Bottlenecks to Fighting Corruption in Nigeria

Earlier this week I responded to questions on tackling corruption at Eko FM 89.7 radio station. The more I research for invitations like this, the more the reality of the moral bankruptcy of our leaders and others hit me! My co-respondent, a sheikh, and others shared insights in addition to what I already uncovered that got me shaking. The revelation of how corrupt leaders rope in people of integrity is mindboggling! We MUST pray and plan to do more advocacy, perhaps we can win more people to the side of integrity and accountability. Accusing fingers are now not only being pointed at those in the corridors of power but even at preachers, priests and parents!

As such, I ask everyone to post insights and advocacy ideas on this crucial focal point of corruption. While we are at it, let us resolve that we will not be part of this corrupt generation and we will show our children and those in our area of influence the path to honour and honesty!

Meanwhile below is what I arrived at, following research and discourse, on how to remove or eradicate the bottlenecks to fighting corruption in Nigeria:

Corruption is the dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power or those in high places, typically involving bribery. Synonym of the word corruption include dishonesty unscrupulousness, double-dealing, fraud, misconduct, wrongdoing, venality, extortion, profiteering, graft, crookedness, ungodliness, turpitude and sleaze

In Nigeria, corruption is like gangrene. As the great English intellectual, Rev Charles Caleb Colton (1780-1932), put it: "Corruption is like a ball of snow, once it's set a rolling it must increase." It takes two parties to keep corruption alive – bribe giver and bribe receiver.

"The on-going fight against corruption is a collective fight against the cabal that mercilessly looted our collective yams." Dr. Amodu Akeem on BCOS.

Lack of appropriate policies, inability to implement and incapacity to prosecute are the bottlenecks or culprits in the failure of our leaders to curb corruption.

The executive, legislative, judiciary and electorate have roles to play to ensure that corruption, which has become endemic in Nigeria, is curbed. It is sad to say that ending corruption where we stand today could remain an impossible task until we put some things in place and start the process in phases. Where corruption is fought to a stand still for instance in the transport industry e.g. by eradicating the area-boy menace, a strong signal will be indirectly sent to other sectors.

Policies, constitutional laws and reforms are needed to fight corruption to a standstill. But, it is almost impossible to reform the key sectors, which include the judiciary, police, civil service and EFCC when integrity and merit is downplayed in celebration of quota system to support "federal character". The Nigerian Police is arguably the most corrupt institution given the nature of their work, yet with need the police and other key sectors to fight corruption successfully. Sanusi alerted us on the missing 20 billion dollars and he was sacked and another appointed! Why? The judiciary remained mute and the electorate concurred.

Many issues have created bottlenecks to fighting corruption but I’ll look at what can be done to support the fight against this cankerworm in the fabric of our nation and nascent democracy. 

1.      Empower the EFCC

Those who work with the EFCC should be pre-selected or appointed and taken through a process that ensures they are trained, retrained and of the highest breed when it comes to honesty and integrity. No one who has a record of ever stealing should be included. No lapse should be tolerated from members. They should be like the Marines (make, win, develop). They should be trained in investigative journalism, psychology etc. We need a special law to make EFCC independent of the Executive arm such that the president doesn't have to be the one to appoint its Chairman or there could be a special order where an autonomous body recognised by law needs to approve or nullify such appointment by the president.

2.      Reform the Police

But is the Nigeria Police Fore re-formable?! I strongly believe the institution is. A police sergeant who may be retired gave me a taxi ride. No matter how a colleague grumbled that his driving was slow and unlike the regular drivers in traffic, he wasn’t moved to step out of line. The rot is just a lot so it could take having those presently serving re-apply, re-train and re-enlist to get anything to change. I was on the road to Ojodu Berger when two policewomen accosted my sister and I. Only one succeeded in the attempt to step into my vehicle. She claimed I was on the exit lane but there were two tricycle drivers in front of me. If indeed we were, she could have directed us to exit (there was another clear lane beside me through which vehicles exited) or she should have arrested the tricycle drivers first! But she came for me, not until my sister parted with 2000 did she let us go. Her name may have been Abiodun Salami. If it was a ticket-able offence, a ticket should have been issued. At times when drivers unknowingly commit real offence, the ticket is just astronomical! How on earth would anyone ask a driver to pay 17000 for being on an unmarked lane? It was possible for her to use “the lie” about the lane because the lane remains unmarked (no arrow to show the real direction of the lane). It seems we have a system that is programmed to accommodate corruption. As such, drivers often negotiate a fee that would not rob them of the entire day's profit or resource. As part of reforming the police, rules should be clear and direct. My father, an ex-policeman once said that a police could arrest you on over 100 charges in reference to a brand new vehicle even when you have your papers! I'm positive that though Herculean task, police reform is possible but technology, civil society participation, advocacy, enlightenment of the populace and reorientation of the service men and women should be involved in the process. Sometimes ago, I needed to bail a relation, I was able to insist on bailing and say no to paying for it because I knew my right; what of someone who doesn’t know, this is where enlightenment comes in. 

