The Final Solution to Corruption in Nigeria


When Corruption has become so routine that even seasoned thieves and corruption God-fathers ( Like our dear friend Umaru Dikko ) see it as madness. It is time the Nigeria state face reality and re-invents an ingenious way to stop this monster called corruption otherwise we would all be consumed by it. EFCC is fighting a loss battle her Chairman has been quoted and I quote “ saying some of our political leaders have mental problems and need Psychiatric help” , It is time to get back to the drawing board and look for a more practical solution. That Solution is what I call the Final solutions just like the Nazis when they were hell bent on eradicating the Jews they had to dig deep and involve the some of the finest brains in Germany to come up with an ingenious way of dealing with the Jews problem which they see as the cause of all their problems. I am not in anyway advocating or in support of what Nazi Germany did, but what I am interested in is the word Final. Final means all other methods have been tried and failed we shall try one more last solution and if it did not work we might as well give up. Nazi Germany believes the problems of their society had to do with the Jews and to their thinking they came out with what they thought was the final solution. Today Nigerians need a final solution to the Corruption which has become endemic and it is crippling the nation. Electricity discovered in the mid 1850’s and today 2009, 159 years after its discovery Nigeria cannot not boast of constant supply of electricity despite all the technologies available today. This is an un-acceptable situation.

Final Solution


1. The Federal Government should establish a new ministry or Agency called the Federal Vetting Agency or Federal Asset Declaration Agency either of those names will do.

2. The Agency should have a Chairman based in Abuja and 36 Commissioners based on each of the states of the federation.

3. The aim of the agency is to Vet all political office holders from councillors to the presidency.

4. All future political office holders should declare their assets in an asset register before they can run for an elective post.

5. The Agency should have a web site which should be made public, people can check what the assets of prospective candidates running for various offices. People who have chosen to run for public office should be scrutinized by the public.

6. The Agency will issue each political office holder a certificate after verification has been concluded, this certificate should have been received 3 months to the commencement of elections.

7. A recent case that I read on the Net about the Governor of Ebonyi State buying 5th hand peageout 305, 11 years ago and now he is worth N80 billion will not happen in future.

8. With this method 90% of the resources of each state and local government will be spent in those states and LG.

9. The EFCC should be incorporated into this new Agency and will be the prosecution arm of the agency. They will investigate any case of misappropriation or allegation of fraud.

10. I think this method will eradicate 90% of fraud and embezzlement. A man before he became a Governor has one house and all of a sudden after he becomes a Governor has houses in every city will be questioned on how he came to acquire such wealth in short space of time. If he cannot provide a good reasons how he got the this sudden wealth, the agency will be given the power to sell those properties and the proceeds put back into the coffers of the state or LG, or Federal Ministry as the case may be. Conclusion – Those of you in power today tell Yaradua to establish this Agency in time so that we as a nation can reap the full potential of Democracy. We are tired of the system as it is we have found the FINAL SOLUTION.

The fact tha Yaradua's has married 2 of his daughters to 2 sitting Govenors as 3rd and 4th Wives means his goverment will not have the stomach to implement was is discuss here or how else do you expect his new son-inlaws to take care of there new wives.

Mr Moderator please keep this Topic afresh, rather keeping topics of how an indian beat a prostitute to a pulp that topic is of no significance to millions of Nigerians. While these Topic could affect un-born generations we are fed up of one man stealing N80 billion.

Your opening post just like the Nazi Germany, it is total madness. I don't see how you can equate the death of millions of Jews to corruption issue affecting Nigeria. It is very crude and shows a lack of understanding of history.

As for the points you outlined, it is fundamentally flawed. Here are a few reasons. Nigerians will the ones running this same ideas. The same Nigerians you have labelled as corrupt beyond redemption in your own post.

How do you go about selecting people who have a history of a clean slate? We have a very bad habit of keeping records and keeping tracks of thing so I cannot see how this will be achieved.

