Corruption indeed is the bane of any nation. Its
malady cut across every religious denomination and political system and it
affects both young and old, man and woman alike. It is like cancer that
contaminates all strata of the socio-political and economic structure of any
society and its malignant nature is difficult to treat. Corruption is not a
contemporary affair, it has been on for so long in Africa. No regime in Africa
can be exonerated from it. The menace has reached an unprecedented level most
especially during the military regimes which saw the institutionalization of
the statement syndrome. The era of Obasanjo witnessed a crusade against corrupt
politicians and government official. During his eight year reign the country
witnessed the establishment of EFCC and ICPC two bodies that was saddled with
the responsibility of prosecuting corrupt officials, in their effort to
sanitize the polity. The then Inspector General of Police Tafa Balogun and some
bank officials were prosecuted but the efforts of these two bodies was short
lived when the regime of Obasanjo ended in 2007. The late Yar’Adua and
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan have not shown any political will to fight
corruption out of the country.
The
upsurge of corruption in Nigeria in recent times is disturbing. It seems the
menace has defied all treatment and the damages it has done to the national
life cannot be quantified. Corruption is a global phenomenon, it is practiced
everywhere, the Christians and all religious adherences are not left behind in
it.
The
menace of corruption leads to slow movement of files in offices, police
extortion at check points and slow traffics on the highways, port congestion,
queues at passport offices and gas stations, ghost workers syndrome, election
irregularities, among others. Even the mad people on the street recognize the
havoc caused by corruption - the funds allocated for their welfare disappear
into the thin air.
This
observation above portrays the true picture of what is happening in every
establishment in Nigeria be it private or public. The situation becomes worse
with the politicians who because of the quest for power manipulated votes and
rigged elections. The judges are not left out. As a result of corruption,
justice is perverted and judgment is delivered in favour of the election
riggers who are able to pay their way through. Recently, some Judges of the
high and appeal courts were sanctioned by the National Judicial Commission for
corrupt practices. It is a common belief that corruption is endemic in all
facets of Nigerian economy. It affects both the government and non-government
organizations and it seems nothing can be done about it. Corruption is a social
malaise that has holistically permeates all the nerves of any polity. It is
contagious and malignant to the physiology of any political system. Once it
sets into any part; it automatically contaminates all the strata of the systems
socio-political structures in ways symmetrical to the spread of a bush fire.
Corruption
which is the offspring of indiscipline is indeed the bane of any nation. Its
malady cut across every religious denomination and political system and it
affects both young and old, man and woman alike. It is like cancer that
contaminates all strata of the socio-political and economic structure of any
society and its malignant nature is difficult to treat.
WHAT
IS CORRUPTION
Different
scholars from social sciences, psychology, political sciences and religious
studies have attempted a working definition for corruption from their various
disciplines. However, all of the working definitions are interwoven. The most
relevant definition to this book is the one given by World Bank. The World Bank
defines corruption as the abuse of public office for private gain.
It
as any form of reciprocal behavior or transaction
where both the power/office holder can respectively initiate the inducement of
each other by some rewards to grant (illegal) preferential treatment or favour
against the principles and interest of specific organization (or public) within
the society. Overall, corruption covers such acts as: - use of ones office for
pecuniary advantage, - gratification, - influence peddling, insincerity
in advice with the aim of gaining advantage, - less than a full days work for a
full days pay, - tardiness and slovenliness. Corruption can also be defined as
an "anti-social behaviour conferring improper benefits contrary to legal
and moral norms, and which undermine the authorities" to improve the
living conditions of the people.
Though
some of these definitions of corruption have been around for over decades, the
recent development in Nigeria where discoveries of stolen public funds run into
billions of US Dollars and Nigeria Naira, make these definitions very adequate
and appropriate. Corruption is probably the main means of accumulating quick
wealth in Nigeria. Corruption occurs in many forms, and it has contributed
immensely to the poverty and misery of a large segment of the Nigerian
population. Corruption has become institutionalized in Nigeria.
