A new public survey released today by Socio-Economic Rights and
Accountability Project (SERAP) shows that corruption remains a serious
problem in Nigeria, and affecting majority of Nigerians, despite
Nigerian authorities’ oft-repeated commitment to address the problem.
According to the survey, “96.2% of the respondents believed corruption
remains a serious problem in Nigeria today. There was no significant
difference in opinion on this issue across the different geo-political
zones surveyed. However, only 5% of the respondents from the North-West
viewed corruption as a problem in the Nigerian society.”
In addition to the acknowledgement that corruption is a major problem in
Nigeria, the survey further established that “84.5% of Nigerians
believed corruption affects them.”
The latest report by SERAP entitled Nigeria: Anti-corruption Social
Norms Survey was launched today at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
The survey is published as part of the organisation’s implementation of
the Anti-Corruption in Nigeria (ACORN) project funded with UK aid from
the British people.
The survey shows that social media and the internet are the most common
sources of information on corruption, according to 38% and 33%
respectively, of the respondents surveyed. The survey further shows that
to successfully reach majority of Nigerians and influence behavior
change; these are the most dependable channels.
In contrast, only 9.8% and 1.6% mentioned religious institutions and
traditional rulers respectively, as influential to influence behavior
change.
According to the survey, “Traditional leaders have lost their place in
guiding the society on morals and ethics. Another noteworthy observation
made on the diminishing role of the traditional leaders was recorded as
follows: Some of the traditional rulers are key political players. They
influenced elections for politicians who in turn grant them favors.
Paying traditional rulers using public money managed by politicians also
dilutes their power to stand against corrupt leaders.”
The report read in part: “Almost half of the respondents (43.5%)
surveyed do not believe that corruption can be successfully fought in
Nigeria. The result paints a citizenry that has resigned to the high
levels of corruption. This response should be juxtaposed with 96% of the
respondents who viewed corruption as a major problem in Nigeria and 86%
who believed it affects them.”
“Notably, majority (23.8%) of the respondents’ perception is that this
is a loss to the Nigerian people. However, a significant 18.8% view
theft of public money as a loss to the government. This should be a
cause for alarm as it would be hard to mobilize citizens against
corruption until the point where Nigerians view it as an economic crime
against the people.”
“Of greater concern is that a combined 18% seem to tacitly approve or at
least admire the acts of corruption and illicit wealth acquisition.
About 12% view the loss of public money as a source of wealth while 5%
would even wish to get an opportunity to perpetuate such a vice.”
“The implication is that while the social norms, values and experiences
point to corruption as a negative vice, the citizenry have little faith
in the efforts aimed at tackling it. Further inquisition on the negative
perception of anti-corruption efforts pointed to the need for a mindset
change. Some of the adverse attitudes identified were influenced by
perceived lack of punishment of corrupt persons.”
“This further entrenches the corrupt tendencies. Additionally, poverty
among citizens was seen to compromise the expected citizen pressure
against corruption. Some respondents mentioned the ease with which
political players bribe their way to positions and once in office
perpetuate corruption. The societal values that do not find voter
bribery as repugnant therefore cultivates weak and corrupt leadership.”
“On the issue of personal responsibility against corruption, about 57%
of the respondents believed they have a role in supporting
anti-corruption efforts. It should be a matter of concern that more than
40% do not think there is anything they can do on this front.”
“Majority of the respondents who did not see their role in reducing or
eliminating corruption (52%), were in a sense of helplessness as they
either believed there is nothing an ordinary person could do to fight
corruption or had negative experiences that nothing changes even when
citizens make effort.”
“Perhaps the most adverse observation in this context was that 15% of
the respondents believed it is the government’s role to fight
corruption. This finding resonates with an almost equal proportion of
the respondents who viewed the loss of large amounts of money through
corruption as a loss to the government, and not the public.”
“It is imperative that Nigerians acknowledge corruption as thievery of
their own money to cultivate a sense of personal responsibility against
the vice.”
