NIGERIAN MEN TAKE BRIBES MORE THAN WOMEN, SAYS UN REPORT

Nigerian men take bribe more than women, a new anti-corruption research focusing on corruption trends has revealed.

The research conducted by the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crimes, (UNODC) indicated that Nigerian men are notorious for taking bribes more than Nigerian women. Presenting the report to the media and civil society today in Lagos, the lead researcher, Dr Adebusuyi Adeniran said the research indicated that women in Nigeria are less likely to take bribes that their male counterparts.

The report was presented at the 17th Anti-corruption Situation Room, organized by Human and Environment Development Agenda, (HEDA Resource Centre) in collaboration with MacArthur Foundation and pctj.

It was designed to engage the report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes Second Survey on Corruption in Nigeria, following the first review held in 2016. The report is aimed at promoting transparency and accountability in governance and public affairs in Nigeria through evidence and knowledge based approach.

The 17th Anti-corruption Situation Room was attended by various anti-corruption groups among which were representatives of National Orientation Agency, (NOA), the Nigerian Labour Congress, (NLC), Trade Union Congress, (TUC), Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN), Islamic Organisations, civil society organisations like Democracy Vanguard, (DV), the media, Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA-Ikorodu branch), Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA), Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, (NULGE) amidst many other community based organisations all of which gave solidarity messages.

The UNDODC report which gave a graphic account of corruption trends in Nigeria through extensive research that involved 33,067 persons interviewed across Nigeria, using Stratified random sampling, representative for each of the 36 States (plus the FCT) with about 900 households, focusing on 18 years adults and above as targets. The theme of the research was Corruption Patterns and Trends: A review of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s Second Survey on Corruption in Nigeria 2019. A similar research was conducted in 2016.

According to the report, in Nigeria, while 89 per cent of men are to take bribe, only 11 per cent of female would; Police, Male, 95%; Female 4%; Judges/Magistrates, Male 94%; Female 6%; Teachers/Lecturers, Male 65%; Female 6%; in Public Utilities, Male 93%; Female 6%; Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Male 92%, Female 6%; Doctors and Nurses, Male 54%, Female 40%. The Chairman of the event, Prof Shehu Abdullahi, said Nigeria cannot move forward unless adequate steps are taken to halt the corruption trend

In his remarks, HEDA’s Programme Officer, Mr Sina Odugbemi, said the report has raised important issues that will assist civil society groups in the anti-corruption campaign.

In the communique issued at the end of the event, the participants noted that data gathering is crucial to the campaign against corruption and that civil society and anti-corruption institutions should strengthen their capacity to develop an effective data-driven mechanism in the anti-corruption drive.

The participants stated that an important aspect of anti-corruption campaign is asset recovery urging HEDA to review cases that have been handled through plea bargain to know how effective it has been. Civil society should intensify monitoring of government and private activities in the anti-corruption drive.

The groups also stated that corruption cannot be effectively subdued when there is a moral deficit in the country noting that efforts should focus on changing the ethics and national orientation of the civil populace, elected officials and public servants. Nigerian educational system should have integrity related content.

Nigeria needs to focus on strong and effective institutions which is necessary in the fight against corruption.

The civil society groups urged the authorities to provide adequate funds should for the National Bureau of Statistics, (NBS) to carry out rounds of experience-based corruption surveys.

“Merit should be a key guiding principle in the public service recruitment as a step towards eliminating corruption and nepotism in service delivery.Law enforcement agents should demonstrate higher integrity, be more patriotic and transparent in enforcing the various anti-corruption laws. Nigerians as a whole must work against impunity and emphasize dissuasive sanctions while promoting reward for good conduct, individual and corporate integrity”, the groups stated in the communique.

They also urged the media to set agenda for investigative reporting and public responsibility on the coverage of corruption and Governance while commending HEDA and the partner organisations for the strategic focus on anti-corruption crusade.