This document discusses corruption in Nigeria, its causes, and potential solutions. It notes that corruption is a global issue but is particularly problematic in developing countries like Nigeria, where it has penetrated all sectors of society and hindered socioeconomic development. The document outlines several causes of corruption in Nigeria, including concentration of power, political appointments based on connections rather than merit, low salaries for civil servants, greed, poverty, and a weak rule of law. It argues that to overcome corruption, the government must take a strong lead in enforcing anti-corruption laws, exposing corruption, generating political will, and holding corrupt officials accountable. However, corruption remains entrenched and most Nigerians either engage in or tolerate petty corruption in their daily lives.
This document discusses corruption in Nigeria, its causes, and potential solutions. It notes that corruption is a global issue but is particularly problematic in developing countries like Nigeria, where it has penetrated all sectors of society and hindered socioeconomic development. The document outlines several causes of corruption in Nigeria, including concentration of power, political appointments based on connections rather than merit, low salaries for civil servants, greed, poverty, and a weak rule of law. It argues that to overcome corruption, the government must take a strong lead in enforcing anti-corruption laws, exposing corruption, generating political will, and holding corrupt officials accountable. However, corruption remains entrenched and most Nigerians either engage in or tolerate petty corruption in their daily lives.
This document discusses corruption in Nigeria, its causes, and potential solutions. It notes that corruption is a global issue but is particularly problematic in developing countries like Nigeria, where it has penetrated all sectors of society and hindered socioeconomic development. The document outlines several causes of corruption in Nigeria, including concentration of power, political appointments based on connections rather than merit, low salaries for civil servants, greed, poverty, and a weak rule of law. It argues that to overcome corruption, the government must take a strong lead in enforcing anti-corruption laws, exposing corruption, generating political will, and holding corrupt officials accountable. However, corruption remains entrenched and most Nigerians either engage in or tolerate petty corruption in their daily lives.
This document discusses corruption in Nigeria, its causes, and potential solutions. It notes that corruption is a global issue but is particularly problematic in developing countries like Nigeria, where it has penetrated all sectors of society and hindered socioeconomic development. The document outlines several causes of corruption in Nigeria, including concentration of power, political appointments based on connections rather than merit, low salaries for civil servants, greed, poverty, and a weak rule of law. It argues that to overcome corruption, the government must take a strong lead in enforcing anti-corruption laws, exposing corruption, generating political will, and holding corrupt officials accountable. However, corruption remains entrenched and most Nigerians either engage in or tolerate petty corruption in their daily lives.
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Onyia Emmanuel
AU 202100498 CHF Assignment
CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA, ISSUES AND CAN BE
CORRUPTION BE OVERCOME Corruption is a universal problem affecting all countries of the world. However, this problem is more endemic in third world countries, Nigeria inclusive. In Nigeria, corruption has become institutionalise. Scholars have discovered that, the problems of corruption have penetrated all sectors of the society- political, social, and socio- economic fabric of the Nigerian society. This study which relies mainly on secondary data, explores the conceptual and empirical review of the courses, nature, and the impact of corruption on the socio-economic development of Nigeria. In other to provide a good base to understanding the problems under study, Marxist theory of dialectical materialism was explored. The study observed that, corruption is more rampant in developing countries such as Nigeria. Also, corruption has impeded the socioeconomic advancement, and has dented the image and reputation of Nigeria which has adversely affected foreign investment flow into the country. Premised on these observations, the study recommends that, government should strengthen the existing anti- corruption, bodies i.e. ICPC and EFCC by making them truly independent, with adequate funding, and the use of modern techniques for dictating corruption. More so, subject/course on corruption should be introduced in our school curriculum to teach our younger ones the negative consequences of corruption from primary to tertiary levels in our educational institutions. Corruption is a global phenomenon which confronts all nations of the world. The only difference is that its prevalence, gravity and persistence vary from one country to another. The menace of corruption is increasingly receiving local, national and international attention. Nigeria as a state is faced with endemic corruption which has become part of life of her citizens. As a result of corruption in Nigeria, her quest for socio-economic development has remained a mirage, despite its enormous array of resources. The Nigeria economy has witnessed a stagnant economic growth. This ugly development has been partly attributed to corruption and gross mismanagement of the country’s vast resources. Corruption has tremendously affected lives, and provoked animosity amongst Nigerians. It has eaten so deep into the fabrics of the Nigerian citizen, the public and private sectors, governmental and non-governmental organisation and has essentially become a way of life and an important source of accumulation of wealth for those who occupied any strategic position in government. There are instances, where public officers converted public properties into their own private property in Nigeria. These problems therefore, provoke this study on corruption and its impact on the socio-economic Development of Nigeria. ISSUES OF CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA. Certainly, corruption is not a new trend. In 1900, Nigeria’s first Governor General, Frederick Lugard, was already complaining about the extortion practices of fraudsters who roamed villages claiming to levy taxes on behalf of the British. 2 Before independence in 1960, the colonial power was also accused of fuelling corruption by co-opting politicians involved in financial scandals, so as to blackmail and manipulate them. But in recent times the main causes of corruption can be listed as follows; i. Concentration of Power in a Few Hands: Some conditions are responsible for corruption. For instance, when government structures put too much power in the hands of decision makers who do not give account to the people, and democratic processes are absent or not functioning well corruption thrives. But effective democratic processes, parliamentary systems, political stability and freedom of the press lead to lower corruption. ii. Appointments based on Political Considerations: When government appointments are based on politics and people are appointed without merit, corruption will increase. iii. Poor Salary: If people in government are poorly paid and their salary is not enough for them to survive on, they will try to make up by collecting bribes.
