Corruption: Nigerians idol of sudden wealth and discontentment

Nigerians Idol Of Sudden Wealth And Discontentment

Bribery and corruption are very rampant in our country. The government is the one who started this corruption through politics. Politics is a dirty game that involves life and death and for any politicians to attain their goals, they go through bribery which in turn corrupt us. Their quest for power is what is destroying our policy, everyone wants to be in charge.

Corruption is the act of corrupting or of impairing integrity, virtue, or moral principle; the state of being corrupted or debased; loss of purity or integrity; depravity; wickedness; impurity; bribery. With these definitions, it is clear that corruption brings a downfall to any country.

President Muhammad Buhari also defined corruption as the greatest form of human right violation. Since the creation of modern public administration in the country, there have been cases of official misuse of funds and resources. The rise of public administration and the discovery of oil and natural gas are two major events seen to have led to the increase in corrupt practices in the country.

Embezzlement of funds by the politicians, using the youth of the country as their instrument to cause violence especially during election time, giving arms and supporting robbers and kidnappers and other various things are the causes of corruption in the country.

Elimination of area boys (thugs) who are inconveniencing the citizen especially the commercial drivers and also constituting nuisance in the country. Each citizens in the country must know their right and obligations, area boys are bad influence on the youth, these youth are the future of the country but when they have been influenced by the situation of the society and country, how are we to bring the best in each of them. We want able government to look into the directions of many kidnapping cases in Nigeria, in the case of Clifford Orji the notorious kidnapper, where is he now? What did the government of Nigeria do to his case, some said he is in prison, others said he is out of the country, is this really what a civilised country should be?

Different cases every day of ritual and kidnappers hideout, sometimes ago in Ibadan, there was the case of kidnappers hideout in SOKA, the news went wide but today did we hear anything about it again?, Another one at ABEOKUTA in MANGO area, a two – story building where everyone passes through unknown to the citizens of that community that such hideout is there, when it was broken, many things were recovered from the building like money, human being that are still alive but not healthy, receipts in which they issued their customers who came to do business with them, pictures, clothes and so on. The case died down after a month, let us pity the families of those that lost their lives in this predicaments, the citizens in the country are not save any longer because those that supposed to guide and save us are those behind all these atrocities.

Nigeria is the 146 least corrupt nation out of 180 countries, according to the 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index reported by Transparency International. Yet we didn’t stop, we are still proceeding more, some of the cause of corruption in Nigeria are as follows:

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1. Poverty

Corruption fuelled by poverty often occurs when the basic need of the common man has not been met. The poor often becomes desperate and engages in corrupt practices. When there is poor payment and compensation in the system, it breeds unsatisfied workers. These works becomes easily influence and engage in illegal gaining of salaries. This can be restricted if the entire labour wages system is renovated to fit the high standard of living in society.

In every workplace, there are always cases of corruption where employees gain more salaries than others, not that they are hardworking but because they are extracting the company products and selling it in cheaper prices to the customers. Some company also constitute corruption by not paying pensions to their old staffs who has retired from the job after many years of serving the company, which can makes those that are been deprived of their right to engage in different atrocities.

2. Acceptance Of Corruption By The Populace

Public perceptions plays a large role in shaping the future of corruption in Nigeria. If the public says ‘’NO’’ to corruption then individuals will think twice before engaging in it. We has the citizens must stop corruption within ourselves, we must not be convicted with public awards and titles, we must not have the mind that Mr. A did something that was corrupted and still get an award or title, there is nothing bad if Mr. B do the same, we need to say NO to corruption, we are the leaders of the country, we need to eradicate corruption among ourselves, so that we can benefit from the country.

3. Weak Government Institution

When there is a weak political and legal institution in the society, corruption is given room to thrive. Also, when the administration causes delays in passing of budgets and things such as supplies including salaries are delayed, worker tend to start thinking of other ways to substitute their income and this paves ways for corruption.

The situation is further worsened when the legal arms fails to catch up with corrupt public officers and this practice finds its way into the private sectors and eventually the entire society.

4. Greed

Greediness is the root of all evil. When the desire to accumulate wealth becomes desperate and widespread then corruption is eminent. Political positions are often tagged as been associated with power and wealth due to the huge amounts of funds allocated to political office holders. Therefore, a greedy individual perceives the attainment of a political post as a means of more wealth.

The desire to continue holding the political office is high and they would often result to do anything possible to maintain that position. That includes engaging in corrupt practices.

5. Poor Education And Illiteracy

Corruption fuels ignorance and the class of people that are poverty stricken is the poorly educated and illiterate. They are often desperate to get out of their status and are easily influenced by way of bribes. This has become the norm as it is often said that you need to ‘’settle’’ to get things done.

