A recent report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has uncovered a staggering amount of bribery payments made by Nigerian citizens to public officials in 2023.
According to the report, titled “NBS Corruption in Nigeria: Patterns and Trends,” Nigerians paid a total of approximately 721 billion Nigerian Naira (around $1.26 billion) in cash bribes to public officials, which corresponds to 0.35% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product.
The report found that while the nominal average cash bribe size increased from 5,754 Nigerian Naira in 2019 to 8,284 Nigerian Naira in 2023, the inflation-adjusted average cash bribe was actually 29% smaller in terms of purchasing power compared to 2019. Nonetheless, the overall bribery payments remain alarmingly high.
Notably, the report also highlighted a positive trend – over 70% of Nigerians declined to pay bribes at least once in 2023, with the highest rate of 76% in the North-West region. This suggests that Nigerians are becoming increasingly unwilling to engage in corrupt practices, a sign of progress in the fight against corruption.
The report further revealed that 52% of all bribes paid to public officials were demanded by the officials, while 23% were indirect bribes. The report also found that over 95% of all bribes were paid in cash or through money transfers.
Interestingly, the survey highlighted a gender disparity in bribery exposure, with men being 1.4 times more likely than women to pay or be asked to pay a bribe when interacting with public officials. The report suggests that women in public offices are less likely to solicit or accept bribes compared to their male counterparts.
Despite these findings, the report indicates that Nigerians’ confidence in the government’s anti-corruption efforts has declined over time, with all six geopolitical zones recording reductions of more than 10 percentage points in confidence between 2019 and 2023.
The report concludes with several policy recommendations, including the need to strengthen complaint mechanisms, increase the use of e-government to reduce direct contact between citizens and public officials and hold those who solicit or accept bribes accountable, including in the criminal justice system and Parliament.
The NBS report serves as a crucial wake-up call for the Nigerian government and its citizens to intensify efforts in combating the pervasive issue of corruption, which continues to undermine the country’s development and prosperity.