Legislative kleptocracy in Nigeria: systems approach
| Published date | 08 May 2018 |
| Pages | 134-148 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JMLC-02-2017-0006 |
| Date | 08 May 2018 |
| Author | Vasudev Das |
| Subject Matter | Accounting & Finance,Financial risk/company failure,Financial compliance/regulation,Financial crime |
Legislative kleptocracy in Nigeria:
systems approach
Vasudev Das
Walden University, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this study is to explore legislativekleptocracy, specifically, budget padding, in
Nigeria’s budding democracy, using systems thinking approach for a positive social change. Nigeria’s
legislature is not free from theproblem of kleptocracy inasmuch as some legislators have been chargedwith
kleptocraticactivities. The multifariousness of kleptocracy rooted in its differentialcoefficient in the Nigeria’s
legislaturedoes not underplay its sophistication.
Design/methodology/approach –In this qualitative analysis, the author generated data through a
systematicanalysis of documents.
Findings –The findings show that unexploredorganismic factors or forces within the living being such as
the inability of legislatorsto control their mind, low self-control, cheatingpropensity, identity crisis, etc., play
vital rolesin contributingto legislative kleptocracy.
Research limitations/implications –The main limitationof the study is that it is not generalizable.
Practical implications –The practical implication of the study is that implementation of the study
recommendations is pragmatic, cost-effective and time-effective, and it would ensure legislative
transformationand mitigate kleptocracy.
Social implications –The social implication of the study is if the Nigerian legislature implements the
recommendation(s) of the study, there will be a legislative positive social change because financial crimes
would havebeen mitigated.
Originality/value –This study filled the lacunain the financial crime literaturebecause it is the first of its
kind in the discipline,and hence its originality cannot be disputed.
Keywords Nigeria, Budget padding, Identity crisis, Legislative kleptocracy, Low self-control,
Systems thinking approach
Paper type Research paper
Opening statement
The indisputability of the all-pervasiveness of kleptocracy in the global community cannot
be underestimated (Kim, 2015;De Sousa and Moriconi, 2013;Okafor et al.,2016;De Waal,
2014;Hirschfeld, 2015;Rippé et al.,2016); the multifariousness of kleptocracy rooted in its
differential coefficient across geopolitical zones does not underplay its sophistication. In
buttressing the pervasiveness of kleptocracy, Kim (2015) avers that kleptocracy has indeed
poisoned the global community. Whereas,De Sousa and Moriconi (2013) corroborate Chang
et al. (2010) that kleptocracy has taken a drastic toll on Italy’s legislative system, Hirschfeld
(2015) contends that kleptocracyis used as a tool for organized crime in the global village.
Incontestably, kleptocracy has been in operationalization in Nigeria since the country
attained political independence from her colonizers –The Great Britons (TGB) (Aleyomi,
2013). And of course, variations of legislative financial crime have eaten deep into some
legislators’bonemarrow: budget padding, bribery.
The legislature is equally found at the federal and state levels in Nigeria, just like in the
USA. The federal legislature comprises the senate, which constitutes 109 senators, and the
House of Representatives, which is made of 360 representatives. Both the lowerand higher
JMLC
21,2
134
Journalof Money Laundering
Control
Vol.21 No. 2, 2018
pp. 134-148
© Emerald Publishing Limited
1368-5201
DOI 10.1108/JMLC-02-2017-0006
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
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