BY EMMANUEL ONWUBIKO<\/p>\n
In the year 2017, findings from a study on corruption in Nigeria
\njointly coordinated by the United Natiobs Office on Drugs and Crime
\n(UNODC) and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) were published in
\na booklet which in essence restated the notorious fact that the twin
\nevils of corruption and bribery have assumed the dimension of a hydra
\nheaded monster in Nigeria just as the Nigerian police force which is
\nthe mainstream national law enforcement agency in the Country was
\nindicted as the most corrupt agency in the Country.<\/p>\n
The researchers discovered what is already a notorious public
\nknowledge that almost a third of Nigerian adults (32.3 per cent) who
\nhad contact with a public official between June 2015 and May 2016 had
\nto pay, or were requested to pay, a bribe to that public official.<\/p>\n
The magnitude of public sector bribery in Nigeria becomes even more
\npalpable when factoring in the frequency of those payments, as the
\nmajority of those who paid a bribe to a public official did so more
\nthan once over the course of the year, so they stated.<\/p>\n
According to the survey, bribe-payers in Nigeria pay an average of
\nsome six bribes in one year, or roughly one bribe every two months.<\/p>\n
The researchers stated that by combining the total number of people
\nwho paid a bribe to a public official with the frequency of those
\npayments, it is estimated that a total of roughly 82.3 million bribes
\nwere paid in Nigeria in the 12 months prior to the survey.<\/p>\n
These results in an average of 0.93 bribes paid per adult, or almost
\none bribe paid by every adult Nigerian per year, the report stressed.<\/p>\n
Also, another interesting dimension is that the findings show that
\ntaking into account the fact that nine out of every ten bribes paid to
\npublic officials in Nigeria are paid in cash and the size of the
\npayments made, it is estimated that the total amount of bribes paid to
\npublic officials in Nigeria in the 12 months prior to the survey was
\naround 400 billion Nigerian Naira (NGN), the equivalent of $4.6
\nbillion in purchasing power parity (PPP).<\/p>\n
This sum statistically is equivalent to 39 per cent of the combined
\nfederal and state education budgets in 2016.<\/p>\n
The average sum paid as a cash bribe in Nigeria is approximately NGN
\n5,300, which is equivalent to roughly $61 – PPP just as this means
\nthat every time a Nigerian pays a cash bribe, he or she spends an
\naverage of about 28.2 per cent of the average monthly salary of
\napproximately NGN 18,900.<\/p>\n
Since bribe-payers in Nigeria pay an average of 5.8 bribes over the
\ncourse of one year, 92 per cent of which are paid in cash, they spend
\nan average of NGN 28,200 annually on cash bribes \u2015 equivalent to
\n12.5 per cent of the annual average salary.<\/p>\n
The above findings they affirmed could explain why, after the high
\ncost of living and unemployment, Nigerians consider corruption to be
\nthe third most important problem facing their country, well ahead of
\nthe state of the country\u2019s infrastructure and health service.<\/p>\n
Public sector bribery they scientifically deduced is not the only form
\nof corruption affecting Nigeria: the prevalence of bribery in relation
\nto selected employees of private companies is 5.5 per cent, meaning
\nthat bribery is also significant in the private sector in Nigeria.<\/p>\n
However, the payment of bribes to public officials is the most
\nfamiliar and widespread form of corruption directly experienced by the
\npopulation and the one that most affects the lives of ordinary
\ncitizens.<\/p>\n
The vast majority of bribery episodes in Nigeria they researchers
\nfound out are initiated either directly or indirectly by public
\nofficials (85.3 per cent) and almost 70 per cent of bribes are paid
\nbefore a service is rendered.<\/p>\n
“With such a large portion of public officials initiating bribes,
\nwhich are paid up front, it seems that many public officials show
\nlittle hesitation in asking for a kickback to carry out their duty and
\nthat bribery is an established part of the administrative procedure in
\nNigeria.”<\/p>\n
Going further, the report stated that while money is by far the most
\nimportant form of bribe payment in Nigeria, the survey shows that
\nother forms of bribe payment, such as the provision of food and drink,
\nthe handing over of valuables or the exchange of another service or
\nfavour, also exist. For instance, most club girls and commercial sex
\nworkers arrested by task force operatives of the Nigerian police force
\nusually give sex under duress for their release.<\/p>\n
Qualitative research shows that such exchanges may sometimes include
\nsexual services, although the actual extent of that particular form of
\nbribe payment is unknown.<\/p>\n
The survey done under strict adherence to global best practices shows
\nthat a large proportion of bribes in Nigeria (42 per cent) are paid to
\nspeed up or finalize an administrative procedure that may otherwise be
\ndelayed for long periods or even indefinitely, thus making bribery the
\nmost effective option for facilitating that service.<\/p>\n
The second largest proportion of bribes (18 per cent) is paid to avoid
\nthe payment of a fine, a frequent request in citizens\u2019 encounters
\nwith the police, while 13 per cent of all bribes are paid to avoid the
\ncancellation of public utility services, an indication that the
\nprovision of the most basic amenities, including water and sanitation,
\ncan be subject to abuse of power by public officials in Nigeria.<\/p>\n
Then the clincher, whereby the researchers found out that Police
\nofficers are the type of public official to whom bribes are most
