Fundamental Objectives and Directives Principles of State Policy: A Viable Anti-Corruption Tool in Nigeria

Abstract

Corruption is a term that is eclectic. It is a global phenomenon that has paired itself with both past and present civilizations. Financial corruption is a variant of this obnoxious ill of modern state, Nigeria not being an exception. The provisions of the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State policy in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of 1999 are a welcome development. These provisions include objectives on political, economic, social, educational, foreign policy, environmental, cultural, media, national ethics matters and duties of citizens. However, the drawback to the appropriation of these ‘dreams’ or objectives by citizens as of right is the provision in section 6, sub-section (6), paragraph (c) of the 1999 Constitution which makes the objectives non-justiceable. There is an urgent need to delete the above provision from the Constitution and subject the objectives to binding governmental obligations known as Constitutional Projects which would encourage the use of public fund for common good. This bold step would attenuate inclinations to financial corruption in Nigeria. Constitutional projects should be paired with Constitutional fund or proceed from the Federation Account and constituency projects by Federal Law Makers abolished. Moreover, it is submitted that a new revenue utilization policy should be introduced whereby budgeting should not be made yearly, henceforth, but rather made to cover the life span of an administration at the end of which the administration is subjected to an official probe and that by independent prosecutors.