Corruption in Nigeria: causes and solutions
Report of a Workshop for Civil Society Organisations involved in the fight against Corruption, organised by Zero Corruption Coalition, (ZCC) Lagos, December 11-12, 2008
By Babatope Babalobi
The World Bank defines corruption as the abuse of public office for private gain. Corruption is a major cause of poverty and a barrier to overcome it
Causes of corruption in Nigeria
- Weak Government institutions
- Poor pay incentives
- Lack of openness and Transparency in public service
- Absence of key anti corruption tools
- Ineffective political processes
- Culture and acceptance of corruption by the populace
Yar'Adua, Nigeria's President
- Absence of effective political financing
- Poverty
- Ethnic and religious difference
- Resource scramble
Nigeria is presently ranks 121the 178 ranked in Transparency International http://www.transparency.org/ Corruption Perception Index (TICPI). The fight against corruption in Nigeria is not working because of the following factors:
- Insincerity of Government
- Pre bargaining and Negotiation, highly placed officials caught of corrupt practices are made to part with some of their looted funds and are thereafter set free.
- Low deterrent- the punitive measures for corrupt practices need to be strengthened
- Lack of virile political and social movements to tackle corruption. The mass of the people are yet to be mobilises in the fight against corruption
- Lack of access to public information. A lot of secrecy still pervades Government documents, and this underlies the need for the passage of the freedom of Information Bill presently before Nigeria’s National Assembly.
- Insecurity of Informants. There is a need to enact laws to protect informants as well as reward them
- Low public participation in Governance
- Corrupt Electoral system
- Nepotism
10. Systemic disorder
11. Weak Government Institutions
Nigeria government only say or make the talk but no efforcement.and those that want to live right are not encourage by this said government.make God help us.
1corruption is the prerequisite of winning elective positions in nigeria so what do you expect.
2In all we do or say, i just want us to comple our government to doing the right thing at the right. come to talk of it,Nigeria is a great country and we cant afford to let it down for eny selfish reason, either tribalism, ethnicity or other-wise. thanks.We Nigerians great people, great nation.
3My names are Adesanya Oludare Amusa, a student of political science, Michael otedola college of primary education , Epe Lagos.
I think the causes of corruption in Nigeria is that we people are not politicaly active , if almost everybody in nigeria contributes to the political developments in nigeria directly or indirectly, things will change, the government will situp toward her responsibilities. please nigerians, lets be active and contribute but positively. God bless nigeria!
4Corruption is a cancerworm that has stunted the growth of nigeria in all ramifications.Corruption in all facets of our economic life will be minimized if everyboby will take a decision to effect a change. there is no sincerity in our political, economic, religious lives. If we would wipe out this monter in our midst in Nigeria let it starts from the top especially our political leaders. Many probes, on frauds, looting have not yielded anything reasonable as politicians sit on peoples wealth comfortably without remourse. Our Judiciary has not helped matters as they Adjourn criminal cases involving our leaders with impunity and at the end of the day kill the case , all in the name of spurious legal interpretations. What they care for is the money to collect and not the service to the nation. This is pathetic as the judiciary is the hope of the nation.Effective monitoring of our police is zero. Many of them are armed robbers in uniforms-legal robbers.serious accountability should start from the senate, house of rep and gradually to the civil service where rights and privileges are denied people without anybody to question them. Insecurioty of lives and properties pervade the system because those who are to see to the extinction of these evils are the perpectrators because they need to eliminate the few good ones that are bold to challenge them. Frankly, Nigeria will be better if only we can be decisive not to allow the current set of politicians to remain in power. We have many credible NIgerians ready to serve the nation but these selfish cabals, with their shambolic administration will not allow them . God safe Nigeria.
5It’s obvious that every one is fully agitated and conscious of the problems of this country, and funny enough, it goes on. the list is inexhaustible, if i may say so. In my own opinion, the problem of every problem is that there is never a problem. It’s what one chose to make out of any situation. Let’s remove state of origin in this beloved nation and replace it with state of residence. This is the supreme solution to all our problems.
6Unemployment, militancy, religious unrest, institutionalized killings, pogrom, bribery, and of course ugly election malpractice are all children of state of origin.
We have the solution but we will never achieve utopia because we think the solution never to be something so big as constitutional reform, national conference, and the other household political jargon.
