Nigerian Leaders Either Stop Corruption or Face Consequences – Toyin Falola
Nigeria-born Professor of History, Toyin Falola, has called on political leaders to pay attention to ending corruption and pursuing economic prosperity for the poor masses.
The academic who teaches at the University of Texas, Austin, USA, said the consequences of government’s failure to tackle corruption would be dire.
He spoke as the keynote speaker at a national policy dialogue on corruption organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in Abuja.
Speaking on the topic, ‘Corruption, Social Norms and Behaviour Change in Nigeria,’ the scholar recalled the transformative journey of the Chinese, Malaysians and Japanese in tackling corruption and providing social services for their populace.
“If the politicians and political parties are not ready to reform, they will not be able to control the consequences.
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“If they want a jihad (holy war), the citizens will give them one. The issues around arising poverty must be addressed through the creation of a middle-class,” he said.
He criticised western countries for ignoring the undemocratic governance structures of global bodies like the United Nations (UN) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), but labelling Africans as corrupt and bad.
Falola explained that corruption in Nigeria is a complex issue deeply rooted in social norms and cultural factors.
“These influential forces play a significant role in shaping the prevalence of corruption within the country. The practices of “clientelism” and “godfatherism” play a significant role in fostering corruption within societies,” he added.
He argued that merely increasing workers’ wages would not combat endemic corruption in public service.
“We have to reduce monetary attraction of public office holders.
“In the fight against corruption, it is crucial to focus on transforming behaviours and fostering a culture of integrity and accountability. This requires active participation from individuals across different sectors,” he added.
He urged the government to build strong institutions and provide social safety nets for the citizens.
