Abah: Corruption Undermines Public Institutions, Distorts Economic Growth

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
A former director-general of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Joe Abah has lamented that corruption distorts economic growth, undermines public institutions, scares away foreign investors, and underdeveloped human capacity.

However, he said it would not be prudent to wait until the constraint of corruption is totally removed before striving for development.

He added that countries like China, India, Brazil, and Indonesia are rapidly growing despite significant levels of corruption.

Abah stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at the 2024 behavioural change conference organised by the Akin Fadeyi Foundation organised and supported by the MacArthur Foundation.

He said there must be behavioural approaches to tackling corruption in the country, adding that such measures emphasise the need for strategic communication that highlights the consequences of corruption and the damaging effect that it has on society.

Abah stated: “Corruption has been described by many as a binding constraint. In economics, binding constraints are those that, unless they are removed, would not allow growth and progress,” he said.

“Corruption distorts economic growth, undermines public institutions, exacerbates social inequalities, scares away foreign investors, and underdevelops human capacity.

“However, it would not be prudent to wait until the constraint of corruption is totally removed before striving for development. Countries like China, India, Brazil, and Indonesia are rapidly growing despite significant levels of corruption.

“I am of the view that the key issue around corruption is the presence of opportunity. I am convinced that if the opportunity is there, many people will perpetuate corruption regardless of need, greed, culture, or ethics.”

Abah stressed that where efforts are not made to constrain corruption, perhaps the only constraint could be values, where someone chooses not to be corrupt because they have a reputation or family name that they wish to protect.

“However, in societies like Nigeria where the lines between right and wrong have been blurred, relying on intrinsic values is like expecting an amateur swimmer to swim against a very strong current,” hr noted.

In his submission, the founding Executive Director of the African Centre for Leadership Strategy and Development, Otive Igbuzor said there was a great need to promote value-driven leadership through behaviour change in Nigeria to win the war against corruption.

He stressed that leadership has been recognised as the most important variable that affects organisations, institutions, and nations.