Nigeria and the long-standing battle against corruption
Corruption is a word an average Nigerian may not even need to look up in the dictionary to get its meaning. The reason is because it is all around us, and it's often encouraged in both low and high places. While corruption is no strange thing in Nigeria; the latest Corruption Perception Index (CPI) released by Transparency International shows that Nigeria is still 'highly' corrupt as it places 148 in the list of 180 countries that were under review. Compared with the 2016 report, Nigeria dropped 12 places to occupy the 148th position as one of the most corrupt countries in the world- Nigeria scored 28% out of 100, and ranked 136th in 2016 and in the current index, the score is 27/100.
The present result is coming against the backdrop of the Federal government's claim at making efforts towards fighting corruption. The rank can be seen as a dent to the government's assertions, and could even give credence to claims that the government's anti-corruption fight has been a rather selective one since there exist top government officials [who are perceived to be corrupt] that are yet to be tried.
Though the Corruption Perception Index defines corruption as "the misuse of public power for private benefit" and Nigeria may feel that it is logical to make the government run the gauntlet for not doing enough to quell the proliferation of corrupt practices, it is expedient that we [Nigerians] look inwardly and see ways through which we may be encouraging corruption in our immediate communities. Corruption is not just about the government alone; the ordinary Nigerian out there could easily- without a second thought- engage in an activity that would pass off as a corrupt practice without him/her even being conscious of it.
In compiling the report, Transparency International used data generated from surveys and assessments obtained from some reputable organizations [such as World Bank, World Justice Project, International Institute for Management Development, Economist Intelligence Unit, African Development Bank and a couple of other relevant bodies] to create the Corruption Perception Index (CPI). CPI focuses on indicators such as bribery and embezzlement among public office holders, the judiciary and security agencies; government's adherence to the rule of law; press freedom among other important parameters. Based on the report, the agency observed that countries that scored in the index were those with higher degrees of press freedom, access to information about public expenditure, stronger standards of integrity for public officials, and independent judicial systems.
Maybe it's high time we took a clue from countries such as New Zealand, Finland, Denmark and even Botswana- which happens to be African country with the most impressive anti-corruption tendency as it occupies the 34th position on the index. It is really pathetic that Nigeria is yet to break into the first 100- not to even talk of the first 50- countries perceived to have an effective corruption-fighting model in place since the inception of CPI.
For this plunge [into the abyss of moral decadence as highlighted by the indulgences in corrupt practices] to be abated, all hands- from the government to NGOs and other private organizations as well as individual citizens- must be on deck. We all owe this nation the civic responsibility of being faithful and honest in order to uphold her honour and glory before the world at large.