SOCIOCULTURAL ENVIRONMENT AND CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA: A PHILOSOPHICAL DISCOURSE

Abstract

The paper discusses the phenomenon of corruption from the standpoint of the foundation, fundamental, life-support, sustainers, and encouragers. The paper philosophical method of critical analysis based on extant and relevant literature. Corruption in Nigeria, as the paper shows, has enablers and sustainers which maintains its life-wire. The social culture, tradition, and basic assumptions about reality of the Nigerian people. Many and various social and traditional cultures on which corruption is rooted, firmly established, and sustained, making all attempts at fighting the scourge exercise in futility are discussed. Corruption seems to have resisted all attempts at stemming the scourge. Despite all efforts by religious groups and even families and organizations to fight it, it keeps resisting, even as it musters the boldness and courage to fight back and more often, keeps winning in all fronts of the battle line. The paper finds that what gives it life, sustains and energizes it is the support it gets from the cultural and traditional heritage of the people. The socio-cultural environment provides enough lifesupport for corruption to thrive. That informs the reason why over the years the phenomenon of corruption has proven to be unconquerable, undefeatable, and as such has come to stay comfortably and accommodated by the people. With the social and cultural supportive in place, all efforts at fighting corruption will be in futility; a waste of time, energy, and resources, and at best a mockery. The paper recommends the rational operation of our sociocultural heritage and tradition to meet the changing world scene and the new world order. The reworking of some of our archaic cultural heritage for a better, corruption-free society is advocated.