Saturday, August 21, 2010

THE NIGERIAN MENTALITY

Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation with a population of over 150 million people, Africa's second largest economy is set to celebrate her 50 years of independence on the October 1 2010.Nigeria is a nation with over 250 ethnic groups, rich in culture and traditions with the number of languages currently estimated and cataloged in Nigeria over 521. Nigeria is expected to put on a star studded show for the world in celebration of it's 50 years of independence. But before we Nigerians begin to celebrate, let us look back at the last 50 years to see what and if we have achieved anything. As a nation Nigeria has come to be plagued by a very deadly and contagious disease-"THE NIGERIAN MENTALITY".
On October 1 1960, Nigeria gained her independence from Britain, it was a day of celebration for a nation which many held high hopes for. This hopes however, have long vanished barely few years after her independence. It first began with a coup on January 15, 1966 which was followed by a civil war from 1967-1970. These two events are often regarded by experts as the source of Nigeria's problem. The 1966 coup which was the first in Nigeria was the beginning in a long line of military coups and leadership that spanned for more than 3 decades. The civil war exposed divisions amongst the people-religious and ethnic. Decades of military rule which brought severe hardships on the people has left the ordinary Nigeria with a stigma-hopelessness. Nigerian leaders and her political elite are known for being inhibitors of progress and for their very bad qualities, qualities which the masses has not only learnt but adopted in order to survive, qualities which make up-"THE NIGERIAN MENTALITY"
The bad qualities that make up THE NIGERIAN MENTALITY are so many that one tends to wonder if we as a nation will ever outgrow it. From corruption, sheer wickedness, lack of compassion,laziness, cowardism to the i don't care attitude only to mention but a few. But perhaps of all these negative qualities, corruption, cowardism and the i don't care attitude stand out from the rest. Nigeria is one of the world's most corrupt nation with an estimated $241 billion looted by it's leaders since her independence. Corruption in Nigeria began as political corruption but soon quickly poisoned our public institutions. Political corruption is not a recent phenomenon that pervades the Nigerian state. Since the creation of modern public administration in the country, there have been cases of official misuse of resources for personal enrichment. The rise of public administration and the discovery of oil and natural gas are two major events seen to have led to a litany of ignoble corrupt practices in the country.What once started as political corruption is now a common act performed by virtually every citizen across social, ethnic and economic background.The international community has come to know Nigeria as a state where anything goes due to corruption. Corruption has and continues to be the single biggest problem in Nigeria and has left the nation in a state of backwardness. Since the end of the civil war which saw corruption peak in Nigeria the nations has seen very little or no development at all. From infrastructural development( power, transport and other basic amenities), agricultural, education, health and human development, Nigeria has seen little progress in it's national development due to immense corruption. This has left the nation stagnant and even moving backwards in certain areas of national development. The current administration has launched an ambitious agenda under it's "VISION 2020" which will see Nigeria become one of the top 20 nations in the world in terms of her economy. For this to happen, Nigeria will have to build up her infrastructures which have suffered decades of neglect. But with corruption now more rampant than ever one tend to wonder just how the VISION 2020 will be achieved. Corruption is a major cause of poverty and a barrier to overcome it. There are so many causes of corruption in Nigeria. They include;
1. Weak Government institutions
2. Poor pay incentives
3. Lack of openness and Transparency in public service
4. Absence of key anti corruption tools
5.Ineffective political processes
6. Culture and acceptance of corruption by the populace
7. Absence of effective political financing
8. Poverty
9. Ethnic and religious difference
10. Resource scramble
Despite the ongoing fight against corruption being executed by the nations EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Unit) and ICPC (Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission), corruption is stronger than ever. The fight against corruption in Nigeria is not working because of the following factors:

1. Insincerity of Government
2. Pre-bargaining and Negotiation, highly placed officials caught of corrupt practices are made to part with some of their looted funds and are thereafter set free.
3. Low deterrent- the punitive measures for corrupt practices need to be strengthened
4. Lack of virile political and social movements to tackle corruption. The mass of the people are yet to be mobilized in the fight against corruption
5. Lack of access to public information. A lot of secrecy still pervades Government documents, and this underlies the need for the passage of the freedom of Information Bill presently before Nigeria’s National Assembly.
6. Insecurity of Informants-There is a need to enact laws to protect informants as well as reward them
7. Low public participation in Governance
8. Corrupt Electoral system
9. Nepotism
10. Systemic disorder
11. Weak Government Institutions
Corruption is a cancer-worm that has stunted the growth of Nigeria in all ramifications.Corruption in all facets of our economic life will be minimized if everybody will take a decision to effect a change. This change will not be easy but it is necessary for a change to take place in Nigeria.Corruption has affected all aspects of our lives, religious, political and economic.Corruption has also led to the adoption of the "i don't care attitude", an attitude which has also contributed to the detriment of our society. Nigeria is where it is today not only because of corruption but also because of the attitude of it's people and that makes us the cause of corruption. In the fight against corruption, many probes on frauds, looting have not yielded anything reasonable as politicians as well as ordinary Nigerians in positions of influence sit on peoples wealth comfortably without remorse thanks to our Judiciary whose inaction has not helped matters as they only inflame it.It is no wonder why when the government says it it is fighting corruption, it is merely lip service as fighting corruption in Nigeria will live us without a government because they are corruption itself and since we the people are now part and parcel of it,it might entail no more Nigeria.Corruption has,is and will continue to be the source of Nigeria's problem and it seems to be getting worse under our democratic government.It is the sole cause of our problems and has given birth to perhaps an even bigger problem-POVERTY.(PART 1)to be continued.

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