Corruption now appears to have become a permanent feature of the
Nigerian polity. It had become completely institutionalized, entered into the
realm of culture and the value-system; it is now a norm and no longer an
aberration. The young ones are born into it, grow up in it, live with it, and
possibly die in it. The aged are not left out as they are re-socialized and
begin to conform to it.
The
above observation is quite true of the situation in Nigeria where corruption
has become endemic. The effect is noticed everywhere. The family is not left
out. When parent sends their wards on errand the children will expect some
gratification from the parent and some unsuspecting parent gratifying their
wards with gifts. When the children grow up, corruption becomes part of their
daily life.
THE NATURE OF CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA
Many
writers have made efforts to divide corruption into many forms. These are
Political Corruption; Bureaucratic Corruption and Electoral Corruption.
Corruption in politics occurs at two levels. The first level has to do with the
various forms of corruption in politics at the law-making level while the
second level is at the law-implementation level. At the first level, people try
to influence law-making and policy decisions while at the second level, efforts
are made by people to pervert the course of justice and influence judgments.
The perpetration of corruption in politics is done in the following ways:
(a)
Buying of votes and voters card during election. The electorates are induced
with money.
(b)
Electoral officials connived with party agents and security officials to
manipulate or falsify election results.
A glowing example was the 1983, 1999, 2003, 2007
and 2011 elections when INEC officials connived with security forces and
government officials to falsify election results.
(c) Use of the power of incumbency and the state
machinery. There is the Iron Law of African politics which states that no
government in power ever loses election. Office holders therefore makes use of
all the available weapons at their disposal to suppress opposition and win
elections at all cost.
(d)
Use of money. Money is now a crucial and the most potent factor in Nigeria
politics. Money bag politics that is being practiced in Nigeria does not make
political aspiration available to everybody; it is available only to the rich
and powerful. This is true of the Parliamentarian or Presidency, it is the
same. Credible people in Nigeria find it difficult to contest for election. The
reason for this is that if one cannot dole out money or bribe the electorate
with food one would not be voted for or be nominated. This is seeing in party
primaries at all levels. It is unfortunate that elective posts usually go to
the highest bidder. Political corruption is sometimes seen as similar to
corruption of greed as it affects the manner in which decisions are made, as it
manipulates political institutions, rules of procedure, and distorts the
institutions of government.
Bureaucratic
corruption occurs in the public administration" or the implementation end
of politics. This kind of corruption has been branded low level and street
level. It is the kind of corruption the citizens encounter daily at places like
the hospitals, schools, local licensing offices, police, taxing offices and on
and on. Bureaucratic petty corruption, which is seen as similar to corruption
of need, occurs when one obtains a business from the public sector through
inappropriate procedure.
Electoral
corruption includes rigging of election and buying of electoral votes. It also
includes promises of office or special favours, coercion, intimidation, and
interference with electoral procedures. In the last election, votes were
bought; the consequence of this was that losers became winners in the election.
This led to the killing and maiming of electorates and party candidates. In
offices corruption is rife, government officials are involved in the sales of
legislative votes, administrative, or judicial decision, or governmental
appointment. Disguised payment in the form of gifts, legal fees, employment,
favors to relatives, social influence, or any relationship that sacrifices the
public interest and welfare, with or without the implied payment of money, is
usually considered corrupt. Corruption can be divided into the following forms:
A)
Bribery: The payment (in money or kind) that is taken or given in a corrupt
relationship. These include kickbacks, gratuities, pay-off, sweeteners,
greasing palms, etc.
B)
Fraud: It involves some kind of trickery, swindle and deceit, counterfeiting,
racketing, smuggling and forgery.
C)
Embezzlement: This is theft of public resources by public officials.
Embezzlement is stealing from the public institution in which one is employed.
Dike notes that, in Nigeria the embezzlement of public funds is one of the most
common ways of economic accumulation, perhaps, due to lack of strict regulatory
systems. This observation by Dike is correct. Most of the public officials
accumulate wealth at the expense of the tax payers money entrusted to them.
