TI, CISLAC Shed Light on Nigeria's Modest Progress in 2023 Corruption Perception Index

Nigeria witnessed a marginal increase, securing one additional point to attain a ranking of 145 among 180 countries in the recently unveiled Corruption Perception Index (CPI) by Transparency International (TI).

The 2023 CPI recorded a score of 25, slightly up from the previous year's 24, though it still falls below the Sub-Saharan African average of 33 points.

TI, through its Nigerian chapter, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), offered insights into the factors contributing to Nigeria's incremental improvement. The CPI, scored on a scale of zero to 100, positions Nigeria at 25, compared to the 24 it scored in the 2022 CPI.

Despite minor fluctuations in the country's CPI over the past decade (hovering between 24 and 28 points), Nigeria's scores have seen a decline and stagnation, reaching its lowest at 24 points in the CPI for 2021 and 2022, with a modest gain to 25 points in the latest report.

TI and CISLAC attributed the marginal improvement to three primary factors. Firstly, they acknowledged the launch of the Beneficial Ownership Register in May the previous year, aligning with Nigeria's commitment at the 2016 Anti-corruption summit. Although this register doesn't fully address challenges like procurement fraud, it signifies a step in the right direction.

Secondly, the contribution of Nigeria's vibrant media, civil society, and citizens in demanding transparency and accountability played a crucial role.

Lastly, arrests and recoveries by anti-corruption agencies, including the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), further contributed to the country's slightly improved standing.

CISLAC's Executive Director, Auwal Musa (Rafsanjani), urged the government to ensure the Beneficial Ownership Register is regularly updated. The organization also emphasized the need for continued investigations and prosecutions of high-profile individuals without political interference.

However, the report highlighted several challenges, including unchecked electoral corruption, judicial corruption, corruption in the security sector, opaqueness of public institutions, and rewarding corrupt individuals with appointments.

To address these gaps, CISLAC recommended strengthening the independence of the Nigerian justice system, implementing merit-based promotions, establishing an integrity monitoring mechanism in the judiciary, reforming the electoral system, regularly updating the Beneficial Ownership Register, and ensuring transparency in the implementation of constituency projects.

The organization also stressed the importance of impartial and unhindered investigations of security sector corruption to improve the country's deteriorating security situation.