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When the number of educated persons in the society is high, they will be gainfully employed and will have a good understanding of the consequence of corruption. They will be able to hold their public officer to account and demand transparency in the rule of law.

A sincere Government and legal system will go a long way in curbing corruption. Public officers who engage in corruption should be brought to book and this will serve as deterrent to others.

6. Unemployment

Unemployment is one of the major causes of corruption in the country and does not need much explanations because it has broken the hearts of many citizens. People are pushed into corrupt practice because of high unemployment. An unemployed citizen can indulge in corruption to make money and live better like internet frauds, robbers, and kidnappers and so on.

The youths, fathers and mothers are seriously lamenting on the negative impact of unemployment in their lives, some said that it is better for death to come and take them than suffered under the torment of unemployment challenges in the country, some even commit suicide. Words cannot explain the level of punishment the citizens of this country as a result of unemployment.

7. Corruption In Universities And Colleges

There are certain things that lecturers do that they deserves ‘’hot punishment’ ’most lecturers use the opportunity they have to take advantage of the students. Harassment of women by lecturers and pressure to sleep with them is common. After some undergraduates female submit to their lecturer’s request, they give them good grades.

How do some students find their way to the universities? Some are there not by merit, but through a kind of bribery called sorting. Some rich men in the country bribe vice-chancellors and heads of departments to secure admission for their children, those who would have made it on merit were not given admission because there is no admission for them. Some even graduate with higher grades which they can’t defend how they got it while those that are serious are being failed.

8. Police Force

Where do we start when it comes to the nature of corruption observed in the police? Do we start with the bribery, intimidation, sexual harassment of the young inmates in the prisons, or turning the truths upside down? There is a saying that ‘’police is your friend’’. In Nigeria, reverse is the case, police are your enemies because they can deny the truth and collect bribes to do so. Because of the encounter, many Nigerians have had with the policemen, even the good ones among them are generalized as being bad. What a shame.

The police who work in some checkpoints on the expressways cannot do so without collecting bribes from car owners and drivers. Their interest is to collect money from road users not to secure the road. Bribes become compulsory even when your particulars are complete. Bus drivers must offer money before they continue with their transportation business, be it fifty naira (50) or twenty naira (20). The police are now turning to gods that receive money from the worshiper as an offering.

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Some women prison inmates went into prisons singled to come out doubled. What this implies is that policemen use the opportunity they have to assault women who are imprisoned. The women may say no but the policemen have guns, the women cannot do anything. They were impregnated before they were granted bail. What kind of prayer will erase this kind of abomination?

Corruption can be eradicated or reduced through these possible remedies if utilised. They are as follows:

1. Self-Satisfaction

This implies being contented with whatever thing you have. When the leaders of Nigeria are satisfied with their salary and use them in the right way, the issue of embezzlement of funds and money laundering will become history. Managers and employees who are satisfied with what they are paid will not have time to indulge in corruption to make more money.

2. Institution Of Strong Anti- Corruption Groups

Creating strong anti-corruption institution is another resource to fight against corruption. This group is to work independently with the government to ensure transparency. Anyone who is caught in corrupt practices by the group should experience the consequences decided by the anti-corruption agency. That he or she is a minister or governor of a states should not be an excuse from facing the punishment he is to receive according to the constitution of Nigeria.

3. Employment Generation

The unemployed in the country find themselves involved in corruption mainly because they want to make money and met the demand of the day. Government and capable hands should endeavour to generate more jobs for citizens to get unemployed and paid in return. A busy mind may find it difficult to indulge in corruption because he is being paid adequately.

4. Proper Government Of Schools

Understanding the importance of skill acquisition will go a long way to propel them to develop all the schools in Nigeria. When more attention is paid to the tertiary institutions in the country, it produces graduates who are employable. Installation of the necessary machines needed in universities will help Nigerian graduates acquire skills and use them to generate income, even if no company employs them after graduation. Self – employment will make the graduates more determined in the work they do and will prevent them from corruption like internet scams, kidnapping and the rest.

5. Treating All Citizens Equally

Treating any offender in the country equally will help reduce corruption. Nobody is above the law and any who acts contrary to it should be given the punishment that he or she deserves. If any minister or head of state is given the punishment he deserves for corruption, others will learn and separate themselves from any corrupt practice.

Corruption is a cankerworm that has eaten deep into the fabric of Nigeria. Government should look into these things that are causing corruption in the country so that there will be peace and harmony within ourselves which will brings growth, love and unity in the country.

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