Nigeria can’t fight corruption by sloganeering

There is virtually no country in the world that is not plagued with the hydra-headed monster called corruption. It is a symptom of a larger disease as reflected in the failure of institutions and governance, which results in the poor management of both revenues and resources, as well as absence of public goods and services. What is responsible for corruption in our society? Nepotism and inequitable distribution of resources are responsible for corruption in Nigeria.

Wonders, they say, will never end. This is the first time in Nigeria that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) gave an elaborate report on corruption in the country that roughly N400 billion (US$1.1 billion) in bribes was given to public officials in 2016. Although, the same report says that bribery is an established part of administrative procedure in Nigeria as the Customs and Police officers and their collaborators in the Judiciary are identified as biggest bribe takers. Hmm! This is no good news as about 95 percent of Nigerians are purported to indulge in bribery. An unpleasant revelation you may say. Perhaps, that is why the Book of Psalms Chapter 130 verse 3 in the Holy Bible, says “if thou o Lord should keep a record of sins, Lord, who could stand”? Only the saints in our society, if any, will stand by His grace. With corruption, many Nigerians might have fallen even when they are still standing. May God heal our land!

The slogan “fight against corruption” is not strange to Nigerians because it has been a popular hymn of all governments in Nigeria since the 1960s. Every government comes onboard accusing the ones before it of massive corruption. While we have been told by the federal government that the battle against Boko Haram has been “technically” won in barely two years, the fight against corruption for more than fifty years of nationhood is unresolved. Indeed, both the political and economic objectives of fighting corruption have not been achieved. Just like the word “terrorism”, corruption has many definitions. When we talk about corruption, some nations are categorized as “least corrupt”, and others “most corrupt.” But for investigative journalism and thorough research in most nations, corruption would not have come to light.

Corruption is a complex concept which goes beyond the misuse of public power by an elected politician or appointed civil servants for private gain. It is not only politicians and public servants that are involved in corruption. Corruption cuts across various segments and layers of our society. Corruption exists in corporate firms, all tiers of government- executive, legislature, and judiciary, military, academia- primary, secondary and tertiary schools. Additionally, religious places of worship and families are not exempted from the pandemic of corruption. Even at motor parks and without a doubt at our bus stops, corruption reigns supreme.

Considering the way corruption works, one is tempted to reason that it is both a science and an art. The art of corruption requires perpetrators to be very creative about the way they conduct this illegality while the science of corruption demands a systematic approach cleverly applied by culprits as a result of improbity and ambiguous decision-making process. This makes a decision maker consent to differ from the criteria which should rule his or her decisions in exchange for a reward.

As I was putting this article together, several mind boggling questions bothered me about how to test the validity or otherwise of corruption in one’s immediate environment. So, I asked family members, neighbours, and a few friends about this fraudulent conduct popularly referred to as corruption. To very many of them, they believe it is wrong for me to bribe politicians and public officials. But do they consider it wrong bribing any government official for their own benefit? Many could not answer my question affirmatively. A pity! I equally asked if they would denounce someone bribing an official or politician? Additionally, is corruption an easy way out of solving a personal problem in order to claim you are not corrupt but that you decided to bribe because someone demanded it? These are several questions asked in order to confirm their likeness or hatred for corrupt practices.

Nigeria cannot fight corruption by simply sloganeering. All governments must focus their attention and efforts on accountability and good governance. The fight against corruption will not be won if the citizenry does not demand accountability and probity coupled with good governance. Good governance starts with free and fair election, while transparency with impunity will not bring forth justice or make governments accountable. Will a new anti-corruption law, or setting up a new anti-corruption agency get the job done? I do not think so, especially when Nigeria’s political parties bribe voters with bags of rice ahead of election. Setting up a new anti-corruption agency will not ease corruption because of unpaid salaries and pensions to most workers and retirees.

Nigerians cannot continue to gloss over accountability if we are to win the fight against corruption. When the nation has imbibed the culture of accountability, those in both private or public offices would not just be called to account for their actions. Fighting corruption without establishing appropriate mechanisms for accountability from the family level to the highest office of the government will be off-target.

MA Johnson