Wedging War Against Corruption in Nigeria Using Transformation Agenda as a Weapon: The Way Forward

Abstract

Many scholars have written on corruption in Nigeria. Their observations and recommendations have hit a brick wall of no effect. Many government programmes on change have failed in one way or the other due to corruption. In this dispensation, President Goodluck Jonathan has put in place a Transformation Agenda that is aimed at transforming the Nigerian economy to meet the future needs of Nigerians and hit a prominent economic position by 2020 in world arena. This paper is pessimistic on the success of the Transformation Agenda in midst of pervasive corruption in the system. This paper hold the view that for the transformation agenda to be successful, it must have a strong focus on mitigating corruption as a sine qua non in achieving the purpose of the transformation agenda. This paper is aimed at using the Transformation Agenda as a weapon to wedge war against corruption in Nigeria. Corruption prevention education. Re-orientation programme is recommended to detune the pervasiveness of corruption, strengthening the Judiciary for independent and effective performance, aspiring political office holders should be screened by the State Security Services and Independent National Electoral Commission, and severe punishment for offenders is recommended as the way out of stamping corruption; which this paper hold as a precondition for the success of the Transformation Agenda.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n5p129