NBS Uncovers Massive Bribery Scheme: Govt Officials Got N721bn in 2023

Government employees were bribed N721 billion in 2023, according to NBS

NBS report reveals shocking corruption figures, Nigerian public officials pocketed N721 billion in bribes in 2023, equivalent to 0.35% of GDP.

 

According to a recent report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), bribes totaling N721 billion were paid to Nigerian public officials in 2023.

NBS released the report “Corruption in Nigeria: Patterns and Trends” on Thursday, July 11.

The NBS estimates that the N721 billion in bribes paid in 2023 accounted for almost 0.35 percent of the GDP of the nation.

The average amount received by public officials in 2023 was N8,284, up from N5,754 in 2019. This information was based on a survey done with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Part of the report was read, “According to the 2023 survey, the average cash bribe paid was 8,284 Nigerian Naira.

“While the nominal average cash bribe size increased since 2019 (from NGN 5,754), this does not account for inflation. The inflation-adjusted average cash bribe in 2023 was 29 percent smaller than in 2019 in terms of what could be bought with the money.

“Overall, it is estimated that a total of roughly NGN 721 billion (US$1.26 billion) was paid in cash bribes to public officials in Nigeria in 2023, corresponding to 0.35 percent of the entire Gross Domestic Product of Nigeria.”

Nigeria conducted national elections in 2023. During the election process, some opposition groups said that corruption affected the election of several governors, parliamentarians, and President Bola Tinubu.

Allegations surfaced that certain election officials and security agencies took bribes in order to tamper with the results.