One of the greatest challenges confronting public administration in Nigeria is not merely the misuse of public funds but the gradual normalisation of corruption within institutions that are expected to uphold accountability.
Former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Barrister Solomon Dalung, recently recounted an experience that illustrates how deeply entrenched this problem can become.
According to Dalung, one of the earliest shocks he encountered after assuming office was during his first budget defence before the National Assembly. Having prepared to defend his ministry’s programmes, implementation strategy and financial projections, he was instead confronted with a demand unrelated to governance.
He was allegedly asked to provide ₦200 million.
Dalung recalled responding that he had carefully reviewed the ministry’s budget and found no line item labelled “bribe.” Since no such provision existed in the approved appropriation, he questioned where he was expected to obtain ₦200 million.
His refusal reportedly changed the nature of his participation in subsequent budget defence sessions. Rather than being involved in detailed deliberations, he was only invited to present an overview of the ministry’s budget before being excused, while discussions continued with the Permanent Secretary behind closed doors.
According to the former minister, he later learned that such demands had become part of a wider system in which some ministries allegedly paid unofficial sums to avoid unnecessary obstacles during the budget approval process.
If such practices become accepted as normal, the consequences are severe. Oversight loses its purpose, public resources are diverted from development, honest public officials are discouraged, and citizens gradually lose confidence in government institutions. Instead of strengthening accountability, public institutions become vulnerable to financial influence, creating fertile ground for fraud, inflated contracts, poor project execution and waste of taxpayers’ money.
Nigeria already has constitutional and statutory institutions designed to promote transparency and accountability. However, these mechanisms can only succeed when public officials, lawmakers and oversight bodies operate within the law and are held accountable for their actions. Stronger internal controls, greater transparency in the budget process, protection for whistleblowers, independent investigations of corruption allegations and consistent enforcement of anti-corruption laws can significantly reduce opportunities for abuse.
There is nothing inherently wrong with showing appreciation to individuals who have rendered genuine assistance. Gratitude is part of human relationships and is recognised across cultures. However, appreciation should always be voluntary, transparent and lawful. The moment it is demanded, expected as a condition for performing an official duty, or becomes an unwritten requirement for accessing public services, it ceases to be appreciation and becomes extortion or bribery. Public office is a position of trust, not an avenue for personal enrichment.
Ultimately, building strong institutions requires more than laws on paper. It demands integrity from public officials, courage from those who refuse to participate in corrupt practices, and sustained public support for transparency and accountability. Until corruption is no longer tolerated or treated as “the way things are done,” meaningful national development will remain difficult to achieve.
