Policies to Prevent Corruption in Nigeria: Enforcement of the Right to Education
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Date
2019
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Abstract
This paper investigates how well Nigeria conforms to international best practices
on the right to education. The quality of education that is available to Nigerians is
affected by inadequate budgetary allocation, which is compounded by
mismanagement of scarce resources and generally by corrupt practices. Education
at the level of the primary, secondary and tertiary levels suffers on account of
corruption, despite government propaganda that the state provides adequate
educational opportunities at the three tiers of education. Attempts to prosecute
and punish acts of corruption have failed consistently. Nigeria is a signatory to
international and regional instruments which have influenced it to enact national
anti-corruption legislation. However, the political will of successive governments to
fight corruption remains on the decrease, particularly when a government itself is a
product of corrupt practices. Such a government appoints politicians to the
councils of the universities as a reward for political patronage and with a view to
recouping the huge sums expended on elections. Anti-corruption laws are
sidelined, regulations are compromised and the anti-corruption crusade fails. This
results in education being the responsibility of unqualified teaching staff working
with poor quality teaching infrastructure. The enforcement of the right to
education is undermined. In order to salvage the education sector, it is submitted
that Nigeria’s anti-corruption crusade should emphasise preventive measures. A
university should be autonomous in respect of its objectives and finances. When
funds allocated to education are safe from misappropriation, the right to education
may be enforced properly.