A PHILOSOPHICAL INTERROGATION OF CORRUPTION AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR NIGERIA'S DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Corruption gives birth to challenges such as electoral fraud, the looting of a country's national treasury, election rigging, weak government institutions, poverty, hunger, poor healthcare system, poor road network, poor legal framework, lack of affordable water supply, low life expectancy, poor economic programmes, godfatherism, elite regimes, crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, youth restiveness, brain drain syndrome, internet fraud, socioeconomic, moral, physical and political insecurity such as political assassination, political thuggery, gangsterism, poor tax system, poor communication system, poor education system, lack of due process or rule of law, low productivity level, poor power supply and irresponsible leadership. Corruption is a global phenomenon and it is as old as humanity. Nigeria as a country is deeply rooted in corrupt practices. Corruption is pathological because it is like a disease. Corruption has a destructive force. The objective of this paper is to reveal that corruption is against humanity and country's quest for sustainable national development. This paper adopts the analytical framework in discussing the implications of corruption to Nigeria. The findings, however, show that the eradication of corruption is onerous task. It requires a collective effort of a people to stem the tide of corrupt practices. Rapid structural changes are required to mitigate the evils of corruption in Nigeria such as overhauling Nigeria's legal system and weak government institutions such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and other related matters Commission (ICPC).