D)
Extortion: This is money and other resources extracted by the use of coercion,
violence or threats to use force. It is often seen as extraction from below
(The Immigration officers, Prison personnel, police and custom officers are the
main culprits in Nigeria)
E)
Favoritism: This is a mechanism of power abuse implying a highly biased
distribution of state resources. However, this is seen as a natural human
proclivity to favor friends, family and anybody close and trusted.
F)
Nepotism: This is a special form of favouritism in which an office holder
prefers his/her kinfolk and family members. Nepotism, [which is also common in
Nigeria], occurs when one is exempted from the application of certain laws or
regulations or given undue preference in the allocation of scarce resources.
For effective
control of corruption in Nigeria,
a). The society must develop a culture of
relative openness, in contrast to the current bureaucratic climate of secrecy.
b). The merit system should be adopted in
employment and distribution of national resources, etc.
c). The leaders should be willing to fight
this menace head-on. The government should have political will to deal with
corrupt officers.
Regardless of where
it occurs, what causes corruption or the form it takes, the simple fact remains
that corruption is likely to have a more profound and different effects in less
developed countries, than in wealthy and developed societies. This is due to a
variety of conditions, which cannot deviate significantly from the nature of
their underdevelopment.
Because of the
corrosive effects of corruption in national development, and given the relative
limited resources or poverty in the region, Africa, and indeed Nigeria, can
least afford to be corrupt? In addition to these three observations above, the
following suggestions are useful for effective control of corruption in
Nigeria. The heart of the people should be addressed by the word of God. It is
when the heart is changed and the perception of the people towards material
possession is changed then corruption would be controlled. Pastors, Imams and
all religious leaders should make it a point of duty to preach against
corruption of all forms. People found guilty of corruption should be punished
by the law.
THE CAUSES AND
EFFECT OF CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA
In his paper Corruption
in Nigeria: A New Paradigm for Effective Control Dike citing a report from
Reuters a French News Agency notes the following organization and parastatals
that were recently affected by corruption.
Some official of
the International Olympic Committee (IOC) lost their posts because they were
found guilty of receiving bribes.
All the
commissioners of the European Union (EU), resigned because they, too, had been
found to be corrupt beyond acceptable limits.
In the United
States, Enron Corporation, an energy giant and WorldCom, a telecommunication
company, were charged with fraud. The companies manipulated their balanced
sheets, profit and loss account and tax liabilities. Enrons accountant, Arthur
Andersen, collapsed for greed and fraud as it was charged with obstruction of
justice in connection to the Enron probe. Some few months ago, it was reported
by a London magazine that some CAF officials were caught selling their votes.
This led to the removal and suspension of five members of FIFA executive
committee. One of them is a Nigerian noted for sport administration. The causes
of corruption are many and they have political, social and cultural variables. The
most common cause of corruption is poverty. Poverty is the main cause of
corruption in third world countries. Nigeria is rated among the most corrupt
country in the world. Nigeria is rich in different resources but because the
leaders are corrupt average masses do not enjoy the resources the nation is
endowed with. According to a report from the workshop organized by ZCC, Lagos, notes
the following as the cause of corruption in Nigeria:
1.
Weak Government institutions
2.
Poor pay incentives
3.
Lack of openness and Transparency in public
service
4.
Absence of key anti corruption tools
5.
Ineffective political processes
6.
Culture and acceptance of corruption by the populace
7.
Absence of effective political financing
8.
Poverty
9.
Ethnic and religious difference
10.
Resource scramble
In addition to these
myriads of causes are the following reasons:
1) Great inequality in distribution of wealth;
2) Political office as the primary means of gaining access to wealth;
3) Conflict between changing moral codes;
4) The weakness of social and governmental enforcement mechanisms; and
5) The absence of a strong
sense of national community.
The causes of corruption in
Nigeria cannot deviate significantly, if at all, from the above factors.
However, obsession with materialism, compulsion for a shortcut to affluence,
glorification and approbation [of ill-gotten wealth] by the general public, are
among the reasons for the persistence of corruption in Nigeria. It has also
been noted by various scholars that one of the unfortunate parameter of good
life in Nigeria, is ostentatious living and affluence. Because of this, the
quest for wealth and ritual murder for money making is on the rise.
