Abstract:

Projecting accountability and probity and good leadership in the management of public sector activities are part of every public official's duty to adopt processes, practices and behavior that enhance and promote public sector values and interests that will enhance societal development. Thus, the objective of this study is to examine accountability and probity: necessity for good leadership and societal development. How Nigeria fares. In order to achieve this objective; primary data were gathered through field trips from the use of well structured questionnaire. The study employed descriptive survey method as the research design. Data were presented in a simple descriptive format using frequency tables and were analyzed using mean and pearson Chi-square contingency test with statiscal tool (SPSS version 22). The findings revealed that the weakness in law enforcement and punitive measures in curbing corruption and reducing the incidence of mishandling of public resources are a common occurrence noticed in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA). It also recongnized that despite good management of probity, mistakes, delays and disputes can arise and affect fund and resource management in public organizations. However, the study recommends that the government should be more active in imposing greater accountability and probity in the management of public fund. There is need for more pro-active measures not only to sustain it but to re-invigorate it to ensure that things are properly done and public funds and resources are not just being embezzled in a rather reckless manner. KEYWORDS: Accountability, Probity, Resource management, Public sector, Corruption