The Constitutional Obligations of States to Fight Corruption in Nigeria: Kano State as a Role Model

Abstract

Corruption simply connotes the abuse of public office for personal befits and enrichment. The violation of formal rules relating to the allocation of public resources by public officials for personal financial gains or political support is also corruption. It is the biggest problem that undermines development of nations. In Nigeria Corruption is institutionalised, systemic and endemic. Several Committees set up on tackling corruption have proffered solutions but corruption keeps increasing and taking many forms. The need to address corruption and corrupt practices has featured in several provisions of the 1999 Constitution. Specifically, the Constitution mandates the Federal and States governments to strive to expose and abolish corruption and corrupt practices. The federal government drive in the fight against corruption is obvious. The paper doctrinally assesses the constitutional obligations of the federal government and the component states for fighting corruption. The findings reveal that out of the thirty-six States of the Federation however, only Kano State established an independent anti-corruption agency that has helped in curbing corruption, abuse of office or power and inefficiency in managing public funds. In view of the constitutional obligation of States for abolishing all corrupt practices and in order to complement the efforts of the Federal government led war on corruption, this paper recommends other States of the Federation to replicate the Kano State Model anti-corruption agency. This is not only necessary but desirable The other states' rediness to etiestablish similar agency will assist in combating corruption, ensuring public accountability, minimisation of waste and provisions of public good in their constituencies and Nigeria at large.