Professor Antonia Simbine, Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), has called on anti-corruption agencies to adopt fresh perspectives to bolster the fight against corruption.
Speaking at the NISER seminar series held in Ibadan, Simbine emphasized the importance for anti-corruption agencies to focus on understanding the behavioral motivations behind engaging in corrupt acts, as well as people’s reactions to corruption.
She stressed the need for these agencies to analyze the behavioral aspects of corruption, which can vary between genders. Simbine stated, “We need to understand the behavioral aspects of corruption, including how it relates differently to men and women. When encountering corruption in public settings, how do people behave? This is a critical area for examination.”
Simbine also highlighted the necessity for anti-corruption agencies to tailor their programs to better understand and address varied behavioral responses to corruption.
She suggested integrating a gender perspective into the organizational structure of these agencies and refining programs to target specific behavioral patterns associated with corruption.
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The NISER Actualizing Behavior Change (ABC) series, sponsored by the MacArthur Foundation, featured Dr. Temitayo Adeyemo presenting a paper titled “A Gender-Lensed View into Citizens’ Lived Experiences of Corrupt Behavior in Nigeria.”
Adeyemo, a lecturer at the University of Ibadan, referenced research indicating distinct experiences of corrupt behaviors between men and women when interacting with government agencies.
While acknowledging diverse individual responses to corruption, Adeyemo emphasized the need for a system that unequivocally condemns and penalizes corrupt practices.
She criticized existing loopholes in the system that facilitate corruption, allowing offenders to evade accountability.
Adeyemo advocated for sustainable changes within governance structures and institutions to prevent corruption, emphasizing the importance of clear rules, regulations, and penalties.
She underscored the necessity for alignment with established rules and the eradication of loopholes that enable corrupt behaviors.
During the panel session moderated by Dr. Adebukola Daramola, Ambassador Safiya Ahmad Nuhu, Prof. Janice Olawoye, Hauwa Shaffii Nuhu, and Kikanya Onyema highlighted the imperative of increasing women’s inclusion in decision-making and governance.
Dr. Amina Salihu, Deputy Director of the Nigeria Program at the MacArthur Foundation, lamented the societal disadvantages faced by women.
She criticized the prolonged delays in passing laws pertaining to women and the sluggish implementation of legislation in Nigeria.
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