When we talk of corruption the only place most people turn to is the federal executive i.e President, Ministers, Heads of Parastatals etc. It's almost like no corruption goes on in states or local government.

But Nigerian citizens sensibilities about corruption are sometimes ironical or confusing. For example, I work in a government establishment and anytime citizens offer money in exchange for one favour or the other and I decline, they become perplexed. It's like there is an automatic assumption that everybody in Nigeria needs their "hand to be greased" in order to do their job or worse, do something illegal. If you refuse to accept bribe, they will look at you like you are a "mumu" or wicked, or sometimes they make derogatory statements against you. But it's also the same person's that will leave your office and be chanting and blogging about how government officials are so corrupt!



Well that is one part of the story. The other part is that when you are in a system that pays workers very poorly, does not reward hard work and indeed tacitly expects workers to get extra income anyway they can (including collecting bribe, so long as you are not caught), then remaining an honest worker becomes almost impossible. Especially since your bills keep piling up and you meager salary will never be enough to cater to them. Refusing bribe in the office seems like insanity!


Yet another part of Nigeria's corruption culture is that everybody expects you to be rich once you are in a position to control government purse. How many people will have relatives or friends in the Senate or as Minister, without making bogus demands for one favour or another And when they make such demands, where else is that relative to get the requested funds from other than government purse? In Nigeria it is only when an accused person is not your relative or you have not benefitted from him that you agree that he is corrupt. Otherwise, Nigerians will look for any reason under the sun why such an accusation is nothing more than persecution e.g on account of religion or tribe etc.



Truth be told, Corruption is the fuel that propels Nigeria. Without corruption Nigeria will grind to a halt. One of the reasons why Buhari is hated is because there is no "sharing of national cake". It's the reason the saraki led National Assembly refused to pass budget and Nigerians supported them. If you refuse to receive or collect bribe in Nigeria, you are the odd one in the bunch!