\ncommonly paid in Nigeria.<\/p>\n
“Of all adult Nigerians who had direct contact with a police officer
\nin the 12 months prior to the survey, almost half (46.4 per cent) paid
\nthat officer at least one bribe, and in many cases more than one since
\npolice officers are also among the three types of public official to
\nwhom bribes are paid most frequently (5.3 bribes per bribe-payer over
\nthe course of 12 months) in Nigeria. At the same time, the average
\nbribe paid to police officers is somewhat below the average bribe
\nsize.” Next in line in terms of notoriety in bribes taking is the
\njuduciary”.<\/p>\n
Although the report found out that fewer people come into contact
\nwith judicial officials than with police officers over the course of
\nthe year, when they do, the risk of bribery is considerable: at 33 per
\ncent, the prevalence of bribery in relation to prosecutors is the
\nsecond highest, closely followed by judges and magistrates, at 31.5
\nper cent.<\/p>\n
The experience of corruption in encounters with public officials whose
\nduty it is to uphold the rule of law can lead to the erosion of trust
\nin public authority,they reasoned accurately. In addition to
\nbribery, extortion and harassment by the police, the Nigerian Police
\nForce is notorious for extralegal killings of suspects who failed to
\npay bribes just as the Special Anti-robbery Squad of the police known
\nas SARS are the worst kind of criminal species to have graced the
\ngeographical space called Nigeria.<\/p>\n
A cursoey look at the above extensive reseach findings will
\nimmediately instigate the query why this reflection of a matter that
\nhas become a rule rather than exception in the police? This is why I’m
\ndoing this piece.<\/p>\n
The Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr Mohammed Adamu, is now in the
\nnews and has reportedly charged public relations officers (PROs) of
\nthe Nigeria Police Force to work towards reinventing the image of the
\nForce and negate the impression in the public that she was corrupt.<\/p>\n
Adamu according to stories in the media was said to have spoken
\nthrough a representative in Agulu, a town near Awka in Anambra State,
\nduring the opening ceremony of a four-day capacity building workshop
\nfor police PROs in Nigeria, which commenced on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 9,
\nUmuahia, Mr Tijanni Baba, who stood in for the IGP said the workshop
\nwas part of his administration\u2019s commitment to enhancing the
\ncapacity of the police PROs to help them manage the image of the Force
\nwell.<\/p>\n
\u201cPublic relations officers have the primary responsibility to manage
\nthe image and information dissemination process, towards repositioning
\nthe Nigeria Police and changing the uninformed perceptions and faulty
\nnarratives about the Nigeria Police Force.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is with a view to rebranding the Force, advancing our
\nfortunes, and restoring our primacy within the internal security
\narchitecture of the nation.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is my expectation that at the end of the workshop, your capacity
\nwould have been significantly broadened and your skills sharpened for
\noptimal performance especially in the area of bridging the gap between
\nthe police and members of the public and enhancing a people-friendly
\nand community-driven Police Force.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is also my expectation that you shall at the end of this
\nprogramme, imbibe the concept and practice of strategic information
\nmanagement and develop strong critical thinking ability needed to
\ndissect and manage complex public relations challenges in the most
\nprofessional manner,\u201d the IG said.<\/p>\n
According to Adamu, \u201cTo a very large extent, the efforts of the FPRO
\nand his team of PPROs across the country have not gone unnoticed by
\nthe public. I must therefore, commend you for your efforts which are
\npositively impacting public perception of the Force. However, there is
\nstill much work to be done towards correcting the age-long stereotypes
\nabout the Force.<\/p>\n
\u201cI challenge you not to rest on your oars but maintain optimal
\nprofessionalism at all times. You must re-invent the image of the
\nForce.\u201d<\/p>\n
At first, reading this piece of story will automatically convey the
\nimpressions that the hierarchy of the Nigerian police force has been
\nbusy sleeping on duty to such a ridiculous extent that it has just
\nsuddenly realized how bad the image problem is for a policing
\ninstitution that has won every award available in Africa for infamy
\nand corruption for the last three decades or more. As a local saying
\ngoes, ‘no be today yansh dey for back’. So, it is not today that the
\nconflict of identity has confronted the police in Nigeria.<\/p>\n
Take for instance, when the then President Olusegun Obasanjo got so
\nmiffed about the seemingly irredeemable image crisis afflicting the
\nNigerian police force had become very embarrassing, he had to go
\npublic with his displeasure when he announced that the entry
\nmechanisms of the policing institution has been compromised leading to
\nthe scandalous recruitment of ex-cons, prostitutes and armed robbers
\ninto the Nigerian police Force. Years later, the Independent Corrupt
\nPractices and Allied offences commission (ICPC) a body whose
\nenforcement components are made up of police men drafted from the
\nNigerian police force came reportedly came out with a widely read
\nrating that the Nigerian Police Force ranked as the most corrupt
\npublic institution in Nigeria. The selection of the venue for this
\nevent by the police being in the South East of Nigeria is critical
