Corruption and Poverty

Corruption and Poverty: A Sure Way to Slow-Down the Pace of Development

Abubakar Magaji Buba

Llike a plague, corruption has eaten deep into the fabric of the Nigerian society and has caused untold hardship to the common man who seems to bear the wrath of his “rotten” environmental alone. Corruption pervades all levels of government and even transcends to include a more informal setting such as the family, peer group and religious places of worship. Where the syndrome of “nothing goes for nothing” obtains. As a global economic blue-print, the realization of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) in Nigeria by 2015 may not be possible considering the effect of corruption in our society. In addition, the seven point agenda of the Yar’adua led administration which aims at re-positioning the Nigerian economy and boosting its image in the international community is also greatly threatened by the wild fire of corruption.

The former boss of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu estimated that Nigeria lost some US $380 billion to corruption between independence in 1960 and the end of military rule in 1999. Although a tentative conclusion cannot be reached on the exact figures of corruption in the country, some Western diplomats estimate that Nigeria lost a minimum average of $4 billion to $8 billion per year to corruption over the eight years of the Obasanjo administration. A startling revelation that will indeed pull the nation to a stand still. Moreso, to put these figures in perspective for better analysis, the amount will equal 4.25% and 9.5% of Nigeria’s total GDP in 2006. Put differently, a loss of 9.5% of the United States’ GDP to corruption in 2006 would have translated to $1.25 trillion in stolen funds or $222 billion (GBP 108.6 billion) in the case of the United Kingdom’s economy.

As enunciated earlier, between 50 and 90 million Nigerians live on less than one US Dollar or N124 per day, despite the $223 billion earned by government during the eight years of the Obasanjo administration. Nigeria’s corruption epidemic has continued to rise with every passing minute thereby widening the gab between the rich and poor members of the society. Funny enough, the scourge of corruption has so taken its toll on people and has gotten enshrined in our minds that it does not pay to be honest, hardworking and law abiding again.

In the political arena, the acquisition of wealth through corrupt practices has matermophosised into an acceptable way of life for most political office holders who loot funds freely. Most Nigerians aspire to become political office holders nowadays as a short route to becoming rich. Politics is now considered as an investment, which matures on the assumption of office, instead of a chance to serve humanity. Consequently, people tend to be lazy in the approach to works not directly related with the political realm; thereby resulting in decline in productivity and output of a nation.

As a global village, countries of the world depend on each other for support in terms of trade agreement, financial aids etc. However, with the current corruption statues of the country, foreign donors hardly grant financial aid or any development support to Nigeria. For instance, the international Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) otherwise known as the World Bank has recently introduced a tougher anti-corruption standard into its lending policies to corrupt countries including Nigeria. Realization of the eight goal of the MDGs (develop a global partnership for development) cannot be feasible when a country stand in isolation without development support from bigger economies of the world. The pace of development will be slow and general poverty line increased at an unprecedented level.

Another effect of corruption on the socio-economic and political development of Nigeria is the reduction in public spending on education, as corrupt government officials prefer to shift expenditure to areas where they can easily collect bribes. In such instance, the educational sector is neglected. The youths who are supposed to form the crust of our future development are forced to receive education under harsh and unpleasant condition. It is now a case of “man-know-man” in the award of contracts for the building of school structures, or the supply of educational materials, which are often below standard.

Favourism and nepotism now thrives in the admission policy of most education institutions, instead of merit and handwork. Our universities have turned into a big business venture where “marks” are freely traded like in the floor of the stock exchange market. The resultant effect of all these atrocities in our educational system caused by corruption is a massive increase in illiteracy level of the country and the churning out of “unbaked” graduates yearly.

This peace of article will not be complete without mentioning how corruption has crippled the security agencies in our country. It is no longer a tale that the twenty-naira syndrome commonly associated with policemen in Nigeria have dinted the image of the force in the eyes of the public. Recounting the number of innocent life’s that have been loss through the bullets of trigger-happy police-men for refusal to bulge into corrupt practices maybe unnecessary. However, the fact cannot be ignored. Infact, the security agencies in Nigeria is acclaimed to be the most corrupt government establishment in recent times. Even military men that are suppose to be disciplined and upright in their approach to work have also been inflicted by the disease of corruption. In Nigeria, everything is possible with a little spice of bribe to act as motivation and encouragement. Nowadays, people give bribe in order to secure their life and property. When the issue of the security of a nation is at stake, conscious measures should be put in place to salvage the situation or grave damages will be recorded in all spheres of our social and economic life.

Among other ills, corruption discourages honest effort and valuable economic activities, as people now chose to cut corners, in everything. No matter how good or carefully planned a policy of action designed by government may appear, corruption is a sure way to kill it’s motive. As some people put it, “every Nigerian is a potential criminal and has some element of corrupt tendencies”. With the steady decline in the image of the country in the international comity of nations, one cannot but pause to ponder on the future of Nigeria.

Corruption has in no small measure stunted the pace of development in the country. However, government can still reverse the ugly trend of corruption in Nigeria by embarking on stiffer anti-corruption strategies. It must as a matter of urgent priority empower the existing anti-corruption agencies like the EFCC ICPC etc issues of immunity clauses imbedded in the constitution of the country should be revisited. It should be willing to adopt the working plan of “spare the rod and spoil the corrupt public office holder”.

Poverty and income inequalities are tied to corruption. Corruption can only strive in a poverty-ridden society where build up of frustration seems to be the order of the day. By attacking the multi-pronged problem of poverty in the country through the provision of employment opportunities, skill acquisition schemes etc, the problem of corruption can be put to check.