Other factors
include poor reward system and greed; Nigeria’s reward system is, perhaps, the
poorest in the world. Nigeria is a society where national priorities are turned
upside down; hard work is not rewarded, but rogues are often glorified in
Nigeria. It is true that rogues are celebrated in Nigeria. Those who worked
hard are not recognized. This is quite unfortunate.
THE EFFECTS OF
CORRUPTION
The effect of
corruption on the national polity cannot be overemphasized. Corruption usually
has negative impact on the socio-political and economic development of any
nation. The menace should be tackled before the cankerworm spread to every
facet of the polity. Dike notes the following effects of corruption on the
nation.
1. Reduction in
public spending on education. The effect of corruption on education comes from
the fact that the government spends relatively more on items to make room for
"graft" And corrupt government officials would shift government
expenditures to areas in which they can collect bribes easily.
2. Large and
hard-to-manage projects, such as airports or highways, make fraud easy. In
addition, poverty and income inequalities are tied to corruption. Development
projects are often made unnecessarily complex in Nigeria to justify the corrupt
and huge expense on it. The new national stadium in Abuja, which is said to
have gulped millions of Naira more than necessary, is a case in point.
3. The effect
of corruption is noted on the poor state of infrastructure and road network.
Most of the infrastructures are not well built and the roads not well
constructed. Barely the government would open a road network that potholes and
erosion will carry it away. The state of most roads that have just been
constructed is appalling. As a result of the poor state of the road, accidents
are common on this road. Recently some buildings are collapsing in the country
as a result of corruption. Those who supposed to supervise and approve the
building construction thoroughly would not do so once they collect graft from
the owner of such building. The shady job done by this contractor has led to
the untimely death of many people
4. Many of the
leaders are still corrupt and amassing wealth to themselves. Worst still is the
security outfit that is saddled with the responsibility of securing the nation
has been caught aiding and abetting armed robbers to unleash terror on the
masses. Poverty is the result of corruption. Despite the huge resources the
nature has endowed on the nation most people are still languishing in penury
and misery.
5. Corruption
causes a reduction in quality of goods and services available to the public, as
some companies could cut corners to increase profit margins. Corruption effects
investment, economic growth, and government expenditure choices; it also
reduces private investment.
HOLISTIC APPROACH TO CORRUPTION
CONTROL IN NIGERIA
All attempts to solving the
problem of corruption in Nigeria have not yielded much fruit. No carnal
solution or remedies will do the work. Sociologist, psychologist and political
scientists have proffered different solution to curbing the menace but the
problem of corruption has defied human solution. Corruption has really eaten
deep into the fabric of the society. In fact, it has become part of the
national life. The masses do not help the situation in that they themselves
give bribes and encourage government officials and security men to steal and
loot the treasury. Churches and para churches organization invite politicians
to donate huge sums of money for the work of the Lord. Where do they expect
them to get the money from?
Is it not from the coffers of the
government? Contractors inflate contract for selfish reasons. Dike notes that
Nigeria has, in theory, the solutions in the book to tackle corruption; but like
other issues (poverty, etc) bedeviling the nation, implementations of these
laws are the Achilles heel (a vulnerable point) of the society (The Guardian,
July 2002). Similarly, Robert A. Dahl notes that the Achilles heel of the small
state is its military weakness in the face of a large state (Dahl 1998:73).
Osoba (2002) gave reasons why corruption still rife in the country. He notes
that the solution proffered for solving corruption is operated at a level [of
mere] symbolism. Yes, corruption has defied all measures adopted to combat it
in Nigeria apparently because those clamoring for stricter punishment for
corrupt officials are themselves corrupt. Because of the corrosive effects of
corruption in national development, and given the relative limited resources or
poverty in the region, Africa, and indeed Nigeria, can least afford to be
corrupt?