Even if you employed those whom you think have a clean slates. How do you cope with the dishonest ones that will be working in other areas? How are you sure the secretary of your main man aint selling the details in the file to those who are after such information?

I can go on and on. But the point is, corruption needs to be approached from a multiple levels and instead of just setting up a body that shows a reflection of the old anti-corruption body. Perhaps we need to go back to the very basics like making certain amenities available  - educating the oncoming generation on what corruption can do on a larger scale. You know, get them to think of everyone else and not themselves in the short and long run?

How about we stop rewarding every idiot with rewards ? And instead actually reward people who have contributed at a local level or something worthwhile for the community at large?

Corruption in Nigeria is a mindset and more or less part and parcel of our culture and traditions. It will take more than enforcement policies to make any changes. Your idea remind of WAI in the 80s [War against Indiscipline] how long did that last for and are we not more indisciplined now than ever?

And finally, Yardua and his daughters private life have F*** all to do with this debate. It is things like these that stops us from having a head way. He didn't spend your money, mine or anyone else. If he did, let the court the decide. In the meantime let us leave him out and stop bringing irrelevant stuff in to the debate at hand.

Who is talking of clean slate here.

What we are talking of is you declare your assets before u run for a political post. I have 5 Naira, and a 10 goats plus a house my late dad past down to me. If you now become Governor and it came too light that u now have houses in VGC, Abuja and London. All those property will be confisticated.

Reason Why

1. The public is fully aware of your runumearations-salary,allowances e.tc
2. There will be an asset register available on line where u declared your assets prior to being a Governor.
3. Assets Register will be reconcile with what is on the ground at present any descarpancy will be Confistacated.

The Federal Vetting Agency will have the power to confistace assets that cannot be proven.


Governors will not be able to buy house members beacause house members will themselves be on the spot light.

We want true servants to the people. Being Goverment should not be seeing as the fastest way to Riches it should be discourage.

@poster

Presently, we have better and even more elaborate controls in our public sector. The problem is implementation.

I once had the priviledge of studying a course on Public Sector Accounting and was shocked to see how elaborate the control structures in our public sector really are. Well designed structures.

The structures are so well designed that u cant even juxtapose them with anything you would find in the private sector, there is simply no basis for comparison. Yet we find so much corruption and misconduct in this sector.

We dont need to design new control measures or policies. What we need to do is to implement effectively the present controls and the result would be nothing short of magical.

So you ignored other points I raised, and instead opted to dig up another flawed point. Awesome.

Look dude, not to sound confrontational or pouring cold water on your post. You ideas sounds good on paper, but it is flawed. In fact, severely flawed. If only you take time to see the counter-arguments.

If you aint talking about clean slate then what exactly are you talking about? A road to clean slate? You say tomatoes, I say tomatoes, same thing? No?

Declaring your assets means nothing. While it may be a path in the right direction if can be easily by-passed. There is nothing stopping these people from seeking funds - legally from their family members to buy a property or other assets which can then be declared as something obtained legally. I'm sure you can see the loophole [flaw] in your big idea.

A you happy for the public to know exactly how much you take home in a month? What ever happens to personal data protection?

An assets register, all well an good. Oh wait, it was done in the UK [ a similar scheme] only for fraudsters to use such information to secure loans in the names of people who posted their info on the site. Will you want the public having access to what property you own? Imagine if you annoy someone and all they have to do is check online what are you asset and proceed to destroy them? The point is it is a security risk and security is one of the area we fare poorly in naija.

I refer you back to first point. Do you confiscate something simply because if wasn't declared if though it was obtained legally?

Your so called federal agency are bunch of people with too much power. Their deeds are no incorporated into our constitution and as such, such move in my opinion is deemed legal.


What is the next big one you have?

Do you really feel corruption can be tackled in such manner. Have you ever wonder why corruption is rampant? It is bigger than your federal agency ideas you see.

In a society where corruption has severely damaged the prospects for economic growth, undermined a series of developmental projects and en-rooted itself in all sectors of public office, something absolutely unprecedented must be done; it's that simple.

