Bribery still thriving in Nigeria

A new report by the National Bureau of Statistics and the UNODC on corruption in Nigeria cements the country’s soiled reputation as a place of sleaze. Entitled ‘Corruption in Nigeria: Patterns and Trends,’ it revealed that about N721 billion was received as bribes by public officials in 2023. This is huge, amounting to about 0.35 per cent of GDP. The Bola Tinubu administration has a huge task to clean up the rot.

According to the survey, the average cash bribe was N8,284, an increase from N5,754 in 2019. The report stated that corruption was ranked fourth among the most important problems affecting the country in 2023, after the cost of living, insecurity, and unemployment.

It indicates that 56 per cent of Nigerians interacted with a public official in 2023, down from 63 per cent in 2019. Despite this reduction, bribery remains widespread, with an average of 5.1 bribes paid per bribe payer, totalling approximately 87 million bribes nationwide. This is a decrease from the 117 million bribes estimated in 2019.

Bribery is more common in rural areas, with citizens paying an average of 5.8 bribes compared to 4.5 bribes in urban areas. On payment mode, the report noted that over 95 per cent of bribes were paid in monetary form (cash or money transfer) in 2023. “It said public officials were more likely to demand bribes. It also mentioned private sector actors, including doctors in private hospitals.” Bribery increased from 6.0 per cent in 2019 to 14 per cent in 2023.

Corruption manifests in every sphere of Nigerian life; most noticeably in elections, the judiciary, government agencies, procurement/contracts, payroll, and extortion by security agents. For many, corruption is “the single greatest obstacle preventing Nigeria from achieving its enormous potential.”

No sector of the state is free from this pest. In March, the UNODC decried the prevalence of corruption in the judiciary. The agency found that 20 per cent of those who had contact with the Nigerian judiciary were confronted with a request to pay a bribe.

The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, claims that some religious organisations are “more corrupt” than public offices in Nigeria. The EFCC noted that it recovered $550 million by stopping ‘ghost workers’ on the public payroll. The erstwhile Muhammadu Buhari administration implemented the Treasury Single Account and recovered $370 million in unremitted tax.

But he undermined the war by pardoning two ex-governors convicted of corruption. A former Accountant-General of the Federation allegedly stole N109 billion from which he returned N30 billion. Despite many court judgements, the government refuses to account for recovered assets. The corruption case against a former governor was discontinued in 2019 after an apparent political deal with the Buhari administration.

After assuming office, the Tinubu administration began prosecuting some public officials. The EFCC has questioned ministers under Buhari such as Hadi Sirika, Saleh Mamman, and Sadiya Faruq over the alleged diversion of public funds.

This is reflected in Nigeria’s average score in the annual Transparency International Corruption Perception Index 2014-2023 is 27 out of 100; it ranked the 145th most corrupt out of 180 countries.

The United States-based Center for International Private Enterprise argues that the anti-corruption war in Nigeria fails primarily because the government is “selective, ineffective and themselves lack credibility.”

PwC says corruption could cost Nigeria up to 37 per cent of GDP by 2030 if not addressed urgently. The UNODC adds, “Corruption aggravates inequality and injustice, and undermines stability, especially in the world’s most vulnerable regions.”

Worse, Tinubu has not articulated a definite plan yet, though he ordered a probe of the CBN. Many senior figures in the incumbent administration have been accused of corruption, including top leadership of the All Progressives Congress. A minister is on suspension over corruption allegations.

Therefore, to defeat graft, Tinubu must fashion and implement a pragmatic plan.