A new public survey released today by Socio-Economic Rights and
\nAccountability Project (SERAP) shows that corruption remains a serious
\nproblem in Nigeria, and affecting majority of Nigerians, despite
\nNigerian authorities’ oft-repeated commitment to address the problem.<\/p>\n
According to the survey, “96.2% of the respondents believed corruption
\nremains a serious problem in Nigeria today. There was no significant
\ndifference in opinion on this issue across the different geo-political
\nzones surveyed. However, only 5% of the respondents from the North-West
\nviewed corruption as a problem in the Nigerian society.”<\/p>\n
In addition to the acknowledgement that corruption is a major problem in
\nNigeria, the survey further established that “84.5% of Nigerians
\nbelieved corruption affects them.”<\/p>\n
The latest report by SERAP entitled Nigeria: Anti-corruption Social
\nNorms Survey was launched today at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
\nThe survey is published as part of the organisation’s implementation of
\nthe Anti-Corruption in Nigeria (ACORN) project funded with UK aid from
\nthe British people.<\/p>\n
The survey shows that social media and the internet are the most common
\nsources of information on corruption, according to 38% and 33%
\nrespectively, of the respondents surveyed. The survey further shows that
\nto successfully reach majority of Nigerians and influence behavior
\nchange; these are the most dependable channels.<\/p>\n
In contrast, only 9.8% and 1.6% mentioned religious institutions and
\ntraditional rulers respectively, as influential to influence behavior
\nchange.<\/p>\n
According to the survey, “Traditional leaders have lost their place in
\nguiding the society on morals and ethics. Another noteworthy observation
\nmade on the diminishing role of the traditional leaders was recorded as
\nfollows: Some of the traditional rulers are key political players. They
\ninfluenced elections for politicians who in turn grant them favors.
\nPaying traditional rulers using public money managed by politicians also
\ndilutes their power to stand against corrupt leaders.”<\/p>\n
The report read in part: “Almost half of the respondents (43.5%)
\nsurveyed do not believe that corruption can be successfully fought in
\nNigeria. The result paints a citizenry that has resigned to the high
\nlevels of corruption. This response should be juxtaposed with 96% of the
\nrespondents who viewed corruption as a major problem in Nigeria and 86%
\nwho believed it affects them.”<\/p>\n
“Notably, majority (23.8%) of the respondents’ perception is that this
\nis a loss to the Nigerian people. However, a significant 18.8% view
\ntheft of public money as a loss to the government. This should be a
\ncause for alarm as it would be hard to mobilize citizens against
\ncorruption until the point where Nigerians view it as an economic crime
\nagainst the people.”<\/p>\n
“Of greater concern is that a combined 18% seem to tacitly approve or at
\nleast admire the acts of corruption and illicit wealth acquisition.
\nAbout 12% view the loss of public money as a source of wealth while 5%
\nwould even wish to get an opportunity to perpetuate such a vice.”<\/p>\n
“The implication is that while the social norms, values and experiences
\npoint to corruption as a negative vice, the citizenry have little faith
\nin the efforts aimed at tackling it. Further inquisition on the negative
\nperception of anti-corruption efforts pointed to the need for a mindset
\nchange. Some of the adverse attitudes identified were influenced by
\nperceived lack of punishment of corrupt persons.”<\/p>\n
“This further entrenches the corrupt tendencies. Additionally, poverty
\namong citizens was seen to compromise the expected citizen pressure
\nagainst corruption. Some respondents mentioned the ease with which
\npolitical players bribe their way to positions and once in office
\nperpetuate corruption. The societal values that do not find voter
\nbribery as repugnant therefore cultivates weak and corrupt leadership.”<\/p>\n
“On the issue of personal responsibility against corruption, about 57%
\nof the respondents believed they have a role in supporting
\nanti-corruption efforts. It should be a matter of concern that more than
\n40% do not think there is anything they can do on this front.”<\/p>\n
“Majority of the respondents who did not see their role in reducing or
\neliminating corruption (52%), were in a sense of helplessness as they
\neither believed there is nothing an ordinary person could do to fight
\ncorruption or had negative experiences that nothing changes even when
\ncitizens make effort.”<\/p>\n
“Perhaps the most adverse observation in this context was that 15% of
\nthe respondents believed it is the government’s role to fight
\ncorruption. This finding resonates with an almost equal proportion of
\nthe respondents who viewed the loss of large amounts of money through
\ncorruption as a loss to the government, and not the public.”<\/p>\n
“It is imperative that Nigerians acknowledge corruption as thievery of
\ntheir own money to cultivate a sense of personal responsibility against
\nthe vice.”<\/p>\n
“The Federal Government should respect the rule of law and obey all
\ncourt orders to improve the integrity and independence of the
\njudiciary.”<\/p>\n
“The Federal Government should ensure effective and full enforcement of
\nthe Freedom of Information Act to encourage citizens’ access to credible
