A SURVEY ON THE CAUSES OF FRAUD AND WAYS OF PREVENTING IT IN NIGERIA'S PUBLIC SECTORS

ABSTRACT: The main focus  of this study is to examine the likely causes of fraud and ways of preventing it in Nigeria’s public sectors with special reference to Nigerian National Petroleum corporation (NNPC). The study adopted a survey research design and with the aid of convenient sampling method, the researcher enrolled 36 participants in the study who are staff in Nigerian National Petroleum corporation (NNPC). A total of 30 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants. Data was analyzed in simple percentage using frequencies and tables.Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square and Pearson Correlation statistical tool (SPSS v.2.3). Findings from the study revealed that Non compliance to financial regulations is the key factor responsible for fraud in public sector accounting in Nigerian. More so that the continuous commitment  of fraud by top staffs of the petroleum sector has hampered the growth that sector and at large the whole economy who depends on petroleum usage. The result of the study argued that also fraud is like a canker worm, it can be prevented and as well controlled with the appropriate mechanism. The study therefore recommends that recommends that for the new fraud diamond theory to be effective in Nigeria, the entire criminal justice system should be over haul such as setting stiffer punishment and a time frame for trial of fraud cases, weeding out bad eggs from the judiciary and curtailing the exercise of presidential pardon and plea bargain which are being used as roots to escape justice on fraud cases.