WAYS OF TACKLING CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA

WAYS OF TACKLING CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA

By Akindele Olabode T.

Corruption the bane of many countries of the world! When will you leave planet earth to settle in other planets? Corruption, the hindrance to the development of many countries of the world! Corruption, we hope not to hear of you in few more years to come! Researchers have talked of corruption from the different classes (Elaine Byrne, 2009). Some which includes the systematic corruption, sporadic (individual) corruption, political (grand) corruption, petty corruption and legal and moral corruption (Elaine Byrne 2007). Corruption is a very broad concept that can be discussed in category but this write-up will be considering the general ways all form of corruption can be tackled.

Corruption can be defined as a dishonest behavior by those in positions of powers, such as managers or government officials. Corruption can include giving and accepting bribe or inappropriate gifts, double dealing, under-the-table transactions, manipulating elections, diverting funds, laundering money and defrauding investors (investopedia). From the writers perspective, corruption can be referred to as dishonesty against someone or group of people. Despite the technicality of the concept of corruption, the writer seems to use only a sentence to describe this concept. This is because before corruption can occur, there has to be the involvement of people; therefore, it is a form of dishonesty against the other person. Describing corruption from the governmental aspect, it is when the individuals in public offices refuse to carry out the will of the people that elected them. Describing from the individual aspect, it could be when a person falsify a particular document which ought not to be falsified so to get the third party to assent. It could also be receiving secret incentives to perform the job you are been employed to perform. All this still bores down to human beings.

`           BRIEF COMMENTARY ON CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA

Corruption is an inevitable practice in any country of the world by both the leaders and the citizens. Corruption might be regarded as a characteristic of Nigeria but the fact remains that no country in the world is immune from this practice  it only varies from one country to the other or better still, it reduced in some countries than the other therefore Nigeria should not been seen as the most corrupt country in the world or the only country suffering from corruption. Corruption however is been seen by Nigerians as only the dishonesty or injustice of the government towards the masses. This is not so! Corruption is being and can be practiced by the citizens of the country. Some people go about changing their date of birth on birth certificates and do not regard this as corruption but only see the in-actions of the government as corruption.

Corruption can occur at the small scale level or the large scale level. The corruption at the small scale level is often referred to as the ‘petty’ corruption.  An example of this corruption can be using small gifts to get favor from an individual or a company. This form of corruption is what occurs among the citizens of the country. These corruptions are not seen as corruption among the citizens. Then the type of corruption that occurs at the higher level or governmental agencies which affect the citizens negatively is the ‘Grand’ corruption.

As recommended by the writer, reducing the incidence of corruption in Nigeria is a collective effort and responsibility of every citizens of the country. We all have our roles to play in reducing corruption in Nigeria. It cannot be reduced by the government alone, we have to start this reduction individually so to bring about collective reduction in Nigeria.

Citizens’ contributions to reducing corruption in Nigeria

1. We should do our Jobs with all faithfulness, honesty and dignity without waiting for secret incentives before we do them. Just like the National Pledge of the Federal Republic of Nigeria reads “I pledge to Nigeria my country to be faithful, loyal and honest” we should ensure that this profession we make on daily basis be a driving factor for us on daily basis.

2. We should stop the habit of falsifying documents so as to get them assented. This practice is very common in the civil service and should be stopped.

3. We should endeavor not to give people bribes to people in other for them to carry out the responsibilities they are employed to do. They should do it because it is their duty.

4. As students, we should not look for shortcuts to pass examination.

5.  We often say the children are the leaders of tomorrow but this seems to be a mirage. The habit of giving children tips to run errands for us. If this is not stopped, the future of the country is blinking.

6. We should try and not be instruments to the politicians to carry out their evil deeds during election periods and any other time.

7. It has been noticed that the mass media has not been helping in the area of fighting corruption. The mass media should be a catalyst of change in this aspect. They should ensure that the keep the masses abreast of reasons why we should be corruption free and educate the masses on how, the need to reduce corruption

8. Lastly, we should be a patriotic citizen. Patriotism goes a long way to reducing corruption because we would always have the development of the country at heart and would not want to do anything deter the development of the country. This is one of the lessons to be beheld from a typical American citizen. He loves his country and he is always ready to sacrifice whatever cost for the uprightness of the country. 

                                                                                                                            akindelebode@gmail.com