Abuja 11 July 2024: Today, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, Statistician General presented the findings of the 3rd National Corruption Survey as the Honorable Minister of Justice Prince Lateef Fagbemi gathered heads of anti-corruption agencies, civil society organizations, international donor partners, and the media to commemorate the 8th Africa Anti-Corruption Day.
The third round of the Nigeria Corruption Survey marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to combat corruption. Conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) with the technical support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the financial support of the MacArthur Foundation and the Kingdom of Denmark, the survey provides a comprehensive analysis of corruption scope and trends of small-scale bribery.
The Statistician-General pointed out ‘this survey is unique in the sense that it focused on understanding the experience of corruption by Nigerians, rather than just perceived corruption, whenever they encounter any public officials. Additionally, two new and vital modules – on Gender and Disability, were introduced to the instruments deployed, to give us a deeper understanding of the experience and impact of corruption on marginalized or typically excluded groups such as women, youths, and persons with disabilities.”
He further stated that “the implementation of this survey had been a collaborative effort, involving relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of government. These partners have been integral to the process from inception to execution, providing valuable contributions and support throughout.”
Dr. Oliver Stolpe, Country Representative, UNODC Nigeria added that: “Through this 3rd National Survey, Nigeria leads in establishing international best practice in the implementation of articles 10 and 61 of the United Nations Convention against Corruption through the conduct of periodic and scientific assessment of corruption and anti-corruption efforts, reinforcing the importance of evidence-based strategies in the journey towards a corruption-free society.” He commended NBS and all government partners for their support in ensuring the success of the third national corruption survey.
One of the important findings from the 2023 survey report is the significant reduction in the contact rate between citizens and public officials (from 63% in 2019 to 56% in 2023). This has a direct impact on the overall reduction in bribes paid in 2023 (87 million compared to 117 million in 2019). This finding appears to be linked to the Government’s efforts to digitalize public services and improve the ease of doing business. Building on this effort, it is therefore recommended for the government to continue expanding the availability of user-friendly and functional online services not only to enhance ease of access but also to reduce the need for face-to-face contact between citizens and public officials and hereby the opportunities for bribery.
In his remarks, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, Honorable Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Federation noted the findings show that Nigeria has done well in establishing the whistleblower mechanisms with the use of technology. “I am happy to note that the report highlights the level of confidence in government by citizens who are now more willing to report cases of corruption and refuse bribes. The Government has made several of such investments in technology to ensure greater transparency and accountability. This shows this government’s commitment to the fight against corruption.”
The 2023 corruption survey reconfirms the need for the Government to prioritize its corruption prevention and enforcement efforts on those types of institutions and public officials most relevant and present in the lives of ordinary citizens. In essence, the majority of Nigerians interact with a few types of public officials, namely doctors, nurses, midwives and other health workers, public utility officers, police officers, teachers, and lecturers. It is therefore advisable that the Government focuses where it matters most and is likely to have the greatest relative impact on the common man.
Similar to the 2019 survey, the 2023 survey report highlights the significant differences that persist in the experiences of women and men when faced with corruption. According to the survey report, women continue to be less likely to engage in bribery irrespective of where they live, their age, educational background, and employment status. Furthermore, both the 2019 and 2023 surveys show that female public officials are considerably less likely than their male counterparts to solicit bribes. At least 35% of male public officials solicit or take a bribe when interacting with the public in comparison to 19% of female public officials. Furthermore, when in contact with public officials, women (28%) are less likely to be exposed to or experience bribery than men (39%). The 2023 report also found that people with disabilities are as likely as everyone else to be approached for the payment of bribes. Yet having to pay bribes when accessing public services is likely to place a far greater burden on people with disabilities.
The UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Mohamed Malick Fall, pointed out the importance of anti-corruption and good governance policies to pay greater attention to these differences and design measures that consider the conditions and needs of vulnerable groups. He called for the inclusion of public sector entities representing the interests of these groups in the development of such policies. He further noted that a collective approach to addressing inequalities was critical for the sustainability of anti-corruption and good governance efforts and initiatives.
