NBS, UNODC begin survey on corruption in public service

The National Bureau of Statistics in collaboration with MACArthur Foundation and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC, have launched a survey to aid policymakers fight corruption in the public service Space.

The survey aims to reveal a trend analysis of corruption experienced by households in the country.

The Statistician-General of the Federation, Semiu Adeniran, flagged off the survey in Abuja. He stressed that the project results would help assess the effectiveness of the efforts deployed by the Government to tackle corruption, identify remaining gaps, and determine priority areas for future initiatives. Hence, Government will craft future anti-corruption policies that are better designed, better targeted and more effective.

“As we embark on this survey, we understand the importance of this activity in shaping the integrity landscape of our nation. This is because corruption remains a formidable challenge and the insights, we gather are not just data points, but beacons guiding us towards a more transparent and accountable future,” he noted.

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He noted that the national project is not to castigate any individual or institution but rather an oportunity to look inward and improve the quality of public service available to Nigerians and enhance the trust in the relationship between the citizens and public offices.

Princess Chifiero, Project Officer- Anti-Corruption, UNODC, said the survey will focus primarily on understanding the experience of corruption by Nigerians, rather than perceived corruption, whenever they encounter their public officials.

She Noted that two new and vital modules — Gender and Disability, have been introduced to the instrument in the 2023 survey. Thus, it seek to gain a deeper understanding of the differential impact of corruption on marginalized or typically excluded groups such as women, youths, and persons with disabilities.

The 2023 survey marks the third round following the 2017 and 2019 rounds. According to the Bureau, trainers are instrumental in ensuring the success of the project, hence training will be cascaded to the state levels to the enumerators who would be collecting the data across the country.