THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INSTITUTIONAL INTEGRITY AND PUBLIC TRUST AMONG UNIVERSITIES’ ACADEMIC STAFF IN DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

The study investigated the relationship between institutional integrity and public trust among Academic Staff in Delta State University Educational System. The research adopted a correlational design. The population comprised 3,390 academic staff from Delta State University, Abraka; Dennis Osadebe University, Asaba; University of Science and Technology, Ozoro; and Delta University, Agbor. Asample of 330 respondents was selected using a multi-stage sampling approach that combined purposive and simple random techniques. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire titled Institutional Integrity and Public Trust Questionnaire (IIPTQ). The instrument’s validity was confirmed through expert review and factor analysis, while its reliability was established using Cronbach’s Alpha, which yielded a coefficient of 0.82, indicating strong internal consistency. Data were analysed using Pearson Product-Moment Correlation to answer research questions, and simple and multiple linear regression to test hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed a significant positive relationship between institutional integrity and public trust. This suggests that universities which demonstrate transparency, fairness, and ethical leadership are more likely to earn public trust. However, sex was found not to have a significant moderating effect on the relationship between institutional integrity and public trust. It is recommended that university management and regulatory bodies, such as the National Universities Commission (NUC), strengthen integrity frameworks through transparent recruitment, merit-based promotions, and strict anti-corruption measures. Additionally, while maintaining gender-sensitive policies, institutions should focus more on systemic reforms that benefit all staff equally to build trust and credibility within the system.