Three approaches are adopted for
controlling corruption in Nigeria
A. Sociological Approach to Controlling Corruption
The value system of integrity,
hard work, honesty and selfless service, which were known for in the past has
been replaced with dishonesty, distrust and quest for material possession.
Today people want to work little and gain huge profit. Majority are not mindful
of their reputation and integrity again, what they are clamoring for is money
and wealth. This is why corruption rate has been so high in Nigeria. People are
not contented with what they are earning, they want more and unless the
individuals are re-oriented towards selfless service little will be achieved on
corruption control. The Nigerian society has accepted corruption as part of the
national life, nearly every sector of the nation is affected and the reason for
this is because of bad leadership. Aluko (2002) notes two factors that are
responsible for increase in corruption these are poverty and bad governance. He
posits that poverty remains the root and anchor of corruption in Nigeria. He
observers that
Poverty
has increased over the past few years in line with the deterioration in the
economic and social conditions in the country. According to the Human
Development Report (HDR) in 1996, most Nigerians live below poverty line. The
gap between the rich and the poor is so wide that the rich ones can afford to
buy even the conscience of the poor ones. There is lack of social security
while unemployment has reached alarming levels.
Poverty is a disease that needs
to be treated with all seriousness if not treated it would destroy the whole
system. Poverty makes people to do what they dont want to do. It makes them to
become vulnerable to all kinds of social vices. So, poverty makes people
vulnerable and susceptible to corruption. Poverty makes people succumb quite
easily to pressures and temptations. No wonder people can be easily settled. As
a result of the high level of unemployment, many people do not have any visible
means of livelihood and as a last resort make politics a vocation and sources
of livelihood. This category of people is ready to do anything whether legal or
illegal to survive. In order to eradicate corruption in politics, Aluko suggest
the following;
1. The gap between the rich and the poor must
be closed so that no man will be rich enough to buy his fellow men.
2. There must be social security schemes that
will enhance peoples welfare while the level of unemployment must be
drastically reduced. The argument is that people indulge in all forms of
corrupt practices in politics because they are poor and left with no other
rational options.
In addition to the suggestions
above
3. The government should create a conducive
atmosphere for job and wealth creation. Government should make farming
attractive and productive. People should be encouraged to go into farming
either on small or large scale farming.
4. Every citizen should insist on the rule of
law. Everyone should decide to obey the law, pay their taxes and avoid doing
anything that would make law enforcement agent to demand bribe from you.
5.
Prompt and adequate
remuneration of workers wages. If workers are being paid well and as at when
due, the danger of falling into temptation of bribery in the offices would be
reduced. For example, the police are not being paid well and they try to make
ends meet at every check point by collecting bribery from innocent drivers and
passengers. Some of them have become beggars on the highway, if they are being
paid well they would not have been begging rather they would face their duty
squarely.
6.
The other thing is
leadership problem. It is generally believed that bad leadership is the bane of
the Nigerian states. The leaders at all levels are corrupt. Aluko notes that,
from the first republic and up till now, the problem of leadership has been the
bane of Nigerian politics.
What everyone should work towards is to
ensuring that good leaders are voted in, those who are ready to serve the
nation. There are good leaders in the country but because they would not give
bribe they are not elected into offices. Take for example Governor Fashola of
Lagos State; this man has transformed the whole of Lagos state. When leaders
are selfless and have the love of the masses at heart poverty would be reduced.
B.
Theological Approach
to Controlling Corruption
Theologically, God has made
provision for man's freedom from the bondage of sin. Corruption whether moral
or political is a sin and whosoever that engages in it is under the bondage of
sin. According to the Bible, covetousness and greed leads to corruption. Man
has forgotten that the life of a person does not consist in the abundance of
what that person possesses. Jesus told a parable of the Rich Fool in Luke
12:16-23. When a man is greedy or covetous he would be corrupt. Greed cut
across every area of life.
