GRASSROOTS CORRUPTION, THE ROOT OF NIGERIA'S WOES
Staggering revelations of monies stolen by public officers, myriads of policy goof by Nigerian leaders, insensitive misstatements by politicians and their cronies, and the like, are what endear the general public to the menu list of the press. Public analysts go a step further, on different media platforms, to underscore the gravity of our ‘misfortunes’ by means of scrutiny and analysis of such issues. The critic in the average Nigerian is awoken, and what follows are unfettered aspersions, blames, bitterness, and hate all directed at the Nigerian government.
Agreed that elected leaders in Nigeria have largely by their selfishness and greed impoverished the Nigerian state while also slowing down its developmental pace, we must not underestimate the severity of what I refer to as grassroots corruption in the schemes of things. This is what, as it were, stands stubbornly at the root of Nigeria’s woes. Suffice it to mention a few of how grassroots corruption is exemplified, as a way of divesting our outlook of this cankerworm, thus providing a more effective clampdown on it.
My first call is the insecurity state of the country. Insecurity in Nigeria is on an alarming mode, especially with the vicious terrorist acts of Boko Haram. Whatever the causes of the insurgence, a serious factor that cannot be wished away is the collaboration by some members of the affected communities, as well as their refusal to supply information to security agencies. Some have tried to excuse such criminal silence on the pretext of real intimidations by the terrorists. Needless to tell how lame such excuses are. Keeping mute in the face of bloodshed and systematic demolition of the Nigerian state is tantamount to conspiracy with the terrorists.
Again, Nigerians were recently subjected to untold hardship as a result of scarcity of petrol. Reportedly, oil marketers refused to do business in protest at government’s withholding of subsidy payments pending the outcome of investigation into the widely publicised subsidy scandal.
While government cannot but have a fair share of the blame accruable, the high-handedness of the marketers is highly condemnable. They obviously fell short of the minimum requirement of decorum and decency in showing their grievances. Strikes should never be weapons of blackmail, knowing full well the grave consequences on the masses.
But beyond the insensitivity of the marketers, what justifiable reason could possibly be adduced for the hoarding of fuel by petrol stations and sale at ridiculously outrageous prices? What acceptable reason could possibly be given for creating artificial scarcity and subjecting Nigerians to long waits on queues that largely only resulted in frustrating disappointments? The only unacceptable, unjustifiable reason is corruption! The ripple effects on the lives of the average Nigerian were overwhelming, thanks to the grassroots corrupt mentality of businessmen and women. Commercial vehicle operators were quick to triple transport fares, market women had no restraint increasing cost of commodities, while artisans were not hesitant to join the opportunistic fray.
Artisans have, in fact, become unrepentant pain in the neck of many Nigerians. Dubious intentions and acts are fast becoming an integral part of their workings. It is now easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than to get honest, reliable, and efficient artisans to render services commensurate with pay. Lies, deceit, dishonesty and manipulations have largely become their trademarks. While some are so shamelessly greedy, others feed fat on their customers by subtle means. These are not unguarded statements geared at defaming any group of persons or class but a fair conclusion arrived at following interactions with victims coupled with personal experiences. Some persons have had to abandon their generating sets and vehicles after many frustrating repairs. Some others have had to live with leaking roofs with the consequent inconveniences and damage of property despite having spent a fortune on repairs.
Furthermore, Nigeria’s civil and public service is bedevilled with mediocrity and inefficiency as a result of grassroots corruption. Parents are quick to pressurise public officials to accommodate their children and wards in the system even when they obviously do not possess the requisite qualification, knowledge, and skills. Nepotism, tribalism, and religious affiliations are ready instruments in the hands of desperate persons seeking employment. When they secure such appointments, they fail to live up to their demands. Little wonder many civil-servants vehemently kicked against the conduct of promotion test at a time. Besides, what is the work-ethics of the average worker? It is not unusual to see workers moving from office to office marketing their wares during office hours. It is equally not strange to hear of public and civil servants absconding from duty to pursue other personal businesses. After all, government parastatals are considered to be orphans that should be grateful for little crumbs of service rendered!
The instances of grassroots corruption are numberless. The possibilities of grassroots sleaze are immeasurable. Is it the driver that drives into a petrol station and connives with the attendant to inflate the figures on the receipt that is not worth mentioning; or the attendant that gives a blank receipt to the driver, who in turn fills in fraudulent figures that is worth ignoring? Fuel metres are hardly dependable. Metrical tonnes and weights in the markets cannot be trusted.
Indeed, grassroots corruption is as severe, if not more damaging, than corruption by the elitist class. It may not appear so when we hear the scandalous figures of loots by politicians and their cronies compared to the ‘little’ fraud exhibited by the man on the streets. However, if only the ‘little’ frauds can be summed up, no one will be left in doubt of its far-reaching consequences.
Our quest to stamp out corruption must be holistic, with requisite regard paid to the multidimensional posture of grassroots corruption. It is not enough to depend solely on anti-graft agencies to run after our ever-greedy rulers; it is not enough to rely on our non-reforming, dehumanising prisons to serve as deterrent to would-be criminals. We must pay more attention to prevention possibilities more than cure. Our attempts at stamping out corruption will be futile if the cause of grassroots corruption is not dealt with.
The core cause is undoubtedly the warped value system and get-rich-quick syndrome enshrined in our psyche. It is unarguably the sidelining of moral codes in homes and schools. It is the refusal of government to return mission schools to their owners, while precluding any trace of moral ethics in their curricula. It is the plenty space given to managers of show-biz to redefine morality and propagate their deformed definition of it. It is the shifts from messages that save souls to materialism, by spiritual fathers whose bellies are their gods. Until these causes are rooted out with determined precision, grassroots corruption will continue to dig deeper into the sores of our national life. And unless grassroots corruption is dealt with, Nigeria may just in no time drop the book, No longer at Ease, to pick up Things Fall Apart. God forbid!
Written By Timothy Ola Bamgboye