper and conscious organization of the crime. For instance  the  breaking of  petroleum  pipeline  in order  to  steal  petroleum  products requires the use of specialized equipment and resources to break the pipe,  collect large commercial quantities of the product, transport it and finally market them. In a like manner the theft of NEPA transformers and cable cannot be done without the technical skills, and other logistic information from NEPA technician themselves, judging from the fact that there  is  hardly  any  case  of  accidental   electrocution  of   the  perpetrators   during  such hazards    operations.    This    shows    that    “the    problem    of vandalization of public utilities in the country is not a political issue arising from a spontaneous response to political   instability but   a clear case   of criminal   felony. Those   that   engage   in   this practice are often criminally minded individuals who want to amass wealth at all cost and at the expense of public welfare” (Uchegbu, 2002).

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Crime and property vandalism has been a thorn in the side of Nigerians and has troubled the state of security in Nigeria. The rate at which these two factors occur cannot be overemphasized and yet despite how critical of a challenge it is to National security, it has been ignored for a long time. Many reasons may be attributed to the cause of these two factors in our society today, however, it can be agreed that a major cause of concern which must be looked into is lack of remuneration of staff which evokes feelings of anger in the individuals and cause them to take devious actions in order to survive.  There is little research that has been conducted on this subject matter especially on Nigeria, thus, this study will fill the gap.

This study seeks to investigate the effects of remuneration in private security companies on the control of property vandalization and crimes in Nigeria, using Halogen Security Limited as a case study.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The primary aim of this research is to investigate the effects of remuneration in private security companies on the control of property vandalization and crimes in Nigeria. Thus the following objectives;

1. To determine if there is a relationship between remuneration of staff in Halogen Security Company and reduction in property vandalization and crimes in Nigeria.

2. To determine if the relationship is a positive or negative one.

3. To determine the effects of remuneration of staff in Halogen Security Company in controlling property vandalization and crime in Nigeria.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following questions guide this research;

1. Does a relationship exist between remuneration of staff in Halogen Security Company and reduction in property vandalization and crimes in Nigeria?

2. Is the relationship a positive or negative one?

3. What are the effects of remuneration of staff in Halogen Security Company in controlling property vandalization and crime in Nigeria?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study will be significant in creating awareness on the need to remunerate staff not just in private companies but public organizations as well, as the remuneration of staff will aid in the reduction in of property vandalism and crime in Nigeria. This study will also be an addition to the academic world, as it will provide relevant materials for other researchers to make use of when undergoing their research.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study will be limited to Halogen Security Company limited. This work will only cover the effects of remuneration in private security companies on the control of property vandalization and crimes in Nigeria.

1.7 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The only limitation faced by the researcher in carrying out this research was insufficient time.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

1. CRIME: An action or omission which constitutes an offence and is punishable by law.

2. PROPERTY VANDALIZATION: The intentional and malicious destruction of or damage to the property of another. The intentional destruction of property is popularly referred to as vandalism.

3. REMUNERATION: Remuneration is the pay or other financial compensation provided in exchange for an employee's services performed. A number of complementary benefits in addition to pay are increasingly popular remuneration mechanisms. Remuneration is one component of reward management.

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