3.      Reform and Strengthen the Judiciary 

Perhaps we shouldn't be talking about reform but a complete overhaul! As we Very well know, we can't rebrand a bad product. We have gaps in our legal system that make it easier for rogues to walk free. Mrs. Denziani Alison-Madueke was at some point able to exploit the law to prevent her case from being investigated, but such issues can be adequately addressed by a judicial reform and a review of our constitution, bylaws and regulations. If for instance the law states that you cannot get an order that lasts more than 30 days to suspend a criminal investigation, you should not be able to exploit the system more than that. Possible bottlenecks and exploitative means can be addressed using a comprehensive judicial reform. We need people of integrity and exceptional testimonials to lead the reform. What Prof. Oluyemi Osinbajo did in Lagos while commissioner for justice remains indelible. He not only made resources available and initiated the sack of highly corrupt judges, he also mitigated reasons behind corruption by ensuring judges were well remunerated and had retirement benefits. Laws make better sense when process is put in place to ensure implementation. News have been making waves about the senate president who despite the enormity of the issues still sits as senate president, many corrupt people still walk free while judgement takes forever to deliver. At a sensitisation workshop recently, the VP lamented delay in the prosecution of corruption cases. Do you know that since 2002 when EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) was established and corruption was first actively identified by the President, Olusegun Obasanjo, as the number one monster devouring Nigeria, only eight high profile cases have been concluded with the prosecution successfully securing convictions one of which was reversed by the Supreme Court on technical grounds. A law needs to be sponsored and passed to for instance accelerate judgement on corruption cases. After the former NPA chairman returned from jail, he threw a party, what was he celebrating? Perhaps the failure of our system to recover all his loot or the satire of being released for a crime that should have earned him more jail term. I agree 100% with Prof. Osinbajo who said there is the need for “total reform and recovery from the present broken and failed system” caused by addressing the problems such as lawyers’ breach of ethical rules while defending high paying clients, congestion of courts, compromise by judicial offices and lack of capacity by investigators.

4.      Implementation of bills and policies

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) has been adopted for years but who implements it? The child rights act passed by Lagos State and strengthened by the red and yellow card appear fantastic but how well has it been managed to achieve the needful? The FOI bill has been signed into law but how many states have adopted or approved the act? The FOI bill and whistle blower act for instance needs to be implemented to reduce corruption and looting. Stealing is done at all levels and FOI can empower journalists and whistle blowers to ensure such is uncovered anywhere and everywhere found. It is important to enact the FOI bill and whistleblowers act to protect those who come up with evidence about cases of bribery, corruption, fraud, mismanagement, insider trading etc. – big or small. Some years back, I read a vacancy announcement in the newspaper. On the d-day, I went to the venue looking sharp and smart having prepared for the interview. We were about 500 and we were all asked to pay maybe 500 or 1000 Naira each. After waiting for like 2 hours behind schedule, a team of 4 or 5 men walked into the uncompleted building where tables and all were set up to conduct the interview. Interviewees were in and out within 5 minutes! To cut a long story short, it was after returning to check for the result of the interview that I discovered the men had rented the place for 3 days or so to scam unsuspecting applicants! Such people should be in jail. There should be bills to protect those who via their assignments are saddled with the responsibility of ensuring a corrupt free society e.g. judges. It should be a crime for instance for anyone to organise thugs to beat judges as was done by Fayose. Despite his position as a governor, he should be made to face the wrath of the law. There should be no sacred cows. Impunity should be wiped out. No one should be above the laws and regulations. Awards or honour previously accorded on grounds of seeming credibility could be recalled. They could be blacklisted from holding public office etc. Properties acquired from public funds should be confiscated and used for public good. This will serve as a show of shame, which will be a reason for even family members and friends to serve as watchdogs because of the boomerangs effect on them. A site came up sometimes ago as an initiative of the IGP and it was welcomed before the populace realised it was a scam. We need something like this. A medium where people can report erring public servants, file reports without their lives being at stake. I was at the Ikoyi Post Office. I needed to retrieve letters without my key. I would have turned back if I was told sorry, we can’t allow you but I was told my record would be crosschecked to ensure payment was up to date. When my record was verified, the man went to get my letters. There after, my letters were brought out with few looking like they were taken out of a trashcan yet the person demanded money for the hard work! Off course I didn’t give but asking should be a CRIME! I am wearing what appear on face value as a wristband but it is actually a flash drive. A man once recorded police extortion with an electronic cigarette, we need more access to such things to ensure information is disseminated and collected.

