Nigeria’s weak system enables public official to steal — Ex-BPSR scribe

Former Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Dr. Joe Abah, has linked the high level of corruption among public officials in Nigeria to a weak and vulnerable system. He urged the government to address these vulnerabilities to progressively reduce opportunities for corruption in the country.

Abah made these remarks in Abuja at the 2024 Behavioural Change Conference organized by the Akin Fadeyi Foundation in collaboration with the MacArthur Foundation. He emphasized that the primary issue concerning corruption is the presence of opportunities. “If the opportunity is there, many people will perpetrate corruption regardless of need, greed, culture, or ethics. If you put the yam in front of the goat, the goat will eat it,” he stated.

He expressed concern over the prevailing trend where public servants are often expected to embezzle funds and build mansions in their villages or manipulate recruitment processes to favor individuals from their ethnic groups.

According to Abah, the only reason some individuals choose not to engage in corruption is to protect their reputation or family name, lamenting that the lines between right and wrong in Nigeria have become increasingly blurred.

“Relying on intrinsic values is like expecting an amateur swimmer to swim against a very strong current,” he added. Abah called on authorities to adopt behavioral approaches in the fight against corruption, emphasizing the need for strategic communication that underscores the consequences of corruption and its damaging effects on society.

“We must appeal to our intrinsic values. As the son of former public servants, the words of my mother and father asking me to remember whose son I am rang in my ears throughout. It is why I can consult for the EFCC, ICPC, and other anti-corruption bodies seven years after leaving government,” he explained.

Abah highlighted that his reputation allows him to charge more than his monthly salary as DG for consultancy work, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to deliver a keynote speech on anti-corruption at the conference.

Also addressing the conference, Dr. Otivie Igbuzor, Founding Director of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), stressed the need to restore trust in government. He noted that value-driven leadership, rooted in integrity, accountability, and commitment to the public good, is often compromised in corrupt systems.

Igbuzor emphasized that value-driven leadership is particularly urgent for the youth, who will inherit and shape the future of Nigeria. He maintained that effective leadership is the most significant variable affecting organizations, institutions, and nations.

According to Igbuzor, value-driven youth leadership is essential for restoring trust in government and institutions, fostering transparency, and driving systemic change. He remarked that values are crucial for building society, but they become meaningless if they do not reflect in individual behaviors. “Young leaders are more likely to embrace diversity and shun ethnicity and religious bigotry. Behaviour change can alter habits, attitudes, and actions to align with core values,” he concluded.