Democratic governance and the frightening impact of corruption in contemporary Nigerian society

Christian Chima Chukwu , Joseph Nkom Ngban

Abstract
This paper focuses on democratic governance and the frightening impact of corruption in contemporary Nigerian society in the attempt to restore good governance and also improve the socio-economic development of the citizenry after about fifty eight years of independence. Related literatures to the variables were reviewed including the adoption of the descriptive and content analytical method in the analysis of the secondary data in order to achieve the objectives of the study. The social learning theory was employed as theoretical framework to guide the study. Findings reveal that the phenomenon of corruption has evidently graduated beyond impunity, both in volume, scale, breadth, depth and has become a national cancer in the country. Furthermore, findings also show that Nigerian politicians have entered into yet other webs of delusion, and deception to the extent that their pursuit of corrupt practices, they reason, is greeted with ovation. Aside this, the paper also highlights that since the mad rush for corrupt practices, especially amongst politicians seems impossible to abate, the alarming rate of vicious opulence which has engulfed the Nigerian nation clearly demonstrates naivety, desperation and un-Godly helplessness. Based on all these, the paper suggests that there is the urgent need to halt the hypocritical position in corrupt cases involving high influential members of the government as well as the immunity covertly granted their cronies. The paper recommends that amongst other measures, government should not only be transparent in enforcing all relevant laws against corruption, but prosecute all those found culpable. Finally, Judicial Service Commission as autonomous body should halt the incessant dismissal of corrupt cases by judges on technical grounds, as well as continuing to beam its searchlight on all corrupt judicial officers.

Keywords
Corruption; Transparency International; Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); Judicial Service Commission.

Resumo
Governança democrática e o impacto assustador da corrupção na sociedade nigeriana contemporânea. Este artigo enfoca a governança democrática e o impacto assustador da corrupção na sociedade nigeriana contemporânea na tentativa de restaurar a boa governança e também melhorar o desenvolvimento socioeconômico dos cidadãos após cerca de 58 anos de independência. A literatura foi revisada, incluindo a adoção do método descritivo e analítico de conteúdo na análise dos dados secundários, a fim de alcançar os objetivos do estudo. A teoria do aprendizado social foi empregada como referencial teórico para orientar o estudo. Os resultados revelam que o fenômeno da corrupção evidentemente formou-se além da impunidade, tanto em volume, escala, amplitude e profundidade, tornando-se um câncer nacional no país. Além disso, as descobertas também mostram que os políticos nigerianos entraram em outras teias de ilusão e engano, na medida em que sua busca de práticas corruptas, eles raciocinam, é recebida com ovação. Além disso, o artigo também destaca que desde a louca correria por práticas corruptas, especialmente entre os políticos, parece impossível de diminuir. A taxa alarmante de opulência viciosa que envolveu a nação nigeriana demonstra claramente ingenuidade, desespero e desamparo piedoso. Com base em tudo isso, o artigo sugere que há a necessidade urgente de deter a posição hipócrita em casos de corrupção envolvendo membros altamente influentes do governo, bem como a imunidade concedida secretamente a seus companheiros. O artigo recomenda que, entre outras medidas, o governo não só seja transparente na aplicação de todas as leis relevantes contra a corrupção, mas processe todos os que forem considerados culpados. Finalmente, a Comissão de Serviços Judiciais, como órgão autônomo, deve suspender a rejeição incessante de casos corruptos por juízes por motivos técnicos, bem como continuar a direcionar seu holofote para todos os funcionários judiciais corruptos.

Palavras-chave
Corrupção; Transparência Internacional; Comissão de Crimes Econômicos e Financeiros (CCEF); Comissão de Serviço Judicial.

DOI
10.21438/rbgas.050901

Texto completo
PDF

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