Examining the interplay of perceived organizational justice and psychological contract breach on police corruption in Nigeria

Abstract

Drawing upon equity and social exchange theories, this study expands police corruption literature by examining how perceived organizational justice (procedural, distributive, interpersonal, and informational justice) interplays with psychological contract breach (PCB) to predict corrupt tendencies among a sample of the Nigerian police. Two hundred and sixty-three police officers participated in the study. Data analysed using moderated regression statistics indicated that PCB was positively associated with corrupt tendencies. Perceived fairness in organizational procedure, distributive system, interpersonal treatment, and information reduced the extent to which PCB relates with corrupt tendencies among police officers. To reduce the effect of PCB on police corruption, the present findings suggest the need for police authorities and relevant stakeholders to always maintain fairness in their managerial procedures and practices as well as how they treat their employees.