iv. Forming Cliques: Corruption also thrives where
society is dominated by closed cliques and ‘old boy’ networks. This is a situation in which some group of people who have power try to prevent others from doing well and want to secretly keep everything for themselves alone.
v. Illiteracy and Ignorance: When people are
illiterate or ignorant and are unable to understand what is going on, they can be deceived by those who want to steal public money. vi. Low Personal Integrity: When personal integrity is rated as less important than other characteristics, then corruption will be the order of the day.
vii. A Weak Rule of Law: Generally, when the rule
of law is weak, the judicial system is not functioning properly and corrupt people are not punished, then corruption will blossom. viii. Expensive Political Campaigns: Costly political campaigns, with expenses going beyond normal sources of political funding, and the absence of adequate controls to prevent bribery or ‘campaign donations’ during elections provide room for corrupt practices. ix. Greed: An excessive desire for wealth without consideration for others can lead to corruption. Some people want to possess almost everything without thinking of the needs and desires of others and this leads them into engaging in corrupt practices so that they can acquire more wealth.
x. Social Attachment to Material Wealth: When a
society places much emphasis on the possession of material wealth as a means of increasing one’s social status, then people will do everything possible, including illegal means like corruption, to acquire such wealth. xi. Poverty and Economic Insecurity: Lack or insufficiency of the basic necessities of life and not being sure of what the future holds would make many people to be involved in corrupt practices. Tackling corruption and the way forward For effective growth and development, nation- building, and to promote national security, there is the need to combat corruption. Corruption has been a major problem since independence in Nigeria that would require many doses of medical for its therapy. To tackle corruption, a single and simple remedy will not achieve it. Nigeria has in theory, and the solutions in the books to tackle corruption, but like poverty bedevilling the nation, implementations of the laws are the Achilles heel (a vulnerable point) of the society.24 The following are require as the means for tackling corruption and way forward: Government must take the lead War against corruption at all levels in the country can only be successful if governments are prepared to take stern and honest measures against the evil. Any government that means to succeed must first rid itself of corruption. Despite the measures earlier discussed which are all very important in the fight against corruption, the key factor to workable measures is having honest leaders with the political will to tackle corruption. If there is an absence of political will at the top, there will be a general lack of commitment to enforce laws and punish the corrupt. Almost all national anti-corruption commissions point to political as the main precondition for their effective operation. Sometimes political will is real and sincere; sometimes it manifests itself as merely proclamations and slogans to attract voters. Exposing the danger of corruption and mounting public and civil society pressure can help generate political will and indeed even contribute to a change of government, as it happened in 2015 general election in Nigeria. Corrupt government functionaries in all agencies must be brought to book in accordance with the law of the land. There is no doubt that corrupt leadership can neither invokes the enthusiasm nor unleashes the energies of the masses for a rapid development. Can Corruption Be Overcome in Nigeria?
For far too long, Nigeria has been under the
gripping claws of corruption and, consequently, the prevailing political situation in the country has boiled over and reached a point at which Nigerians have all but lost hope in the country’s political leadership. No greater act of corruption has been perpetrated against the Nigerian state than that which has seen the country debased and devalued by political leaders who were trusted and empowered by the people. The Nigerian people have a penchant for falling for the eye-service approach of anti-corruption employed by our political leaders, while they - politicians and public office holders - continue to plunder the country with reckless abandon. Contrary to popular belief, Nigeria’s resilience in the face of everything being thrown at it is not inexhaustible. At our current trajectory, and not especially brilliant, the Nigerian people will continue tolerating this eye-service approach, thereby enduring the fallout of corruption until our nation collapses under its weight. It is commonplace for the average Nigerian like me to engage in finger-pointing and ascribe the corruption menace to the greed of public office- holders. Although this is not entirely unfounded, it is also important for each of us to look in the mirror, in considering the matter; it would surprise us to see a large chunk of the problem staring back at us. It, after all, takes two to tango. It is safe to say that all Nigerians living in Nigeria are, in one way or another, either outrightly corrupt or complicit in encouraging its prevalence. It is commonplace to expect petty corruption in the streets, our workplaces and government institutions. It is almost impossible to live, work and conduct business in the country without engaging in or turning a blind eye to corrupt practices. In the government agencies, you are expected to “sort” someone out before being rendered any form of service. In the schools, parents make financial “contributions” to the schools in exchange for admission or more favorable treatment of their wards. The students themselves engage in exam malpractice; as a result, our educational system continually churns out unemployable graduates who, in order to become gainfully employed, have to “sort” someone out. As can be seen, the very foundation of our country is laid on an unending cycle of corruption. It is essential to the survival of the average Nigerian. Nigerians do not generally lack the propriety of citizens in other corruption-free countries, neither are we ignorant of the fact that things could be better. We are this way because we have few options, and for many people, corruption is simply a means to an end - survival. With limited options and nothing to serve as a deterrent, we will naturally always choose the corrupt way, as it benefits us more. I believe it is groundless to expect the average Nigerian - faced with the difficulties of being a Nigerian - to obey the law in this regard, no matter how good it might seem, at the expense of their survival. So, Yes, corruption can be overcome in Nigeria.
Déjà vu: Corruption befalls administration after administration, citizens are the reason, and fixing the problems requires everyone’s commitment, as no other country or individual in Nigeria will solve them.