Nigeria has again retained its ranking as number 144 of the 180 countries rated for corruption by Transparency International.
The latest raking, which sees Nigeria sharing the 144th position with Kenya, Mauritania, Comoros and Guatemala, up from 148 in 2017, was made public on Tuesday by the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, an intermediary of TI in Nigeria, Musa Rafsanjani.
The 2018 Corruption Perception Index was based for Nigeria on factors such as inflated contract costs, abuse of security votes, impunity and the government’s failure to try certain corrupt persons.
Rafsanjani said: “Nigeria scored 27 out of 100 points in the 2018 CPI, maintaining the same score as in the 2017 CPI.
“If Nigeria’s democracy is to be the preserved, the origins of huge assets of Nigerian real owners needed be disclosed.”
Rafsanjani said although Nigeria moved up four places in the rankings, it only indicated that four other countries recorded lower scores in 2018, adding: “Nigeria is still perceived as a highly corrupt nation.”
He added: “With the inability of the current administration to stop political boycotts of key appointments and pass the much-needed legislation such as the Proceeds of Crime Bill and to implement the recommendations given at the launch of the CPI 2017, it is no wonder that Nigeria’s score in 2018 is no different from the one of 2017.
“The public image of the anti-corruption campaign in Nigeria is tarnished domestically and internationally by the extremely slow progress to move on the numerous anti-corruption commitments made by the government.
“Public participation and active reporting of corruption is seriously hindered by the absence of the Whistleblower Protection Act that would ensure the protection of the whistle-blowers from dismissals, suspensions, harassment, discrimination or intimidation.
“Let us be clear: no country can make progress without insider reportage of corruption abuses.
“Corruption in the defence and security sector contributes significantly to the human despair and economic stagnation in Nigeria.
“While the Nigerian defence budget has soared more than 500 per cent in the last 10 years, insecurity and breakdown of the rule of law in some parts of the country continue unabated.
“Despite some indisputable evidence, many corrupt politicians and businessmen and women seem to be above the law.
“Recent corruption scandals, including the GandujeGate, ShemaGate, DasukiGate, IkoyiGate, among others, have not seen diligent investigations, prosecutions and convictions of these cases and other Politically Exposed Persons.
“The authorities need to understand that these acts deepen a sense of hopelessness among well-meaning Nigerians.”