5.      Reward and Retribution

There must be a system to reward those who are honest and hardworking. What Prof. Osinbajo did in Lagos not only raised the profile of judges it helped to raise their self-esteem while positioning them to be content. I was once shocked when I saw an airport agent wheel someone to the pick up area and she refused the money she was offered. She said, “I’m sorry to decline sir, I am only doing my job”. I ran towards her to ask for her name and to tell her God bless you. There should be a medium to plug in such people’s name and for them to be rewarded for doing the right thing even when no boss is watching. In like manner we must condemn and bring to shame every corrupt act. Why for instance will anyone celebrate billionaires?! Can anyone truly make millions on his or her on without the help or use of others? Why then will one be able to declare millions and receive accolades especially as a public servant or religious leader? Employers and leaders must be encouraged to give back instead of amassing wealth. We must build a system where those who are brought to book would face more than the wrath of the law. They should be socially alienated; no warm welcome at social and religious gatherings. We can make them unwelcome and most inconsequential to our social and economic discourse. No invitations to motivational or development programmes.

6.      Private Public Civil Society Partnership

An organisation I initiated, the Solidarity Action network (SAN) is putting plans in place to hold town hall meetings for different sectors. For instance when we schedule to organise one for air travel, we will invite aggrieved clients to make a case directly to service providers. Telecoms companies charge you for automated services, to do so, they call your mobile line, once you pick, you owe. My elderly father has about 10 deductions that he was not aware of until I checked his phone and none was less than 50N deduction weekly, some were daily deductions. This should be a crime. There should be mediums to interface between the people, service providers and government and reports therefrom should take reports seriously. There should be a Business Compliance Office, which should be legally empowered to fight on behalf of the people after a number of verifiable reports are filed against a business or service provider.

7.      Loot Recovery and Reinvestment

Where are the funds recovered from Abacha’s loot and the loot of many others, Alamieyeseigha, Bode George etc. Until the people begin to see that money recovered from XYZ has made our nation and the lives of her citizens better, no one would be interested in supporting recovery. What is the essence of wasting time and money in an effort that would not augur well or deliver dividends of democracy to the people? Money recovered should be used to execute laudable projects and programmes for posterity. 

8.      Implementation of bills and policies

Remove every policy, project or programme that supports corruption. If generating plant importation licenses are withdrawn today, there would be a dramatic healing in our power industry. The monsters working against the availability of power are the same hands raking in billions from the sale and repair of generators.

9.      Undercover Agents

There is need to employ undercover agents to walk in unannounced but with the right verification. The remand home, the general and state hospitals, the public schools, postal offices, tax agencies etc. are institutions where staff should be accountable to the government but the rot in these establishments are unprecedented! I was at the General Hospital in Randle Avenue and to my shock, the lady issuing the invoice told a couple of us waiting in line to wait while she ate on her seat in the morning (outside lunch time). In the same hospital, those receiving cash for the sale of pharmaceuticals collect money but insist there is no change and some doctors and nurses could be seen gisting and showing a lack of interest in their responsibility. In the ER, a patient’s family was calling out to a nurse to replace the drip, she initially ignored the elderly woman and later retorted, I’ll do it later! She was busy nibbling at a snack on her table! Undercover agents or investigative journalists would do a lot to uncover such misuse of time and indiscipline especially in public offices.

10.   Employ the Use of Moral Instruction and Culture 

We have become so westernised that our children speak the language of foreigners. Many Nigerian children cannot communicate in local languages! Little wonder they think in the language and culture of the west, which unfortunately includes consumerism and competitiveness, which are not in themselves bad but have many negative values. The Yorubas, for example, have a rich cultural heritage which can be taught for instance via proverbs. A saying goes, Eni bi ole l'omo o ri omo bi (whoever births a thief, has not brought forth a child). This concept alone compels parents not to nurture rogues. When I have cause to buy anything from an Hausa-speaking seller, I am greeted with a courteous smile when I speak the kadankada hausa I learned during my service year. language should be a serious part of our education and should continue till the NYSC year. By teaching our culture of respect, contentment, selflessness etc. and other subject matter in moral instruction and via language, the values that can destroy corruption would be better understood .

