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Corruption as a canker worm to development: Nigeria as a case study
10. November 2018 at 19:50
The level of corruption is really alarming and many strategies have been put in place to curb it and all to no avail. This is really a major problem in Nigeria. Corruption is a canker worm to development. Nigeria is where we are today because of Corruption.
In recent times, with the introduction of Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), Matthew Parris has observed that “corruption has become an African epidemic. It is impossible to overstate the poisoning of human relations and the paralyzing of initiative that the corruption on the African scale brings.”

A recent report by the International Human Rights Organization came out with Nigeria taking the first position on the list of the most corrupt nations in the world. Indeed, in Nigeria, corruption is so rampant that it is worthless to talk of any person who is not corrupt. Maybe it is better to say who is more or less corrupt.

In philosophical, theological, or moral discussions, corruption is spiritual or moral impurity or deviation from an ideal. Corruption entails many forms including bribery and embezzlement. Government corruption occurs when an elected representative makes decisions that are influenced by vested interest rather than their own personal or party ideological beliefs. The word ‘corrupt’ from a Latin word ‘corruptus’ meaning ‘to abuse’ or ‘to destroy’. Corruption is a hydra-headed problem which moves around, attaches itself to and ‘metamorphosizes’ to all forms of desires by those that practice it. Corruption is a cankerworm that eats deep into the fabrics of Nigeria.

According to Petit Robert’s Dictionary, development can be defined as growth, blossoming, progress, extension, expansion. In the simplest of terms, it is the ability of a country to improve the social welfare of the people. For example, by providing social amenities like good education, infrastructural development and social services.

This reality of corruption in Nigeria posits a great challenge to any government or agency of government which is determined to control and wipe out this evil to National development. Undoubtedly, corruption has a negative impact on all indicators of economic development. Corruption, especially political corruption, breeds lack of productivity, lack of initiative and creativity to put sound policies, which could generate further development. Thus, the rate of economic growth, domestic and foreign investment, employment and fair income distribution all suffer and retard growth as a result of corruption.

In fact, the problems of corruption have increasingly pushed Nigeria’s society and economy to the brims of disaster, as the current lack of progress and the political crisis between the legislature and the executive shows.

Indeed, it is because of the corrupt practices of Nigeria’s public service functionaries that, neither the landscape of Nigeria nor the standard of living of its citizens has significantly improved since independence, despite the huge monetary resources which the government has been able to generate over the years.

This message is to all Nigerians reading this; “Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous.” Finally, for Nigeria to become a developed country we need to be free from the captivity of corruption.

Cite This Article As: Meshach Idoko. "Corruption as a canker worm to development: Nigeria as a case study." International Youth Journal, 10. November 2018.

Link To Article: https://youth-journal.org/corruption-as-a-canker-worm-to-development-nigeria-as-a-cas





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