Here is my suggestion, the one and only solution (the one single solution that petrifies the bloodstream of most politicians, potential politicians and ordinary corrupt citizens, whenever it is mentioned)

[b]Solution to corruption in Nigeria:

I will put together a group of 50 independent delegates from everywhere in Nigeria, with substantial Federal Government  clearances. Their job is to identify each and every government official that stole from 1980 through 2009.
For a successful outcome, names of these individuals will be made confidential. How much each stole will also be determined.

Each individual will be privately contacted; based on how much individual stole, money to be returned back to Nigeria Federal Government will be determined. All identified corrupt individuals have an option to return specified amount of money with absolutely no question or face uncompromising punishment.
Deadline to return this specified amount of money will also be specified.

After the expiration of the deadline, all individual that cooperated will be pardoned immediately by the Federal Government, with condition for them and their immediate family not to ever participate in any political or federal government position in Nigeria.
The names of the rest that refused to cooperate will be revealed to the public and they will also be severely punished (eg. 20 years in federal prison and all their accumulated properties will be confiscated immediately by the Federal Government).

Finally, our Constitution will be reviewed and revised.
From Oct 30, 2009,  any individual caught engaging in any corruption activities (regardless of the scale or his/her position) will be executed immediately at his or her home town.

I will also announce vigorously to the entire country that scapegoat is desperately needed re-enforce the implementation of this new policy.
Guys: I guarantee you, that will be the end of corruption in Nigeria; and new Nigeria will be born in a very short period.
Then, we will all witness the real career dedicated politicians, while the business politicians/ business police men dissolve one at a time.
Furthermore, Nigerian citizens will finally notice the positive effects of Federal Government revenues that are being generated from exportation of oil and taxation.[/b]

With love, Big B1

Sorry guys, it is either this way (I guess, my way) or no way.
And something tells me that sooner or later this suggestion will be implemented.

Honestly @Poster.

Your suggestions are good and sincere but the issue is these structures are all ready in place. We have the code of conduct beareu but the only difference is they dont make the assets public. Even if a politician decalres his assets in public it doesnt stop him from embezzling public funds. Yarauda declared his asset, Gbenga Daniel did other politicas did but has that stopped daniels looting or Yaradua's in activeness. The problem is embedded in the people.As long as it is Nigerians running the agency you propose it would be the same result.

It is only a sincere leader with the youthful zeal of Ribadu that can effectively tackle public treasury looting. In as much as there is no physical attack on the culprits like hanging (e.g china) or choppig of their hands there would be no end to public looting. Those politicians would be happy to go to jail for few months or sometimes days like we see and the courts drag their cases for a millenium.

Agency vetting public aspirants is also flawed because the incumbent govt would just use it to fight opposition like what OBJ did with Ribadu's EFCC having a list of candidates with Lanre Tejuosho in it who has never held a govt position and was contesting against Iyabo.

The public has to rise up against these morons and if they can targeted assasination instead of revolution that would kill the masses should be used. These eveil men would all run away  from the country!!!

KnowAll:

We want dedicated officers, if Obasanjo can wake up one day and establish EFCC, I see know reason why Yaradua cannot set up the Federal Vetting Agency with a dedicated task of vetting all politcal office holders plus heads of Goverment parastalas like customs, Ports Authority e.t.c

This is idealistic. It wont hold water under the current atmosphere and culture of corruption we have unless of course if the vetters are non Nigerians. Even then they stand a chance of being corrupted themselves. Another fall out of this is more money will be required to scale through in order to become a public office holder further fuelling corruption.

Solution? Build on anti corruption infrastructure, attack the culture of corruption and finally stigmatize corruption.

@El Razur
I remember years ago a freind of mine was working for a shop in central london, the shop had a policy of each staff should have a maximum of £10.00 in there pockets which the shop beleif is more than enough for lunch expenses. This freind of mine was going to work one morning and met one chap that was owing him £20.00, so he asked for his money, the chap paid up. But my freind had forgotten about the company policy he just shoved the money into his pocket and went to work. Checks are not done everyday but routinely, he was unfortunate checks was carried out on the day he had this extra £20.00 on him. He explained to his boss what happened that morning, his boss told him you know the policy, its either you keep the £20.00 and consider today as your last day with us or give up the £20.00 and still have a Job with us, he had to forfeit the £20.00.

