Key Points
- An estimated 34% of Nigerians who interacted with public officials in the past year paid or were asked to pay a bribe
- Judges and magistrates received N31,000 bribes on average
- Customs and immigration officers received N17,800 bribes on average
- Armed forces members received N16,600 bribes on average
- Nigerian officials received $1.3 billion in bribes in 2023, equivalent to 0.35% of the GDP.
- Residents paid approximately 721 billion naira in cash bribes.
In a revealing report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), alarming statistics have emerged, highlighting the pervasive nature of bribery among public officials in Nigeria.
The findings show that prosecutors, magistrates, judges and members of the armed forces collected the largest bribes in 2023, the period under review.
Nigerian officials received a whopping sum of $1.3 billion in bribes during the period, casting a stark light on the deep-seated corruption that continues to plague the nation.
Scope and Prevalence of Bribery
According to the NBS report, approximately 34 per cent of Nigerians who interacted with public officials in the 12 months preceding the 2023 survey either paid or were asked to pay a bribe.
This statistic underscores the extent to which bribery has infiltrated public service, affecting everyday interactions between citizens and government officials.
Who Takes Bribes?
The prevalence of bribery varies significantly among different types of public officials. In 2023, prosecutors, judges, and members of the armed forces were among the officials who received the largest bribes.
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The average bribe paid to judges and magistrates was a staggering NGN 31,000, while customs and immigration officers received an average of NGN 17,800. Members of the armed forces were also prominent recipients, with average bribes amounting to NGN 16,600.
Conversely, smaller bribes were typically paid to public utility officers (NGN 4,600), doctors, nurses, midwives (NGN 6,000), and other health workers (NGN 2,900).
These figures highlight the variation in bribe sizes, which appear to correlate with the perceived power and influence of the officials involved.
How Bribery Works
The modalities of bribery requests show a concerning trend. While direct requests for bribes still constitute the majority of cases, their proportion has decreased from 66 per cent in 2016 to 52 per cent in 2023.
Indirect requests, involving hints or third-party intermediaries, have shown a slight increase, now accounting for 23 per cent of bribe requests. This shift suggests a growing awareness among officials about the risks of direct solicitation and a possible adaptation to more covert methods.
Timing and Location of Bribes
Bribes are typically solicited and paid in environments where public officials have considerable control over essential services. The report details that bribes are often requested to expedite processes, secure favourable decisions, or avoid penalties.
The timing and location of these transactions are strategically chosen to minimise detection and maximise leverage over citizens seeking urgent services.
Economic Impact and Rural Disparities
The NBS report also highlights the economic impact of bribery, revealing that Nigerian government officials demanded and received a staggering $1.3 billion in bribes in 2023. This amount, representing 0.35 per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), underscores the severe economic burden of corruption on the nation.
The survey estimates that residents paid approximately N721 billion in cash bribes last year, equating to $1.26 billion at the average exchange rate during the survey period.
The frequency of bribery is higher in rural areas than in urban areas, with rural residents averaging 5.8 bribes compared to 4.5 bribes for urban dwellers.
Despite a decline in the number of bribes exchanged, from 117 million in 2019 to 87 million in 2023, this reduction is attributed to decreased interactions with public officials, which dropped from 63 per cent to 53 per cent of the population.
Private Sector Comparisons
Interestingly, the report also compares bribery in the public sector to the private sector. While bribes in the private sector are generally smaller, averaging NGN 3,605, they remain prevalent.
For instance, 17 per cent of those who paid bribes in the private sector reported the incident, a significantly higher rate than the 8.6 per cent reporting rate in the public sector. This difference suggests that citizens may feel more empowered to hold private sector employees accountable compared to public officials.
Challenges and Recommendations
The detailed analysis in this report paints a grim picture of the corruption landscape in Nigeria. The varying sizes and frequencies of bribes, coupled with the strategic methods of solicitation, illustrate the deep-rooted challenges in combating corruption.
Successive governments have pledged to combat corruption, yet public officials continue to syphon public funds for personal gain, and government workers frequently demand bribes to perform their duties.
Nigeria remains near the bottom of Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, ranking 145 out of 180 countries.
Addressing these issues requires a comprehensive approach, including stronger legal frameworks, increased transparency, and robust mechanisms for reporting and prosecuting corrupt activities.
The findings underscore the need for continued efforts to root out corruption and restore public trust in Nigeria’s institutions. As the nation grapples with these revelations, the focus must remain on implementing effective reforms and fostering a culture of accountability at all levels of government.
