corruption is a complex and varied phenomenon according to John Fambe. "it is a global issue that occurs in different forms and degrees in different parts of the world".
In Nigeria for instance, corruption is a canker worm which has eaten deep into the fabrics of the nation, leaving it continually with stunted growth.
Corruption witnessed in Nigeria include inflation of contracts, fraud and falsification of accounts in the public service, examination malpractice in education institutions, bribery and perversion of justice among the police and legal practitioners, personal enrichment, embezzlement of public funds by government officials, oil theft and election malpractices.
In fact, corrupt practices in the country are monumental and too numerous that they appear to have become norms in the society, making efforts to stem them by anti-corrupt bodies like the ICPC and EFCC uphill tasks.
Highly placed individuals are known to collude with multi-national companies and importers to swindle the country of billions of naira in oil and contract business annually.
This is money that would have gone into poverty alleviating projects, generation of employments, provision of standard health care services, environmental sustainability, housing projects, power and water supply as well as payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities and many others.
Obviously, these are more important to drive economic growth and development of the country than diverting public funds to private pockets which deprive people of their rights to better living.
Corruption is so entrenched that anyone hoping to do any kind of business in the country must be very careful. In the political arena, corruption is very endemic. Politicians apparently compromise everything in their desperation to raise money ostensibly for their campaigns but in reality for rigging elections.
They appear sometimes to be acting in the interest of the parties that sponsor them while they are mostly driven by personal aggrandizement.
Also Nigerians have developed an unhealthy love for easy wealth while at the same time loosing their traditional appetite for hard work the consequence of which is sharing of the so called "National Cake" without bothering of who bakes it and how it is baked.
It is important that Nigerians show greater commitment to the fight against corruption with a view to reducing it drastically and freeing the country from the clutches of canker worm. to combat it government must bring corrupt politicians and citizens to justice while those in authority should endeavour to desist from corrupt practices.
similarly, government should address the culture of impunity and ensure that stolen assets which have been recovered are ploughed to productive ventures. the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari holds a lot of prospects for future generations with its commitment towards to the elimination of corruption in the country.
Therefore, all and sundry should not only support the fight but imbibe the culture of transparency and reject the urge to get rich quick through dubious means.
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