Coalition recommends behavioural change as solution to corruption

If Federal Government’s effort at tackling corruption in the country must make desired impact, it should promote accountability and anti-corruption through behaviour change among citizens, irrespective of profession.

Coalition Against Corruption in Nigeria co-coordinator, Bishop Emmanuel Isong, stated this at a seminar on engagement of formal and non-formal sectors on accountability and transparency held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital.

Isong emphasised that using behavioural change approach would go a long way in changing the narrative about fighting corruption in the country.
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John D. and Catherine T. Mac Arthur Foundation sponsored the seminar. Speaking on the theme, ‘Promoting Accountability and Anti-Corruption Through Behaviour Change Approaches,” Isong said: “Corruption is in the heart, if you look at those who are not corrupt, they must have had a good upbringing. Using behavioural change approach, I think it will go a long way in changing the narrative about fighting corruption. Our mandate is to use our various religious platforms to speak against corruption.

“Nigeria hitherto know that it is only the government that is responsible for fighting corruption but now we are involving religious leaders and traditional leaders, both Islam and Christianity, to inculcate fight against corruption in their messages in mosques on Fridays and churches on Sundays.”

You can imagine if the million of pastors in Nigeria are preaching against corruption, then the anti-corruption agencies ICPC, EFCC will have less work.”

Imam Shefiu Majemu, co-coordinator, ICACN said using religious leaders and working with them to actually reduce the tide of corruption is very important and critical to economic recovery of Nigeria

“Most of us look at corruption in the area of financial angle. There are other moral corruption, people showing a sign of indiscipline; for instance, jumping the queue, not using the pedestrian bridge where it is provided, dumping refuse on the street and so on, if you are doing all these and you are not doing the right thing you are corrupt,” he said.
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