Strategies of Fighting Corruption and Its Implication on Nigeria National Security

Chapter 4

STRATEGIES OF FIGHTING CORRUPTION AND ITS IMPLICATION ON NIGERIA NATIONAL SECURITY.

59. This chapter makes a presentation and analyses of data on strategies for fighting corruption and its implication Nigeria National Security. The data was presented using tables and charts. Data was presented in accordance to the responses to questionnaire and facts from literatures. The finding of the study was also be brought to fore.

TABLE 7: RESPONSES ON THE STRATEGIES FOR FIGHTING CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA.

Serial

Variable Frequency

Percentage %

1 Economic/market reforms 23 22

2 Administrative/Bureaucratic Reforms 36 36

3 Financial Management System

21

20.3

4 Accountability/Transparency enhancing reforms

23 22

Total 103 100

Source: Questionnaire

FIGURE 7: A PIE CHART SHOWING RESPONSES ON THE STRATEGIES FOR FIGHTING CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA

60. On strategies for fighting corruption in Nigeria, 22 per cent of the respondents' said economic reforms are part of the strategy use in combating corruption in Nigeria. 36 per cent answered that Administrative/Bureaucratic Reforms is also among strategies use in combating corruption. 20 per cent of the respondents believe Financial Management System is a strategy use in fighting corruption. While 22 per cent answered that Accountability/Transparency enhancing reforms is another strategy.

TABLE 8: RESPOSES ON IF THE STRATEGIES FOR FIGHTING CORRUPTION YIELDED A POSITIVE RESULT IN NIGERIA.

Serial Sex Frequency

(Respondents) Percentage %

(a) (b) (c) (d)

1 Yes 79 76.69

2 No 24 23.3

Total 105 100

Souece: questionnaire

FIGUER 8: SHOWING RESPONSE OF IF THE ANTI CORRUPTION STRATEGIES BY THE GOVERNMENT HAS YIELDED ANY POSITIVE RESULT.

61. Most of the respondent totaling 76.69 per cent answered Yes, while 23.3 per cent answered No. Therefore, it can be deduce that the strategies put in place by government has no achieved positive result

ANALYSIS OF RESPONSES ON THE STRATEGIES FOR FIGHTING CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA

62. The researcher discusses four broad categories of reforms (anti-corruption strategies) that can be designed and implemented to prevent/combat corruption in Nigeria.

63. Economic/Market Reforms: involve economic liberalization designed to promote a vibrant private sector and reduce public sector waste.1 The principal aim economic/market reforms is to attack the influence of powerful elites in the decisions and policymaking of the state, the so-called state capture. It also promotes the creation of fair, competitive, honest and transparent private sector.2 Under economic/market reforms there are four approaches:

a. Program Elimination: By reducing or eliminating government programs which present opportunities for corruption and are a source of waste, corruption can be minimized.3 Rose-Ackerman points that the most obvious economic approach is simply to eliminate government programs that are permeated with corruption.4 If the state has no authority to restrict export or license businesses, no one will pay bribes in those areas. If a subsidy program is eliminated, the bribes that accompanied it will disappear. If price controls are lifted, market prices will express scarcity values, not bribes.

b. Privatisation: Privatization of state-run enterprises and services can curb corruption because private sector accounting methods and competitive market pressures reduce the opportunities for wrongdoing.5 By removing the government from economic activities, privatization eliminates opportunities for recurrent corrupt dealing in employment, procurement, and financing contracts. However, Pope argues that the benefits of privatization must be weighed against the possible adverse effects of privatization: unemployment of civil servants and the risk of private sector monopolies.6

c. Deregulation: It offers a more straightforward means to limit state authority by eliminating tariffs, exchange rate controls, thereby stripping officials of the power to extract bribes.7 Deregulation can help reduce the discretionary power of politicians, but only if this reform is undertaken in a transparent and non-discriminatory way. Otherwise we run the risk that the deregulation reform process itself will be corrupted.

d. Tax Reforms: Mollah & Uddin point that corruption in customs and tax administration lowers government revenues, and is often is linked with smuggling and organized crime.8 By simplifying and streamlining the tax code of Nigeria, corruption is minimized as the tax laws become uncomplicated. The World Bank argues that in most cases tax reforms that eliminate multiple rates and limit the discretionary powers of tax officials help reduce corruption.9 However; the World Bank warns that tax rates that exceed tax payer's view as legitimate.

64. Administrative/Bureaucratic Reforms: encompass civil service reforms designed to enhance the performance of the government bureaucracy. They include:

a. Public Procurement Reform: Few activities create great temptation or offer more opportunities than public procurement. This is because where every level of government and every kind of government organization purchases goods and services, often in monetary amounts that defy comprehension. Competitive public procurement limits the authority of the government officials thereby guarding against corruption.10

b. Heavy Penalties for Corrupt Behavior: Applying sanctions to corrupt acts is an important step towards establishing accountability. In large part, sanctions are centered on legislation that criminalizes corruption. The whole aim of imposing stiff penalties is to make corruption a high risk activity. Pope points that independent