An Analysis of Nigeria's Position in the 2020 Corruption Perception Index

Abstract

This data brief analyses Nigeria’s position in the 2020 Corruption Perception Index. The brief reveals that despite all the measures taken to fight corruption by the present and past administrations, not so much has been achieved. Several factors including ineffective policies and uncoordinated initiatives, weak criminal justice system, impunity and lack of accountability by state institutions during the period under consideration could have accounted for the country’s “below average performance”. This situation can also be traced to the fact that officials of anti-corruption agencies themselves are not transparent in their fight to rid the country of corrupt practices. Based on the foregoing, we therefore recommend that Nigerian government (with support from the National Assembly) needs to: 1) Improve the working conditions, including by increasing salaries and emoluments, of public officials, especially those of the identified corrupt public organisations, as a way of motivating them to work hard and resist any form of bribery and financial inducement 2) review the anti-corruption laws and other legal and institutional frameworks responsible for maintaining accountability and transparency in the country; 3) close the implementation gap between anti-corruption legislations, practice and enforcement. For instance, no corruption case should be left to linger for a long time; all should be promptly investigated and those found culpable punished;