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Corruption In Nigeria: A Restless Run Of Locust By Jide Ayobolu
Only recently the National Crime Victimization survey 2005 report was made public, it was produced by CLEEN foundation with support Macarthur foundation. The report measured the trend of corruption in Nigeria since 1999. The aim of the study was to obtain information regarding Nigerians views on the extent, trend and pattern of crime in the society. The study was conducted in the 36 states of Nigeria and Abuja, the FCT between October and December 2005.
In the report, it was said that 64.1 per cent of the respondents said that corruption has increased in Nigeria since 1999; 13.9 per cent said that corruption has increased slightly; while 7 per cent said it corruption had remained the same; 9 per cent said corruption has slightly decreased; 3 per cent said corruption has decreased a lot and 3 per cent said they don’t know. It is very correct to say that the perception of people about corruption is that, in spite of all the razzmatazz and media hype by the EFCC and ICPC corruption has continued to fester unabated in the country and there is no silver lining in the horizon. What is even more disturbing is the fact that, corruption is carried out in very high places in government. It has been elevated to the status of the official policy of the state. And, corruption is a cankerworm that has eaten too deep into the social fabric of the Nigerian State. Corruption not inhibits growth and development; it destroys any genuine attempts at nation building; it stalls all the processes of socio-economic engineering as well as stops all wealth creation, poverty alleviation, employment generation and development strategies. In short, corruption is responsible for development of underdevelopment of the Nigerian state. Corruption has really brought the country to her kneels.
The fact of the matter is that, there is really no serious attempt to fight the scourge of corruption in the country. Those who claim to be fight it are themselves very corruption, so in such a situation, how can be menace be effectively tackled? Corruption is certainly not a social vice that is unique to Nigeria alone, but the truth of the matter is that, corruption, dishonesty, thievery and peculation pervade the public sector in Nigeria. Corruption has become so pervasive that navigating the most basic government services through customs, police, immigration, public service and what have you, require a bribe in Nigeria. Nigeria’s rulers have pocketed the equivalent of six Marshall plans, that is why today, over 70 per cent of the entire Nigerian population live on less than one dollar per day.
Corruption in the country breeds inefficiency, soaring government deficits, deters foreign investment, leads to economic contraction and collapse and encourages popular rebellion and social upheaval. A good number of suggestions have been put forward to help checkmate the menace of corruption; these include amongst others, better salaries for public officials; greater publicity about the ills of corruption; more regular and control of public officials; providing a good example of leadership; tougher laws and sentences; better education and proper upbringing of children. The fight against corruption should involved all, parents, the churches, mosques, schools, government and indeed all segments of the society. It is only by so doing that serious attempt can be made to curd the ravaging consequences of corruption in the country, not as it is presently been done by the EFCC, that has severally violated the fundamental human rights of not a few Nigerian. The gospel truth is that in the country today, EFCC has become a willing tool in the hands of the president to even up with perceived political enemies, based on political vendetta to score cheap political points. This is not how to fight corruption in the country, those who claim to be fighting it must demonstrate beyond all reasonable that they are clearly above board and beyond reproach. If this is not the case as it is now the whole fight is nothing but a big waste of time and resources. This government has not demonstrated beyond all reasonable doubt that it is not as corrupt as others before it. Although, it has paid lip service more than any other government in the country. This is not how to nip it in the bud, corruption desires more seriousness to be exterminate from our polity.
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