\ninformation about the frequency of corruption among public officials and
\nin ministries, departments and agencies. This would help to gauge and
\nchange descriptive norms about corruption in Nigeria and subsequent
\nbehavior.”<\/p>\n
“The National Assembly should show leadership in the fight against
\ncorruption by publishing its spending and members’ salaries and
\nallowances as well as bring the salaries and allowances within the
\nrequirements of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) including
\non members’ constitutional oaths of office.<\/p>\n
“The National Assembly should collaborate with traditional and religious
\nand citizens’ and community institutions to promote transparency and
\naccountability in the public and private sectors.”<\/p>\n
“The National Assembly should drop the Social Media Bill and Hate Speech
\nBill, and be more proactive in the fight against corruption including by
\npassing the Proceeds of Crime Bill, the Whistle-blowers Bill, and the
\nWitness Protection Bill among others.”<\/p>\n
“The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission
\n(ICPC) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should hold
\nregular public hearings into allegations of corruption in ministries,
\ndepartments and agencies and encourage citizens’ participation in the
\nfight against corruption.”<\/p>\n
“The ICPC and EFCC should collaborate with religious institutions,
\ntraditional institutions and other critical members of the civil society
\nand community-based institutions to develop strategies on how to relieve
\nand shift some of the social pressures that sustain corruption.”<\/p>\n
“State Governments should domesticate the Freedom of Information Act
\nwithin their states if they have not already done so, and encourage
\nNigerians to blow whistle and report on petty and grand corruption
\nincluding on social media. They should end the harassment and
\nintimidation of journalists and citizens who report on allegations of
\ncorruption including on social media within their states.”<\/p>\n
“The National Human Rights Commission should establish a special task
\nforce in collaboration with traditional and religious leaders and
\ncitizens’ and community based movements and members of the civil society
\nto promote awareness among Nigerians about the negative effects of
\ncorruption on access to public goods and services and the society in
\ngeneral as well as why it is in everyone’s interest to resist all forms
\nof corruption.”<\/p>\n
“The Minister of Information and Culture should drop the push to
\nregulate the Social Media and encourage diversity of access to
\ninformation including on allegations of corruption involving
\nhigh-ranking government officials; as well as collaborate with religious
\ninstitutions, traditional institutions and other critical members of the
\ncivil society and community-based institutions to develop strategies on
\nhow to relieve and shift some of the social pressures that sustain
\ncorruption.”<\/p>\n
“Religious Institutions should proactively address issues of corruption
\nin the society among their members and encourage them to participate in
\nthe fight against corruption in the country; and collaborate with civil
\nsociety and community-based organizations to explore ways of working
\ntogether in public spheres to address public issues including corruption
\nfor the betterment of Nigeria.”<\/p>\n
“Traditional Institutions should proactively address issues of
\ncorruption in the society among people within their areas of authority
\nand encourage them to participate in the fight against corruption in the
\ncountry; and collaborate with civil society and community-based
\norganizations to explore ways of working together in public spheres to
\naddress public issues including corruption for the betterment of
\nNigeria.”<\/p>\n
“The survey was conducted using two data collection approaches. First,
\nface to face interviews were conducted targeting 2,549 respondents
\nacross all the geo-political zones of Nigeria and covering the eight
\nstates of Ondo, Enugu, Rivers, Lagos, Adamawa, Kano, Kaduna and Kwara.
\nAbuja was also included as an additional sampling area due to its
\ncapital city status.”<\/p>\n
“The face to face interviews were conducted by trained field enumerators
\nusing semi-structured questionnaires embedded on a mobile telephone
\napplication. The data was then relayed to central data center for
\nanalysis. Across the geo-political zones, the largest sample was picked
\nfrom the North West (25.9%) followed by South West at 21.2%.”<\/p>\n
“South East and North Central contributed the least proportions at 13%
\nand 9.4% respectively. Out of the 8 states and Abuja, the Rivers and
\nKano states contributed the bulk of the sample at a combined total of
\n33% (17% and 16.3% respectively).”<\/p>\n
“The survey also conducted key in-depth interviews among government
\nministries and other institutions including the Ministry of Education,
\nMinistry of Health, the Economics Crime and Financial Crimes Commission
\namong others. The in-depth interviews were also conducted among the
\nacademia, the bar association, civil society organizations, traditional
\nrulers and the religious organizations.”<\/p>\n
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’…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":56720,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-70883","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n