Almost a third of adult Nigerians pay civil
servants and other public officials bribes gulping 400 billion naira
($1.27 billion) annually, the country’s statistics office said in a
survey on graft.
servants and other public officials bribes gulping 400 billion naira
($1.27 billion) annually, the country’s statistics office said in a
survey on graft.
The poll among households
shows the uphill challenge the government of President Muhammadu Buhari
is facing in fighting corruption, which has undermined development in
the oil exporter for decades.
shows the uphill challenge the government of President Muhammadu Buhari
is facing in fighting corruption, which has undermined development in
the oil exporter for decades.
Nigerians spent
400 billion naira – the equivalent of 39 percent of the combined federal
and state education budget in 2016 – to bribe officials between June
2015 and May 2016, according to the office.
400 billion naira – the equivalent of 39 percent of the combined federal
and state education budget in 2016 – to bribe officials between June
2015 and May 2016, according to the office.
The
survey, released on Wednesday, does not necessarily include
high-profile executive corruption cases such as the theft of oil
revenues, which have made headlines in the past.
survey, released on Wednesday, does not necessarily include
high-profile executive corruption cases such as the theft of oil
revenues, which have made headlines in the past.
It
shows that despite government action to put senior officials accused of
graft on trial, Nigerians still have to pay every day for basic
services such as dealing with customs or police officers.
shows that despite government action to put senior officials accused of
graft on trial, Nigerians still have to pay every day for basic
services such as dealing with customs or police officers.
Buhari
took office in May 2015 vowing to crack down on corruption, but there
have been no high-profile graft convictions so far.
took office in May 2015 vowing to crack down on corruption, but there
have been no high-profile graft convictions so far.
“The
average sum paid as a cash bribe in Nigeria is approximately naira
5,300”, or the equivalent of an eighth of monthly salaries, the report
said.
average sum paid as a cash bribe in Nigeria is approximately naira
5,300”, or the equivalent of an eighth of monthly salaries, the report
said.
Some 42 percent of those polled had to
pay bribes to speed up or finalize administrative work which civil
servants would otherwise have delayed or refused to do. Some 18 percent
of bribes were paid to avoid a fine and 13 percent to avoid cancelling
of state services such as a water supply.
pay bribes to speed up or finalize administrative work which civil
servants would otherwise have delayed or refused to do. Some 18 percent
of bribes were paid to avoid a fine and 13 percent to avoid cancelling
of state services such as a water supply.
Passports
or driving licences often cannot be obtained unless officials are paid a
“dash”, as a bribe is known in the West African nation.
or driving licences often cannot be obtained unless officials are paid a
“dash”, as a bribe is known in the West African nation.
Police
officers were the largest group of bribe takers, though – by value –
customs officers topped the list followed by judges, the report said.
Officers force motorists to pay bribes or receive fines for minor
traffic violations.
officers were the largest group of bribe takers, though – by value –
customs officers topped the list followed by judges, the report said.
Officers force motorists to pay bribes or receive fines for minor
traffic violations.
Nigeria imports much of
what it needs, from basic food to consumer goods, machines and cars.
Prices are sometime double what would be paid in producing countries as
firms and retailers factor in custom duties and bribes.
what it needs, from basic food to consumer goods, machines and cars.
Prices are sometime double what would be paid in producing countries as
firms and retailers factor in custom duties and bribes.
The
survey, which was supported by a U.N. agency and the European Union, is
based on 33,067 interviews with adults across Nigeria (Reuters).
survey, which was supported by a U.N. agency and the European Union, is
based on 33,067 interviews with adults across Nigeria (Reuters).
Source: The Precision
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