Buttressing the anti-corruption regime in Nigeria: Prospects and challenges
The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related offences Commission (ICPC (2000) Act makes a presumption of corrupt enrichment against any public officer who owns, possesses or controls an excessive interest in any property, viewed in conjunction with his present or past emoluments and other relevant circumstances. Where such a public officer fails to satifactorily explain […]
The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related offences Commission (ICPC (2000) Act makes a presumption of corrupt enrichment against any public officer who owns, possesses or controls an excessive interest in any property, viewed in conjunction with his present or past emoluments and other relevant circumstances. Where such a public officer fails to satifactorily explain such excess, he shall be presumed to have used his office corruptly to enrich or gratify himself and will be prosecuted accordingly.
The issue of corruption is not new in Nigeria. Even before the British colonial masters withdrew, corruption had become pervasive in all facets of the country’s national life. In the words of the colonial government report in1947, “the Africans background and outlook on public morality is very different from the present day Briton. The Africans in the public services seek to further his own financial interest”. From the time of our independence in 1960, this mindless looting of state treasury had developed into a system with strong patterns and purposes. Transparency International’s annual perception index consistently rated Nigeria as one of the most corrupt (at a time or most of the time) nation in the world.
For a very long time corruption, has been acknowledged as the single main obstacle to economic progress and democracy in Nigeria manifested mainly in the form of bribery and embezzlement of public funds. The phenomenon contributed in no small measure to the political problems associated with the First and Second Republics. In both cases, the military cited pervasive corruption as the justification for the overthrow of those democratic dispensations. Yet, the military rulers themselves did not prove to be above board. Soon after the inauguration of the civilian regime on May 29, 1999, clear moves were made to endorse measures that gave indications that there was need to combat corruption. The government began to show the political will to implement such measures. The government began to privatize publicly owned corporations which served as the major drain-pipes of the resources of the nation. It also established two anti-corruption agencies. However, up till May 2007, the nascent democratic government grappled with the problems of governance and how to effectively combat and prevent corruption. It still remains an obstacle to Nigeria’s political, social and economic development even up till now.
It should be noted that the references in contemporary study of corruption and its development dates back to the First Republic in 1963-1966. Allegation of election fraud and corruption characterized the First Republic and this evidently invited the military to intervene in politics. Despite their crusade against corruption, they became partakers in the act. Oil boom era under military rule fuelled the growth of corruption under different administrations.
Ibrahim Ado Saleh, Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University Kano, [email protected]