- The United States last year slid down the rankings of a global corruption index as America's system of checks and balances faced growing threats on Donald Trump's watch, Transparency International said Tuesday.

The US lost four points to score 71 out of 100 on the watchdog's 2018 Corruption Perceptions Index, sending the country tumbling out of the top 20 for the first time since 2011.

"The low score comes at a time when the US is experiencing threats to its system of checks and balances as well as an erosion of ethical norms at the highest levels of power," TI said in its annual report.

The second year of Trump's presidency was a turbulent one, ranging from damaging revelations in an investigation probing links between Trump's 2016 campaign team and Russia, to his controversial backing for a Supreme Court nominee accused of sexual assault.

The US leader, who frequently rails against the media for writing "fake news", was also dogged by accusations of nepotism and conflicts of interest.

Last month, Trump agreed to close his personal charity after the New York attorney general said it had acted "as little more than a checkbook to serve Mr. Trump's business and political interests".

Transparency International's closely-watched index ranks 180 nations according to their perceived level of public sector corruption, where a score of zero means very corrupt and 100 signifies very clean.

"The Trump presidency has illuminated the cracks in the US system for ensuring a government that is accountable to the public interest," TI's Zoe Reiter, acting representative to the US, told AFP.

"But President Trump is a symptom rather than a cause; the issues were there before he took office. For example, the Office of Government Ethics simply doesn't have the teeth to control for conflicts of interest at the highest levels," she said.

- Rise of autocrats -

As in previous years, New Zealand and Nordic countries were among the best in class with Denmark narrowly beating New Zealand to the top spot at 88 and 87 points respectively.

Strife-torn Somalia was once again the worst performer, below Yemen, South Sudan and Syria which all scored in the low teens.

The Berlin-based watchdog also singled out Turkey and Hungary for falling down the rankings, blaming "the deterioration of rule of law and democratic institutions, as well as a rapidly shrinking space for civil society and independent media".

"With many democratic institutions under threat across the globe –- often by leaders with authoritarian or populist tendencies -– we need to do more to strengthen checks and balances and protect citizens' rights," TI's managing director Patricia Moreira said.

As part of its recommendations, the group urged governments to stand up for a free press and support civil society organisations that encourage public oversight over government spending.

The index is compiled based on data from 12 international organisations including the World Bank, African Development Bank and the World Economic Forum

https://www.yahoo.com/news/corruption-seen-rising-trumps-us-watchdog-050317943.html

They should have kept Atiku away from their country.
Atiku Abubakar entered US for just 2 days, the corruption meter increased.

This is a total disgrace to us

Little wonder Atiku entered US freely and came back. Something he cannot try under Obama

Make America again.

Make Edo great again(Mega) project

According to IPOB
Trump is the god after Kanu

QUESTION: Is there corruption is your country?

TRUMP: My last hairstyle is as good and the next. No one asks me such shit questions.

Anwers from the African Leaders

AFRICAN LEADERS: We need the help of the EU to fight corruption in the African Nation.

We need to be wise

Oya Nigerians over to u.....
Since Una like international wahala

Teni Makanaki Burst Into Tears As Fans React


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxKq01TNr-8

Hope zombies won't welcome this report, and discard the one on Nigeria.

And wats our business with that in Nigeria? U now want to compare Nigerian corruption with USA own? Oga the headquarters of corruption is Nigeria

Wats nigeria ranking on d list?

Once Atiku goes somewhere, he's taking corruption alongside.

The guy is the worst president america ever had

Hmmm,,,almighty Trump..

That's funny.. That's what you get when you decided to build a giant wall across Mexican boarder

See below

So this is what you rushed for ftc to type.

Corruption is a global problem

rusher14:
Once Atiku goes somewhere, he's taking corruption alongside.

That's true. A former President barred Atiku over indictment. The indictment is yet to be cleared, and another President allowed Atiku to fly in.

When Atiku said he would make his friends rich, where do you think he's getting that from? Of course it is from Trump

BafanaBafana:
They should have kept Atiku away from their country.
Atiku Abubakar entered US for just 2 days, the corruption meter increased.

Lmao

Rubbish news fake as usual

But our SE brodas said trump is america's best president of all time
Yeye dey smell

Lmao.. Just because US cautioned Our FG You guys are now digging up stories hahahahah... ATIKU IS THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA.

US = 71 (B2) from 75 (A1)
Naija = 27 (F9) from 27 (F9)

But some people still believe US no reach to give us advice

Not a not thing in US if Atiku could bribed trump to entered into the so called America, then tell me what trump government s made of

[quote author=amadicollins1 post=75234986][/quote]i laugh you, what new stuff has the report made if not to find obvious happenings to support their agenda in smearing the best president in america.