The theological solution for
corruption control is for all to see God as the source of wealth, power and
position and the recognition of that God to meet all needs. When God is placed
in focus corruption will be reduced. All religions recognized God as the
supreme and sovereign. Therefore, People should know that nothing is brought
into this world and nothing will be taking away from it. Paul says if we have
food and raiment we should be content. Lack of contentment has led some to do
things that are against their conscience and against the will of God. The
author of Hebrew encouraged Christians to be contented with what God has
endowed them with (Heb 13:5-6).
The heart of the people should be
worked on. All actions come from the heart. When the heart is corrupt what do
you expect? Corruption is in the heart. No matter what has been said about
corruption control, if the heart is not touched or circumcised it will continue
to be corrupt. Jesus notes this in Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart proceed
evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness,
blasphemies etc
C. Political Approach to
Controlling Corruption in Nigeria
For this approach to be effective
the leaders must have a will to carry out these suggestions. I believe that
machinery should be set in place which will monitor awarded contracts and
infrastructural development. The government should introduce anti-corruption
agency in all government enterprises and private industry should do the same.
Government should enact a law that would criminalize all acts of corruption vis
a vis bribery, rape, election rigging and tax evictors and enforce the
prohibition of fund transfer to foreign countries.
To control corruption in Nigeria,
the rule of law must be enthroned. The law must be respected by all. (Bassey
2011;91-99 argues, that the enthronement of the rule of law strengthen and
sanitizing the judiciary and anti-corruption agencies. Law is the basis of
order and peace in any society. The rule of law must be respected and be
allowed to take its course. Without the rule of law the nation will not make
progress. Bassey and Utre (2007) also have noted that cases of corrupt
practices should be promptly and properly investigated and culprits
commensurably punished in line with the provisions of the Anti-corruption Act
2000 and the 1999 Constitution, to serve as a deterrent to others. Osoba shares
this same view when he says: The law must always take its full course as
demonstrated in the case of some financial gurus like Ceceilia Ibru, Erasmus
Adegbola and Inspector General of Police like Tafa Balogun and a few others,
even though, a lot is still remained to be done to sanitize the society. Coker
posits that, various Anti-corruption Agencies in the country should be given
more powers. The immunity granted certain public officers should be
reappraised, and misappropriation of public money by them should be accounted
for (Coker, 2006). The passive nature of those who should enforce the laws vis
a vis the Judges, Police and Public prosecutors have led people to engaging in
corrupt practices, knowing fully well that they would get away with it. But
when it becomes clear that on the matter of corruption there is no sacred cow,
anyone caught would be dealt with corruption would reduce in the country. The
campaign against corruption in Nigeria can only be worth its salts, if the law
enforcement agents are themselves free of corruption and bigotry.
Every citizen should be made to
declare their assets. The state should require that all high-level Nigerian
officials (Presidents, Ministers, Legislative officers, Central bank governors,
Police and Customs Chiefs,
Military Generals), sign a
statement granting permission to banks and investment agency to disclose the
asset of individuals to the public. When the secrecy act is removed every
serving officers would sit tight.
Emergency Relief agency should be
thoroughly monitored, so that relief materials that is meant for the masses
would not be mismanaged or diverted elsewhere
Customs, immigration, SSS, NAFDAC
and NDLEA and all security outfits should be properly monitored. These agencies
have been tagged the most corrupt agencies in Nigerian establishment. The
government should see that they are well paid and the lives of all serving
officers are insured. Incentives should be given to them to avoid corruption.
Finally, the society should
de-emphasize on the use of money or wealth for recognition and for political
contests. The influence of money as a factor in doing anything for people should
be eradicated. This should begin from every home. Giving children money for
doing anything at home to encourage them should stop forthwith. The youth
should be educated that money is not everything. They should work with their
hands. As for the civil servants and those on essential duty such as the
security personnel, Aluko (1996) suggest that, the government must introduce an
equitable wages and incentive system and improve other conditions of work so
that the level of poverty could be reduced and the quality of life improved.
This will inevitably reduce peoples vulnerability and susceptibility to
corruption. Individuals found guilty of corruption should be prosecuted in the
court of law and finally, people should be given the right sense of values which
should be inculcated in the people so that they could respect others for their
honesty and not just for their wealth.
