Corruption has been identified as a huge obstacle to development and ethical values in Nigeria.
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, SAN, disclosed this at a Seminar in Lagos Southern Nigeria.
In his presentation titled “Corruption and Integrity: Making the Difference Leadership Series”, the ICPC Chairman stated that corruption undermines infrastructure development due to skewed procurement processes.
He said, “Corruption is the greatest obstacle to development and an existential threat to unity. It affects everyone and everything negatively and gravely.
“In the minimum, corruption destroys ethical and moral values; compromises security, justice and rule of law, deprives citizens of economic, social and constitutional rights, breeds distrust, mistrust, unemployment, violence, breeds poverty as it diverts resources from poverty reduction projects, hinders effective resource allocation and deployment, and fuels ethnic distrust and conflicts due to unjust resource allocation.”
The ICPC boss, however, listed some corruption and integrity red-flags for leaders in the public service to be wary or to avoid slipping into them.
They include: “public procurement, contract splitting, fiscal management skill, abuse of office or power, and disconnect from reality.”
He identified recovery of assets from corrupt persons as a key measure in the fight against corruption.
“Asset recovery from corrupt persons has become necessary to deny them the use of whatever they had stolen from the public coffers. Our efforts are geared towards recovery of identified stolen assets and resources that will be used for the development of the country.”
“Millions of Nigerians suffering denial of basic social services and lack of infrastructures such as hospitals, schools, water and employment will receive succour when stolen assets are recovered from looters,.” Owasanoye said.
Recommendations
The ICPC Chairman cited some scriptural passages in his recommendations to the seminar participants on how to make a difference in leadership while avoiding corrupt tendencies.
The recommendations include: “reducing expectations of reward or gratitude, having options and reminding oneself that he or she is not the only person who can do it, focusing on basic needs not the vanities of life, and ignoring praise singers who exaggerate someone’s importance to the system.”
Also speaking, Reverend Abraham Akinola of Harvest Church said that, the 2022 Leadership Seminar was aimed at creating a better society and providing redemption for the country.
“We need to exert the influence of Christ more in our life and attitude to enable us preserve our nation,” he stated.
He adds that every Nigerian need the character of Christ in their lives, choice of words, dress code and attitude, in order to influence a change in the society.
Lateefah Ibrahim