\nbecause of all the geopolitical zones in the Country, the South East
\nof Nigeria suffers the most in terms of brazen display of professional
\nreality by the police who are virtually in every street corners in
\nthat region extorting bribes from drivers and harassing passers by.<\/p>\n
Although the Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, who declared
\nopen the workshop, said he was glad that the event was brought down to
\nAnambra and also that his government was not paying lip service to
\nsecurity, and would further demonstrate so this Friday, when he would
\nbe launching a security operation code named, Operation Kpochapu,
\nwhich would be geared towards ensuring security in the state during
\nthe months leading to the yuletide and beyond. Tne larger questions
\nwhich must be confronted to restore public trust in the police did not
\nfeature in both the speeches of the Anambra State governor and the
\nnation’s police chief. The Anambra state governor decided to use the
\nopportunity of speaking at the public relations event for the police
\nto advertise his administration.<\/p>\n
Hear him: \u201cWe are not paying lip service to security in Anambra, and
\nour state is the safest state today in Nigeria. On Friday, we shall be
\nlaunching another security operation, and I\u2019m going to be giving out
\nsecurity vehicles to enhance the work of your men. These vehicles are
\nfitted with security gadgets and are going to be the very first in
\nthis part of Africa,\u201d Obiano said.<\/p>\n
The workshop as reported by the media was organized for the Force PRO,
\nstaff in the office of the Force PRO, 12 zonal PROs and police PROs in
\nthe 36 states of the federation and Abuja.<\/p>\n
What must be done to sanitize the police is this- the police hierarchy
\nmust implement measures to enforce discipline and wipe out
\nprofessional misconduct. The recruitment and entry mechanisms must be
\ncleaned up to stop the infiltration of criminal elements into the
\npolice. Many criminals bribe their ways to join the police.<\/p>\n
But as I write, the body statutorily empowered to discipline erring
\npolice operatives up to holders of the rank of Deputy Inspectors
\nGeneral called the Police Service Commission (PSC) is in a power
\ntussle with the Inspector General of Police over whose legal duty it
\nis to recruit police operatives.<\/p>\n
Whereas the Constitution and the Police Service Commission Act gives
\nthe power to the police Service Commission, the IGP is laying claim to
\nthat power which he doesn’t have. Unfortunately, the President who
\nought to wield the big stick to forestall anarchy is aloof to the
\nongoing superiority battles as if he is not in charge.<\/p>\n
Already the recruitment of 10,000 police operatives ordered by the
\nPresident is on hold due to the power tussle. The police Service
\nCommission accused the police of hijacking their function and for
\ntrying to recruit unqualified persons into the Nigerian police force.<\/p>\n
So how is the Inspector General of Police seeking to fix the self
\ninflicted bad image of the police when his office wants to assume a
\npower that extant laws have donated to the police Service commission?
\nAt best, the workshop to address the public relations nightmare of the
\nNigerian police force is a waste of public fund.<\/p>\n
Secondly, the Police Service Commission needs to be strengthened and a
\ntop professional appointed to head the commission rather than this
\nunworkable tradition of always appointing former Inspector General of
\nPolice to head the same commission that ought to deal with issues of
\nprofessional misconduct which has remained a thorn in the flesh of the
\npolicing institution.<\/p>\n
There has to be fundamental amendments of relevant laws to bring
\nabout the needed independence of the Police Service Commission and the
\nestablishment of crime and ballistic laboratories staffed by skilled
\npersons to monitor the use of weapons by the police so as to check
\ncases of extra judicial killings.<\/p>\n
No amount of propaganda or lies can control or minimize the damage the
\npolice operatives inflict on the institution of the Nigerian police
\nforce except there is a very effective mechanisms for checking the
\nproliferation of indiscipline and other criminal tendencies by the
\npolice which are widespread even as the police waste public money
\ndiscussing ways and means to change the image problem of the Nigerian
\npolice force. The truth is that only a holistic approach through
\ninstitutional and legal reforms can bring about a professionalised and
\nrespected Nigerian police force and not by dishing out lies through
\nsponsored media articles or soft tissues of lies packaged as news
\nitems to be placed in newspapers through shady transactions.<\/p>\n
The ball is in the Court of Nigerians to take drastic steps to
\nreposition the Nigerian police force.<\/p>\n
*Emmanuel Onwubiko heads Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria
\n(HURIWA) and blogs @www.emmanuelonwubiko.com [1];
\nwww.huriwa@blogspot.com [2]; www.thenigerianinsidernews.com [3]<\/p>\n
Links:
\n——
\n[1] http:\/\/www.emmanuelonwubiko.com\/
\n[2] http:\/\/www.huriwa@blogspot.com\/
\n[3] http:\/\/www.thenigerianinsidernews.com\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BY EMMANUEL ONWUBIKO In the year 2017, findings from a study on corruption in Nigeria jointly coordinated by the United Natiobs Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the National…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":69652,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-69650","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles-opinions"],"yoast_head":"\n