The Muslim Lecturers Association (MLA), through its Committee on National Issues, Development, and Advocacy (C-NIDA), has called for sweeping policy reforms to dismantle corruption and reignite national ethics in Nigeria.
The call was made during a Democracy Day virtual forum held on Thursday June 12, 2025.
The event, themed “We Are All Corrupt? Unmasking Corrupt Practices Through Sociological, Psychological, Religious, Political and Linguistic Lenses for Reimagining National Development,” brought together stakeholders across and beyond Nigeria — journalists, legal experts, educators, civil society actors, and religious leaders — and was streamed live via YouTube and Zoom.
The speakers who spoke at the event were Prof Hakeem Yusuf, Professor of Global Law, University of Derby, UK; Prof Tunde Akanni, Professor of Journalism and Development Communications, Lagos State University, Nigeria; Prof. Tajudeeen Yusuf from the Department of Actuarial Science, University of Lagos and Dr Ganiyat Tijani-Adenle, media, gender and communications researcher at Lagos State University, Nigeria.
In his opening address, Dr. Lukman Raimi, Chairman of C-NIDA, set the tone for the discourse by stating, “We must move from a culture of blame and resignation to a culture of renewal and transformation.”
The discussion revealed the pervasiveness of corruption in Nigerian society, spanning financial theft, abuse of office, favoritism, and privilege. It highlighted how certain cultural expressions such as “mago mago” and “do your own when it’s your turn” have normalized dishonesty and weakened public morality.
Participants criticized the widely circulated claim that “We Are All Corrupt,” calling it a damaging narrative that promotes moral equivalence and excuses impunity. Religious institutions were not spared, as some were said to have compromised their moral authority for political or financial gain, while colonial-era political structures were identified as enablers of systemic impunity.
The conversation also addressed how corruption distorts global perceptions of Nigerians and undermines opportunities for those in the diaspora.
Speakers emphasized the foundational role of homes and families in shaping ethical character and the urgent need to amplify stories of integrity — from whistleblowers and honest civil servants to communities that actively resist bribery and fraud.
To combat this entrenched problem, the forum presented seven key policy recommendations.
First, it called for a National Ethics and Integrity Reorientation campaign led by the National Orientation Agency, Ministry of Information, and religious bodies, featuring initiatives like a nationwide “Family Hour” ethics broadcast and biannual national moral aptitude surveys.
Second, religious organizations such as the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) were urged to establish Ethics Oversight Boards, reform educational messages, and publish annual Public Integrity Ratings.
Third, the Ministry of Education, NUC, UBEC, ASUU, and the private education sector were encouraged to integrate civic education into curricula and launch School-to-Community Integrity Partnerships.
Fourth, agencies such as the EFCC, ICPC, Civil Service Commission, and the Code of Conduct Bureau were advised to strengthen their accountability frameworks by publishing annual asset declarations and launching a biannual Public Integrity Dashboard.
Fifth, public institutions involved in education, security, and procurement were urged to adopt blind admissions, digital procurement systems, and merit-based promotions to eliminate manipulation.
Sixth, political reforms were recommended, including the outlawing of nepotism and zoning, campaign finance transparency, and the creation of shadow oversight bodies to detect electoral fraud.
Lastly, the forum advocated for a Technology for Transparency (T4T) initiative to be implemented by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, in partnership with tech hubs and anti-corruption agencies, to enable real-time reporting of corruption and tracking of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests.
Participants concluded the session with a collective rebuttal of the defeatist narrative that every Nigerian is corrupt.
“Not all of us are dishonest,” they affirmed. “There are people and institutions within Nigerian society who resist temptation and compromise their conscience in the face of pressure.”
Dr. Raimi closed with a stirring appeal: “Let this be a movement — a renewal — that starts from the grassroots and permeates all sectors of our society.”
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