Abbas Tajudeen, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, emphasized that corruption has hindered Nigeria's ability to achieve its full potential. Speaking at the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Policy Dialogue on Corruption, Social Norms, and Behavioral Change in Nigeria, Tajudeen highlighted the ongoing challenges posed by corruption-induced behaviors and societal norms.

The event took place on Tuesday at the ICPC Auditorium in Abuja. Tajudeen acknowledged that corruption is widely recognized as a major impediment to the nation's progress. Despite this recognition, certain behaviors, norms, attitudes, and expectations that contribute to corruption still persist within the society, enabling and perpetuating corrupt activities.

Tajudeen elaborated on various factors fueling corruption in Nigeria, including weak governance structures, lack of transparency and accountability, poverty, and cultural acceptance of corrupt practices. He expressed that while legal measures, policies, and institutions exist to combat corruption, the prevalence of societal attitudes towards wealth, power, and success obtained through questionable means contributes to the persistence of corruption.

The Speaker emphasized that addressing corruption requires not only legal and institutional reforms but also a fundamental transformation of social norms and behaviors. He defined social norms as unspoken rules that guide individuals' conduct within a society or group. Tajudeen pointed out that corrupt practices have often become normalized within society, making their eradication through legal means alone challenging. Therefore, he stressed that understanding and altering these social norms are crucial for effectively combating corruption.