Understanding Corruption in Nigeria: A Political Economy Approach
Ademola Babalola
In time and space, corruption is a universal
practice. It is the propensity of people to commit corrupt practices, that
differentiate one society from another.
Nigeria is ranked among the most corrupt nations in the world. The recent dismissal
of Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Professor Osuji, a supposedly fine,
incorruptible gentleman, raises the issue of why Nigerians are so vulnerable
or prone to corruption.
In this paper, we intend to explain corruption in Nigeria from the background
of available theories of crime and deviance in societies. Of particular interest
to us is the political economy approach, which we have found suitable in explaining
why Nigerians are vulnerable to corruption. Our position is that Nigerians
are prone to corruption because of the colonial political economy established
and later bequeathed to the country after independence. The colonial political
economy established and handed over to Nigerian elites, a state that was ubiquitous,
totalitarian and an instrument for the control and appropriation of capital/wealth;
but lacking in the development of the productive forces. These conditions have
compelled Nigerians to employ all sorts of means, usually untoward, to acquire
state power to promote their personal and clannish interests.
Culture and Human Development in Twenty-First
Century Africa
Culture is germane to human survival
and development. The ability of a people to create and adapt their
culture to changing historical and technological circumstances would
determine their ability to survive and improve their living condition.
In the same vein, people have been identified as the real wealth of
a nation and that the basic goal or objective of development is to
create an enabling environment for people to enjoy long, healthy and
creative lives.
Twenty-first century Africa is currently witnessing intensive “global” influence
from Europe, America, Japan and China. As usual, the concern today,
is the survival of African cultures and peoples under the domineering
influence of new info-techno-economic pressures. This paper intends
to address this issue.
Below is a general discussion of what culture is supposed to be, the
importance of culture to human beings and their societies; some of
the social processes associated with cultural interactions, and a discussion
of salient features of African cultures. Next, is the identification
of the elements of the “global” process and how these have
affected African peoples and their cultures. The position of this paper
is that, like previous influences from Europe and America, African
cultures would respond in varying degrees to the current “globalizing” pressures,
depending particularly on the responses of African governments and
people to the global agenda. While most African cultural practices
have survived and intermix with some elements of the global culture,
the global economic and political agenda appears catastrophic for human
development in twenty-first century Africa.
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