“The Federal Government should respect the rule of law and obey all
court orders to improve the integrity and independence of the
judiciary.”
“The Federal Government should ensure effective and full enforcement of
the Freedom of Information Act to encourage citizens’ access to credible
information about the frequency of corruption among public officials and
in ministries, departments and agencies. This would help to gauge and
change descriptive norms about corruption in Nigeria and subsequent
behavior.”
“The National Assembly should show leadership in the fight against
corruption by publishing its spending and members’ salaries and
allowances as well as bring the salaries and allowances within the
requirements of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) including
on members’ constitutional oaths of office.
“The National Assembly should collaborate with traditional and religious
and citizens’ and community institutions to promote transparency and
accountability in the public and private sectors.”
“The National Assembly should drop the Social Media Bill and Hate Speech
Bill, and be more proactive in the fight against corruption including by
passing the Proceeds of Crime Bill, the Whistle-blowers Bill, and the
Witness Protection Bill among others.”
“The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission
(ICPC) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should hold
regular public hearings into allegations of corruption in ministries,
departments and agencies and encourage citizens’ participation in the
fight against corruption.”
“The ICPC and EFCC should collaborate with religious institutions,
traditional institutions and other critical members of the civil society
and community-based institutions to develop strategies on how to relieve
and shift some of the social pressures that sustain corruption.”
“State Governments should domesticate the Freedom of Information Act
within their states if they have not already done so, and encourage
Nigerians to blow whistle and report on petty and grand corruption
including on social media. They should end the harassment and
intimidation of journalists and citizens who report on allegations of
corruption including on social media within their states.”
“The National Human Rights Commission should establish a special task
force in collaboration with traditional and religious leaders and
citizens’ and community based movements and members of the civil society
to promote awareness among Nigerians about the negative effects of
corruption on access to public goods and services and the society in
general as well as why it is in everyone’s interest to resist all forms
of corruption.”
“The Minister of Information and Culture should drop the push to
regulate the Social Media and encourage diversity of access to
information including on allegations of corruption involving
high-ranking government officials; as well as collaborate with religious
institutions, traditional institutions and other critical members of the
civil society and community-based institutions to develop strategies on
how to relieve and shift some of the social pressures that sustain
corruption.”
“Religious Institutions should proactively address issues of corruption
in the society among their members and encourage them to participate in
the fight against corruption in the country; and collaborate with civil
society and community-based organizations to explore ways of working
together in public spheres to address public issues including corruption
for the betterment of Nigeria.”
“Traditional Institutions should proactively address issues of
corruption in the society among people within their areas of authority
and encourage them to participate in the fight against corruption in the
country; and collaborate with civil society and community-based
organizations to explore ways of working together in public spheres to
address public issues including corruption for the betterment of
Nigeria.”
“The survey was conducted using two data collection approaches. First,
face to face interviews were conducted targeting 2,549 respondents
across all the geo-political zones of Nigeria and covering the eight
states of Ondo, Enugu, Rivers, Lagos, Adamawa, Kano, Kaduna and Kwara.
Abuja was also included as an additional sampling area due to its
capital city status.”
“The face to face interviews were conducted by trained field enumerators
using semi-structured questionnaires embedded on a mobile telephone
application. The data was then relayed to central data center for
analysis. Across the geo-political zones, the largest sample was picked
from the North West (25.9%) followed by South West at 21.2%.”
“South East and North Central contributed the least proportions at 13%
and 9.4% respectively. Out of the 8 states and Abuja, the Rivers and
Kano states contributed the bulk of the sample at a combined total of
33% (17% and 16.3% respectively).”
“The survey also conducted key in-depth interviews among government
ministries and other institutions including the Ministry of Education,
Ministry of Health, the Economics Crime and Financial Crimes Commission
among others. The in-depth interviews were also conducted among the
academia, the bar association, civil society organizations, traditional
rulers and the religious organizations.”