What you do not declare does not belong to you and it should be confisticated. If you are fronting for some corrupt Governors no your bosses days are numbered. Its the people's money and not any of the 36 Governors.

@Poster


Come home first, dont stay away and offer solutions, solutions that obviously will never work, dont be like others, come home, see for yourself, and then offer practicable solutions, and not text book solutions.

@Pennywise
Even then they stand a chance of being corrupted themselves


Vetting Agency workers will be the 1st person to be vetted as they are employed.

There salary is in the public domain If an Agency worker on say N50,000.00 a month was found to have N2million in his account he will not only be sacked he will also serve time inside Jail.

Corruption will not stop in Nigeria unless we change the system (by modifying our constitution) and implement 1 or 2 strategies to empower the new system (immediate execution).

I say kill one or two corrupt individuals and see miracle.

Anything else is a mere waste of time.

@I_Laugh

Come home first, dont stay away and offer solutions, solutions that obviously will never work, dont be like others, come home, see for yourself, and then offer practicable solutions, and not text book solutions.

Thank God we live in a Global Village now. I dont have to be on Ground for brilliant Ideas to be implemented. I stand to gain nothing from the above proposal I am just passionate for my people. It makes no sense for man to embezzle N80 billion in this day and age. If a Governor has no desire to to do any meaningful project in his state he might as well divide the allocation giving amongst its citizen.

@poster:
Cool idea, but you need to further learn and understand this system before putting any effective strategy in place.

Nigeria is not an ordinary society. It is a crazy and unique environment, therefore something unprecedented must be prescribed.

KnowAll:

@Pennywise
Even then they stand a chance of being corrupted themselves


Vetting Agency workers will be the 1st person to be vetted as they are employed.

There salary is in the public domain If an Agency worker on say N50,000.00 a month was found to have N2million in his account he will not only be sacked he will also serve time inside Jail.

If the infrastructure against corruption is weak- from the police, Judiciary even prisons, the guy walks. Do you know in Nigeria drug couriers who have passed through the whole lenght of the criminal justice system routinely pay their way out of jail? Yeah its that bad. People get away with murder in Nigeria everyday not to talk of public money that is believed not to belong to anybody.

The depth of corruption in Nigeria, has no bottom. Unprecedented in the history of government.

Corrupt politicians and citizens are too damn smart, they are determined to stay around for a very long time. No need to be systematic and absolutely, no need to waste any time with EFCC or ICPC.
Keep it simple; just modify the constitution and start dropping these thieves like there is no tomorrow; I guarantee a new Nigeria in just few months.

If you pay attention, you will realize that Nigeria has been sold. The folks that will be ruling this nation for the next 30 years are already in place and also well connected to each other.

Don't waste your time and money; just take them back to their home town and publicly execute them.

And watch miracle in Nigeria in a very short period.

KnowAll:

Thank God we live in a Global Village now. I dont have to be on Ground for brilliant Ideas to be implemented. I stand to gain nothing from the above proposal I am just passionate for my people. It makes no sense for man to embezzle N80 billion in this day and age. If a Governor has no desire to to do any meaningful project in his state he might as well divide the allocation giving amongst its citizen.

I live in the UK as well and i beg to disagree with you. Nigeria is a different entity no policy without understanding the game would work. To understand the game u have to be on ground and anything aside that would forever remain a hypothesis on paper

@Lagosboy,

EFCC is somebody's idea, do you think it was baba's Idea. A good policy will see the light of day no matter how long it takes.

Big B1:

Don't waste your time and money; just take them back to their home town and publicly execute them.

And watch miracle in Nigeria in a very short period.

