COMBATING FRAUD AND WHITE COLLAR CRIMES: LESSONS FROM NIGERIA.

COMBATING FRAUD AND WHITE COLLAR CRIMES: LESSONS FROM NIGERIA. By Prof. Benjamin Chuka Osisioma

Nigeria has paid dearly for ethical lapses and competency deficiencies in public and private life. Fraud is systemic in Nigeria with the ordinary citizen being compelled to be either a liar, a cheat or an outright thief. Fraud has stultified growth and national development, subverted the nation’s values and norms, generated a culture of illegality and impunity in public service, and frittered away the promise of the nation’s future. Today, the nation faces the trauma of a State whose date with destiny has been put on hold, for reasons that are completely self made, and completely avoidable. Any remedial measure that does not address core and ingrained character defects in leaders and followers, will not attract great success. What is needed is a strong accountability framework, an integrity system that is efficient in design and effective in operation, and a new generation of leaders. The choice before the nation is simple: Bend or Break... Value recreation is a must. We may be disappointed if we fail; but we are doomed if we do not try.