Some more remarks on the packaging efforts so far: The rules file in the
git repository is

----------
#!/usr/bin/make -f

%:
        dh $@ --with quilt,python2

override_dh_auto_clean:
        dh_auto_clean

override_dh_auto_configure:
        #fpc  -MObjFPC -Scghi -Tlinux -vewn -Filib/x86_64-linux -Fl/opt/gnome/lib -Fu/usr/lib/lazarus/1.2.4/lcl/units/x86_64-linux/gtk2 -Fu/usr/lib/lazarus/1.2.4/lcl/units/x86_64-linux -Fu/usr/lib/lazarus/1.2.4/components/lazut
        lazbuild -B netman.lpr && cd backend_src/src && gcc -lm -I../include core_functions.c file_functions.c backend.c essid_encoder.c automated_scanner.c -o backend

override_dh_auto_build:
------------

this is as bizarre as it is completely useless. Debhelper will use the
package Makefile with a target of 'all' in order to build the package
and with a target of 'install' in order to install it into the staging
area. None of the overrides is needed. The Makefile doesn't have an
install target.

With the following changes, the packages get built as intended:

---------------
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 55df54f..6b263d7 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -13,5 +13,13 @@ clean:
        rm -f lib/*/*.*
        rm -f backend netman

-.PHONY: all clean
+.PHONY: all clean install

+INST :=        install -o root -g root
+INST_X := $(INST) -m 0755
+INST_D := $(INST) -m 0644
+
+install: all
+       $(INST_X) -d $(DESTDIR)
+       $(INST_X) netman backend_src/bin/backend $(DESTDIR)
+       $(INST_D) netman.ico netman.desktop $(DESTDIR)
diff --git a/debian/netman-backend.install b/debian/netman-backend.install
index 5028afe..f7832d3 100644
--- a/debian/netman-backend.install
+++ b/debian/netman-backend.install
@@ -1 +1 @@
-backend_src/src/backend /usr/lib/netman/bin
\ No newline at end of file
+backend /usr/lib/netman/bin
diff --git a/debian/rules b/debian/rules
index 0e6d2ad..bf3a311 100755
--- a/debian/rules
+++ b/debian/rules
@@ -2,12 +2,3 @@

 %:
        dh $@ --with quilt,python2
-
-override_dh_auto_clean:
-       dh_auto_clean
-
-override_dh_auto_configure:
-       #fpc  -MObjFPC -Scghi -Tlinux -vewn -Filib/x86_64-linux -Fl/opt/gnome/lib -Fu/usr/lib/lazarus/1.2.4/lcl/units/x86_64-linux/gtk2 -Fu/usr/lib/lazarus/1.2.4/lcl/units/x86_64-linux -Fu/usr/lib/lazarus/1.2.4/components/lazut
-       lazbuild -B netman.lpr && cd backend_src/src && gcc -lm -I../include core_functions.c file_functions.c backend.c essid_encoder.c automated_scanner.c -o backend
-       
-override_dh_auto_build:
--------------------

NB: The backend permissions will need to be fixed up in a maintainer
script.