Abbas Tajudeen, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has outlined why it has become so challenging to stop corruption in Nigeria in its tracks.
This was stated by the Speaker on Tuesday in Abuja while addressing at a Policy Dialogue on Corruption, Social Norms, and Behavioural Change event organised by the Independent Corrupt Practises and Other Related Offences Commission.
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The legislator claims that the high amount of corruption in the government has prevented the nation from reaching its full potential.
He pointed out that this is the case because a number of elements, including societal norms, expectations, attitudes, and poor governance systems have continuously made significant contributions to the persistence of corruption in Nigeria.
Abbas said, “Despite this recognition, certain corruption-inducing behaviours, norms, attitudes, and expectations persist within our society, thereby, enabling and perpetuating acts of corruption.
“Corruption in Nigeria has been fuelled by various factors, including weak governance structures, lack of transparency and accountability, poverty, and cultural acceptance of corrupt practices.
“While we have laws, policies and institutions to tackle corruption, it is my considered opinion that corruption continues to fester owing to prevailing societal attitudes towards wealth, fame, power and success regardless of how they are obtained.
“The behavioural and social norms approach in tackling corruption is akin to cutting off the root of an evil tree than trimming its branches. After all, prevention is better than cure.
”It follows, therefore, that addressing corruption requires not only legal and institutional reforms but also a transformation of social norms and behaviours.”
