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| by Kelechi Onwubiko, |
Nov 3, 2003 |
The government has failed to address this problem squarely, knowing fully well the implications. It is instructive to note that corruption has been a recurring reason for the constitutional change of government in Nigeria. One could therefore claim that even the right to a democratic government is being threatened by this malady. The posturing being made in regard to the ICPC and the periodic warning statements are, with all due respect, for cosmetic purposes, probably for the benefit of Transparency International, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the international community. Nigerians are no longer fooled.
The cumulative effect of corruption in governance on the citizenry has worsened by the day. Because of corruption, Nigerians have to pay a higher price for petroleum products. Because of corruption, the standard of education and health facilities are at their lowest level. Because of corruption, a great number of Nigerians cannot afford a meal a day or a shed over their heads. Unemployment has become a perennial problem with no solution of any kind in sight. A few people have hope in the ability of the police to fight crime and other social vice. Most regrettably, many people are now losing confidence in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man because of the corrupting influence of the executive and legislative arms of the government and their agents on a few judicial officers. In short, virtually all rights available under basic international documents and the Nigerian constitution have been eroded and made meaningless by the avarice, greed and rapacity of public officers from the federal to the local government level.
That corruption was given as a reason by the president for the re-structuring of the local government system is an admission that something is fundamentally wrong with governance in Nigeria, not only at the local government level but also at federal and state levels. The government should realize that the index used to measure the corruption in a given polity is an interplay of two factors, the secondary being the incidence of actual corrupt practices while the primary and essential one is the effort or lack of same made by the government to combat the monster.
It has therefore become a matter of urgency and priority for the president, the legislature, the judiciary and all other agencies saddled with the duty of fighting corruption to adopt new approaches towards combating this menace. It is not in doubt that the approach earlier adopted has failed, with the public reposing little or no confidence in its ability to address the problem. It should be understood that corruption in government is an outcome made possible by a given set of unwritten and written rules and any effort made towards fighting it would be futile if the rules that regulate socio-political relations provide an incentive system that makes opportunism highly lucrative. To address the outcome properly, the rules which make them possible needs re-appraisal and re-evaluation so as to determine the deficiencies inherent therein. Only when the will to address the problem is mustered can a holistic appraisal be carried out so as to institute efficient and effective counteracting policies. The continuous lip service being paid to this societal ill is insulting to the intelligence of Nigerians. It is therefore left for Mr. President to determine in what manner his government should be remembered – whether as the government that fought corruption to a standstill or the one that gave Nigeria the global gold medal in corruption.
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Comments
corruption Francis | Mar 17th, 2004
Corruption is every where in nigeria and it starts with the leaders.It can be reduced if the leaders themselves can stop.
Tadoh | Mar 26th, 2004
I really appreciated this piece which was not only well written but also addresses a subject that Nigeria leads African countries with their example since corruption is absolutely the primary anesthetic for this rich and beautiful continent.
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