Experts warn against prevalent danger of corruption in Nigeria

Say hope in tackling corruption not lost
A group of experts, which include university dons and researchers from the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), in collaboration with MacArthur Foundation, have said that to reduce corruption in the country, about 23 per cent of the Nigerian plebeians’ believe that the solution lies in better system and structure. While about 22 per cent supported penalties for wrongdoing, eight per cent advocated clear rules and processes.

Their report was based on the sideline of a training workshop titled “Actualising Behaviour Change (ABC) Series,” organised by MacArthur Foundation, which was presented at NISER Headquarters in Ibadan Oyo State, yesterday.

In the survey entitled, “Lived Experiences of Corruption: The Plebeians’ Perspective,” which was presented by Research Fellow, NISER, Dr. Temitayo Adeyemo and Post-Doctoral Fellow, NISER, Dr. Oluwabunmi Falebita, “the ability to contextualise corruption would influence the designed solution of choice for a greater impact on society.”

Also, the Deputy Director, Nigeria Office of MacArthur Foundation, Mr. Dayo Olaide, said the significance of corruption is scary.

Earlier in his remarks, Deputy Director of Nigeria Office of MacArthur Foundation, Mr. Dayo Olaide, said that the “2015 research survey on corruption indicated that 30 per cent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) would be lost to corruption by 2025.”

He added: “A 2019 UNODC report on Nigeria showed that N675 billion was paid as bribery to government officials in the 12 months preceding the 2019 survey.”

In her opening remarks, Director-General, NISER, Prof. Antonia Simbine, said the institute’s role in the cohort is to provide a behavioural change for corruption control in selected public agencies in the country.