11.   Code of Conduct

There must be a guided and guarded code of conduct that should be taught and implemented for politicians and others who have access to public funds. Who audits the account of political parties, non-governmental agencies and churches? How can someone who earns less than a million Naira monthly, give a religious body a 60 million Naira offering or tithe? All donations must be declared and income and expenditure made public. All those going into politics, pastoring, social enterprise etc. must be trained on how to conduct themselves honestly and offer services selflessly. There must be a body to for ensure checks and balances.

12.   Create jobs and enabling environment

While the recent approval of billions as loan for fresh graduates by the Lagos State Governor appear laudable, it may not augur well. Instead resources could be provided for graduates from all institutions even trade schools e.g. office or work space, tools, table and chair, business registration, internet, administrative and entrepreneurial support etc. 

13.   Encourage Accountability

For all public sectors, income and expenditure audit should be monthly or quarterly. Where this is done regularly, it would be challenging for many to steal or divert funds because a project for which payment has been disbursed last quarter cannot be filed afresh again next quarter!

14.   Provide amenities and benefits for citizens 

It would help to promote, celebrate and uphold nationalism when the Federal Government provide amenities, infrastructure and benefits for citizens especially public workers. In UAE citizens are kings and queens! No corporate entity can be set up by a foreigner without an indigene as board member. No foreigner can solely own a landed property. Nigerian leaders must find a way to celebrate her citizens to encourage the development of local talents. Many condemn Gaddafi but while he was in office, Libyans were entitled to a flat (apartment) once they enter adulthood. With this the likelihood of going into advanced fee fraud aka 419 was minimal. Many youths today roam the streets and end up going into crime.

15.   True Federalism

While it is great to have an all inclusive government this has tended towards corruption, as unqualified folks from some regions have a place on hold while those who are qualified are kept at bay. While attending FGCO, some from the north were admitted even without taking the examination! Few came in using other people's names just to ensure people were admitted from that region. Rather than do this, ensure people from all regions are educated and can sign into the national field to compete in all sectors and for roles on the national seat of governance. That is true federalism! If in a particular cycle no one can be fielded from a particular region, those from that region will mobilise effort to train and field credible hands for the next cycle.

16.    Establish trade and skill schools and encourage less emphasis on paper qualification

To enter a training school, while basic Arithmetic or Mathematics and English may be required, other skill sets are important to enable students excel. Examiners should work towards drawing out such talents and skill sets. Many cheat to ensure they make 5 credits to ensure they can enter into limited universities; where there are available and affordable options whose status are raised so they don't appear of lesser value, corruption in the educational system would be reduced.

17.   Inculcate the fear of God and love of humanity

This should be done especially in the upper echelon of the society. Just having a credible cleric pray ahead of a state meeting could compel people to do the right thing. People show reverence to God and have great respect for incorruptible men and women of God; this could be used to advantage especially where such figures have no price tag and cannot be bought over. Many who go to the courts are convicted to say the truth just by virtue of laying hands on the Holy Book. There is something divine about calling God into matters.

18.   Hold parents and leaders accountable

When a minor or employee is caught in a crime, compel parents or line boss to be part of the criminal process. This will ensure nurturing, mentoring of those in the area of influence.

19.   Employ the Use of Media Tools for Social Benefits

The media is a powerful tool. Unfortunately it has done more harm than good because of how it has been used. Many parents train children on cartoons. Many youths learn a lot from the diabolical home videos and violence laden western movies. The NBC Code specifies local content and time belt, yet his is grossly disregarded. The media should go all out to support the government in her effort to wipe out corruption. A current case of Dokpesi’s AIT being used as a medium for the misappropriation of funds should never have arisen if the focus of the media is more of a supporting rather than a profiteering medium. Journalists should be trained to avoid sensationalism but to get and disseminate real news. Magazines solely for the celebration of stolen wealth should be banned. The agencies regulating the medium should be strict and mediums used to reveal corrupt practices and officials should be commended and protected from boomerang effect.

20.   Curb the Entertainment Industry and Party Culture

While it is impossible to use the lens of the Bible or Quran to screen our entertainment industry especially music, it is important that songs that celebrate illicit wealth or amoral ideologies should be banned. It may be impossible for instance to stop the culture of spraying money but such monies must be traceable. A situation where someone known as a cobbler or civil servant throws a party and begins to throw uncut wads of Naira or Dollar note on the entertainers should be met with visits by EFCC. The policy in Lagos State that stopped the closing of streets for parties has gone a long way reduce the wastage occasioned by the “owambe” culture.