Latest Nigeria and 2011 corruption index

Transparency International (TI) released its 2011 report on corruption perception in 183 countries of the world, Nigeria included. The often widely expected and most recognised authority on corruption in the world ranked Nigeria 143 out of the 183 countries surveyed.
Between 2010 and 2011, Nigeria’s position declined by 9 places, scoring 2.4 from a possible 10, showing the greatest sign that efforts at correcting corruption had been very inadequate in the last year. The report came soon after Farida Waziri, the ineffective former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman, was sacked by President Jonathan.

 The TI corruption index ranks countries according to the perception of public sector corruption, excluding the private sector. The survey has parameters such as bribery of public officials, kickbacks in public procurement, embezzlement of public funds, and the effectiveness of public sector anti corruption efforts. If these parameters seem alien and some Nigerians cannot recall direct experiences, what is not alien is that the implications of a full-scale corruption are there for everyone to see. Whether as leakages or corruption, it is obvious that Nigerians do not receive commensurate value for government expenditure. Indeed, TI is right in saying that “no region or country is immune from the dangers of corruption”.

Nigeria is certainly not immune to corruption. The damage of the scourge to the economy and the fabric of the society is seen in the schools that are not built, the hospitals without medicines, the roads that are not passable and the failure of our citizens to be inspired.

In Nigeria today, the greatest threat to corruption is impunity. Because of its sheer scale and level, corruption is no longer secret. Indeed, it is celebrated.

We view corruption in a very simple way – the various compromises of every government and private individual. However, except the government tackles its corruption, it cannot possibly tackle corruption in private enterprises. Currently, the average government official is “too distracted” by his or her corruption to tackle private sector corruption.

There is indeed a critical link between corruption and leadership. The experience in Nigeria today is top down direction of corruption. In every area and section of government, the scale, manner and impunity of “junior officer” corruption is directly linked to the scale, manner and impunity of the “senior officer”’s corruption.

We believe the surest way to stopping the trend is for leaders to stop corruption. Nigerians and “junior officers” in government can always see through rhetorics and lip service.

President Jonathan has appointed Ibrahim Lamorde as the new EFCC chairman. The appointment is good to the extent that the fight against corruption had become lame under Waziri, but the EFCC is only about fighting corruption after it has been committed. The focus and the best place to fight corruption is to prevent it from happening in the first place. In doing this, the leadership question is important. Also important is the strengthening of institutions. Currently, the average civil service across the country is lazy, corrupt and simply not fit for purpose. But perhaps the most critical of all is that the Police are greatest symbol of any country, and it is not good that what most recognise ours for is corruption. What Nigerians and we are sure TI does not want to hear is the usual rhetorics and lip service paid the fight against corruption.