Corporate social responsibility performance in the Niger Delta: beyond two constitutive orthodoxies

Abstract

Against the background of attempts to explain the poor Corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance of transnational oil corporations in the Niger Delta in the context of flawed approaches, processes and inadequate CSR packages, this paper contests not only the explanations for the failure of CSR, but the core idea that CSR is capable of engendering sustainable community development at all. Given the enormity of the development challenge in the region, corporations cannot, even with the best of intentions, make meaningful impact on host communities, mainly because of the structural constraints arising from the profit-seeking ethos which drives corporate behaviour.Performances en matière de responsabilité sociale des entreprises dans le delta du Niger : audelà de deux orthodoxies constitutives Avec comme toile de fond les tentatives en vue d'expliquer les médiocres performances en matière de responsabilité sociale des entreprises (RSE) des sociétés transnationales d'exploitation du pétrole dans le delta du Niger dans le contexte d'approches et de processus imparfaits et de programmes insuffisants de RSE, cet article conteste non seulement les explications données pour expliquer l'échec de la RSE, mais aussi l'idée de base selon laquelle la RSE est capable d'engendrer un développement communautaire durable quelconque. É tant donné la grande envergure du défi de développement dans la région, les sociétés ne peuvent pas, même lorsqu'elles sont munies des meilleures intentions, avoir un impact sérieux sur les communautés d'accueil, principalement à cause des contraintes structurelles qui découlent de la philosophie axée sur la quête de bénéfices qui impulse le comportement des entreprises.Desempenho da responsabilidade social corporativa no Delta do Níger: Além de duas ortodoxias constitutivas Indo contra o cenário de tentativas de explicar o baixo desempenho da Responsabilidade Social Corporativa (CSR) de corporações de petróleo transnacionais no Delta do Níger no contexto de abordagens e processos equivocados e pacotes de CSR inadequados, este artigo contesta não apenas as explicações para o fracasso da CSR, mas também a ideia central de que a CSR seja capaz de gerar um desenvolvimento sustentável na comunidade. Tendo em vista o enorme desafio de desenvolvimento na região, as corporações não podem, mesmo com as melhores das intenções, promover impacto significativo nas comunidades receptoras, principalmente devido às limitações estruturais que surgem com o objetivo de se buscar lucro que orienta o comportamento corporativo.Resultados de la responsabilidad social corporativa en el Delta del Níger: superando dos ortodoxias fundamentales Frente a las hipótesis que se manejan sobre los fallidos resultados de los métodos de Responsabilidad Social Corporativa utilizados por las corporaciones petroleras trasnacionales en el Delta del Niger, además de sus programas e inversiones de RSC inadecuados, este ensayo analiza las explicaciones del fracaso de la RSC y la idea generalizada de que puede impulsar el desarrollo com...

Shell Nigeria’s Global Memorandum of Understanding and corporate-community accountability relations

“…In Nigeria, the proactive pursuit of CSR initiatives and their implementation as a business strategy is a relatively new and an emerging practice. However, CSR practices appear to have taken a strong root in the Nigerian oil and gas industry (Amao, 2008;Idemudia and Ite, 2006;Ite 2004), given the increase in CSR budgets over time (Aaron, 2011;Akpan, 2006;Frynas, 2005;Idemudia and Ite, 2006;Ite, 2007). The prominence of CSR in the Nigerian oil industry stems from the fact that oil production remains core to the Nigerian economy and the negative social and environmental impacts associated with oil extraction are always at the centre of public scrutiny.…”

“…For instance, the environmental degradation, high poverty and the endemic nature of corporate-community conflict in the Niger Delta region where oil is mainly extracted bring the oil MNCs into public gaze and scrutiny. Consequently, oil MNCs have had to develop different non-market strategiesoften driven by corporate self-interest, the avoidance of negative reputational consequences and the quest for unhindered oil extraction (Aaron, 2011;Frynas 2005)to respond to both local and international stakeholders' pressures (Akpan, 2006;Eweje, 2007) and secure SLO (Idemudia and Osayande, 2016). In contrast, however, Ite (2004Ite ( , 2007 contends that the MNCs' pursuit of CSR activities in the Niger Delta is not mainly due to the need to secure/maintain SLO, but also emanates from a commitment to foster community development in the region.…”

“…Furthermore, there continues to remain disagreement about the extent to which the CSR initiatives of oil companies have contributed to community development in the region. For example, Akpan (2006Akpan ( , 2008 and Frynas (2005) both argued that the CSR initiatives of oil MNCs have failed to contribute to community development and in some instances have caused inter-and intra-community conflicts (see also Aaron, 2011Aaron, , 2012. In contrast, Ite (2005Ite ( , 2007 suggested that the MNCs' CSR initiatives have actually contributed to community development in the region given the extent of governmental failure.…”

(In)Effective Business Responsibility Engagements in Areas of Limited Statehood: Nigeria’s Oil Sector as a Case Study

“…Accordingly, they have continued to adopt CSR projects for the development of these communities. Aaron (2010) blames commentators for peddling the misconception that MNCs are not socially responsible.…”

The Role and Effectiveness of Institutional and Legal Framework to Combat Corruption Associated with Social and Environmental Accounting Practice to Strengthen the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

“…This broader scope allows businesses to identify areas where they can make positive contributions to society and the planet while also addressing areas of concern that may require corrective action (Aaron, 2012). Through SEA, organisations strive to be more transparent, accountable, and responsible in their pursuit of sustainable development goals (Aaron, 2011).…”