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.