I apologize for the lack clarity on this obviously sensitive revelation. I will like expatiate further on it, in time to come. If anyone is touched by the spirit, let him lead the nation to this simple Canaan land
NIGERIA WILL BE GREATER.
THAT’S THE WILL OF GOD
Nigeria efficiency without God sufficiency, is a gross deficiency.Firstly, we all should fear God so as to send this evil of corruption out of the giant of Africa. An adage says: if a teacher is corrupt, then the world is corrupt. Our leaders are the major source & foundation for this canker worm that is eating up the fabric of our nation, Nigeria. They forgot that the greatest gift,one could bestow to others is to serve as a good example.They need to serve as a good examples to we,the future leaders of Nigeria(youths)GOD BLESS NIGERIA
7Nigeria efficiency without God sufficiency is a gross deficiency. We need God intervention in this country,likewise our leaders,should have the fear of God in all ramification. An adage says: if the teacher is corrupt, then the world is corrupt. Our leaders forgot that the greatest gift,one could bestow to others,is to serve as a good example. We,the future leaders of the giant of Africa(youths),no longer look @ them as a role model because they are responsible for the so called youth deliquency and the nation economic melt down. A lasting solution to this ILLEGAL & UNGODLY act of corruption is to deter the growing generation from practising this act and it starts from individual’s home. Charity as they say, begins at home,every Nigerian should teach their wards(the future leaders of tomorrow), to be God fearing, diligent & hardworking to serving the nation ,by doing this, we are building a better tomorrow Nigeria(i.e rebranding Nigeria.) GOD BLESS NIGERIA.
8NIGERIA IS A SORRY COUNTRY. NO ONE IN THIS COUNTRY MOSTLY THE TOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE SATISFIED WITH THEIR LION SHARE SALARY AND BONUSES. ONLY GOD WILL GIVE US A SAVIOUR JUST LIKE WHAT HE GRANTED TO GHANA. AMEN. GHANA IS ONE OF THE BEST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD. WE NOW SENT OUR CHILDREN TO STUDY IN GHANA OR WESTERN COUNTRIES .JET THE MONEY IN NIGERIA IF SHARED ONE MILLION TO EVERY PERSON MONTHLY WOULD STILL BE LEFT FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND BUILDING OF BETTER HOUSES IN THAT COUNTRY. MAY GOD HEAR OUR PRAYER.
9The Nigerian problem does not lie solely on the Nigerian government. And the citizens should stop trying to apportion blame and fix their part of the national duty to fight off corruption. we know that our system does little or nothing to help, but the individuals make up the system and if we cleanse ourselves of the impurity of corruption, the effect will be seen in our society at large. give it a shot people.
10I look at various literatures that talks about being corrupt and the action involved in corruption; i say that the main causes of bacteria named corruption and predicated to Nigeria is dated back to independance when Nigeria was born as a Nation, the leaders were traditional and religious, they have something to protect apart from having the country at heart, they serve relationship, friendship, ethical and religious interest not Nigeria as a new born baby. Our leaders then gave sensitive administrative offices to close associates so that they continue to be thesame thrend of people in power, well such selfish interest continueto grow from stenth to strenth to the present day.
11To fight corruption we need leaders that will make sure everyone follows
If corruption should be stopped in Nigeria, it has to start with the individual and then the government. thanks
12Thank God for this interactive tool which does not only allow nigerians to share their views on corruption in the state but is also an informative tool. i want nigerians to realise that our problems in this country do not lie largely on the errors of our past leaders bacause everyone is naturally disposed to making mistakes. the major problem we have uptill date is our MINDSET. if we must create the cahnge that we so desire, then there must be a re-orientation of our perceptions toward our beloved country. remember “Rome was not built in a day” yes! the tides are alarming, the storm is ranging, yet we can weather the storm if we will. so rather than sit down to turn and down turn the errors of the past, let us rise up to the challenge no matter how small our number will be and stand to the greatest challenge in our universe-THE MIND. remember the salt does not have to be of the same quantity with the food for it to create the desired taste…if the mind can conceive possibility then it can achieve it.
13thank you.
Chris O. Eche
President, NYSC/EFCC INTEGRITY CLUB, Kano.
Affiliation with your organisation. We are Youth For Social Change Organisation in Nigeria, founded to lead the fight against political corruption
14insincere government policies
15inconsistent policy drifts and lack of will to continue improvements on past blue prints hinders futuristic progress
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