You will automatically become a pariah in the international community and most unpopular at home. That Govt wont last long. We have seen it all before.

Most corrupt politicians are cowards. They fear nothing, but death. So, why not take advantage of what they fear the most?

They've studied the system and clearly understand it much more than any one of us.
Yaradua has taken over for almost 2 years, could you please identify a single governor that is currently spending time in jail?

KnowAll:

The Federal Vetting Agency's job is not to clear corruption in Nigeria. There Job is to collate the assets of would be public office in a center registry which is open to the public. If you declare that you have one house and 3 years down the line it was discovered you have 2 other houses those 2 houses will be confistacated. Its a no brainer. You have ABC and all of a sudden it was found you have DEFG this undeclared assets will be confisticated and sold and proceeds put back in the coffers of the state or LG as the case may be.

I am surprised you are still vetting. When 'armed robbers' star killing vetters one after the other with no one getting caught and brought to book, the remaining vetters will have no choice but to advice themselves.

You will automatically become a pariah in the international community and most unpopular at home. That Govt wont last long. We have seen it all before.

Not if our constitution is modified.
If Death penalty still exists in United States with no problem, I see nothing wrong in also implementing it in Nigeria to ratify corruption.
Corruption is a killer that constantly kills the entire nation, including the unborn babies.

If death penalty is put in place to mold a better foundation/ future for our nation, I totally see nothing wrong.

Double check what happens to a common thief in Saudi Arabia.

@B1

When you put a pot full Gold in a room and a big search light trained on the pot, with CCTV also covering the pot,  tell me which Governor that will have the nerve to take even a Kobo from that pot. Trasparency that is all we are asking for here.

My man, obviously you truly know nothing about Nigerian system

Who installed the CCTV?
Who is in-charge of the maintenance?
And who is watching this CCTV?

My man, Nigeria is not an easy country.

The only way is to implement fear.

Big B1:



Not if our constitution is modified.
If Death penalty still exists in United States with no problem, I see nothing wrong in also implementing it in Nigeria to ratify corruption.
Corruption is a killer that constantly kills the entire nation, including the unborn babies.

If death penalty is put in place to mold a better foundation/ future for our nation, I totally see nothing wrong.

Double check what happens to a common thief in Saudi Arabia.

MGuy, don't let my Big Brother BinLaden Hear what you just said noe -your reference to Saudi

KnowAll:
I guarantee you that if we drop 1 or 2 corrupt individuals right in the middle of their home-town (after the modification of our constitution is in place), the CCTV system automatically becomes ourselves.

And by the way, how do you think a CCTV system would work in a society that has no electric supply 95% of the time?

@B1

CCTV is just an anaology,

What I am proposing is completely different. If you want to run for Govenor of Oyo State for e.g The Federal Vetting Agency ask you what are your assets, u say u have one house in Agege, and another one in Ife that u inherited from your dad. You have two 10 year old cars. You have N5million in a Nigeria bank and thats all. All these assets will put into center register which any Nigeria can assess. If it happens that u now became Governor u now have house in Abuja, VGC, London. It will be the job of the Federal Vetting Agency to ask you how did you acquaire these new assets we all know that Governors are paid N500,000.00 a month ( this is assumption but the Govenors salary will be public knowledge )how did u manage to acauire all these assets in a short time. If no valid answer is forthcoming all those assets will be confisticated and sold and the money put back into the coffers of the state. The Govenor will also be sacked., since he did not declare the new assets 4 years ago b4 he came Governor. Serving as a Govenor should be seen as a civic duty rather than an avenue to enrich oneself.

lol
You're very funny.
My man, again please further learn and understand this system before moving forward with your suggestion.

FYI:What you're proposing is already in place for more than 8 yrs, but our system/ constitution is too damn weak to effectively empower the assets declaration process that's currently in place.

Moreover, I hate to reveal the system politicians are using to walk around your proposed assets declaration process. FYI:It is one of the easiest system that are being stepped on without any repercussion.

CCTV is just an anaology,

By the way, your analogy isn't good enough.