Theoritical of Corruption and the Nigerian state (original) (raw)

2022, THEORETICAL OVERVIEW OF CORRUPTION AND THE NIGERIAN STATE

This paper, Corruption and the Nigerian state presented corruption as a curse and a complex social, political and economic phenomenon that affect all facets and the fabric of Nigerian society. Scholars and Nigerian government do not offer any realistic practical recipes in dealing with the pressing problems of corruption, economic hardship and underdevelopment in Nigeria. Nigeria has experienced its fair share of such scandals, especially during the military era and even its current democratic dispensation. The impact of corruption on our national economy has manifested in different kinds of political, social, religion and economic vices. The enormity of corruption in Nigeria probably necessitated the establishment of anti-corruption agencies such as the Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to nip the scourge in the bud. However, despite these institutional interventions, the fight against corruption in Nigeria seems nowhere close to being won. The method of approach is descriptive and phenomenological approaches based on the review of related literature. This paper presents the causes and consequences of corruption in Nigeria. Empirical evidence indicates that the absence of political will and the weakness of anti-corruption institutions to prosecute high profile culprits, the tardiness on the part of the country’s courts to promptly dispose of corruption cases and lack of accountable and transparent leadership, have undermined efforts to win the war against corruption. The paper recommends strict enforcement of anti-corruption laws, establishment of special courts for corruption cases and enthronement of good governance, as part of strategies to strengthen the anti-corruption crusade in Nigeria.