In a bold stance against corruption, 70% of Nigerians refused to pay bribes when approached by corrupt officials in 2023, according to the National Corruption Survey by the Inter-Agency Task Team (IATT).
This survey, presented in Abuja in collaboration with various international bodies, marks a significant step in the fight against corruption.
During the seminar commemorating Anti-corruption Day 2024, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, emphasized the importance of protecting whistleblowers to enhance anti-corruption efforts. He urged the National Assembly to pass the Whistleblowing Protection Bill, highlighting its potential to curb corruption across various sectors.
Statistician-General Adeyemi Adeniran noted a rise in bribery reporting, from 3.6% in 2019 to 8.6% in 2023. This increase reflects growing public awareness and willingness to confront corruption, with 65% of reported bribery cases involving the police and 28% involving anti-corruption agencies. Additionally, formal procedures against officers were initiated in 45% of reported cases, up from 16% in 2019.
Despite some disagreements with the survey's conclusions, Fagbemi acknowledged the need for continued reforms and improvements in public service. Meanwhile, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede called for a radical recalibration of the whistleblowing policy, stressing the necessity of a robust legal framework to protect whistleblowers from retaliation.
UNODC's Deputy Country Representative, Danilo Campisi, highlighted the progress made, with more citizens refusing to pay bribes and increased willingness to report such incidents. He also noted the reduction in negative consequences for refusing bribes and improved responsiveness from institutions.
The call for stronger whistleblower protection laws was echoed by ICPC Chairman Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, who emphasized the need for anonymity, safety, and rights of whistleblowers to be safeguarded to promote transparency and accountability in Nigeria.
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