Nigeria’s corruption rating improves, now ranked 145 — Transparency International
Nigeria’s corruption rating has witnessed an improvement according to the recently released 2023 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) by Transparency International (TI).
Nigeria is frequently accused of being plagued by corruption especially amongst its government institutions.
President Bola Tinubu had in his inauguration speech vowed to end corruption in the public service. This has been demonstrated actively by the present administration particularly with the engagement of a special investigator to probe the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
According to the latest ranking by TI, Nigeria now ranks 145 out of 180 countries, the same as Mozambique, Madagascar, and Liberia.
Nigeria had in 2022 scored 24 out of 100 points and was ranked 150 among 180 countries on the 2022 Corruption Perception Index.
The 2023 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) assessed how countries like Nigeria have responded to corruption over time. It also reviewed progress and failures over the last decade and beyond.
Every region is either stagnant in its overall corruption efforts or showing signs of decline. However, a few countries have significantly improved their scores in the last decade, showing that progress is possible in any environment.
Denmark which scored 90 out of 100 points ranks number 1 in the CPI, followed by Finland which scored 87, ranking 2nd while New Zealand which ranks 3rd in the Corruption Perception Index scored 85.
While Western Europe and the European Union remain the top-scoring regions, its regional average score dropped to 65 this year, as checks and balances weaken and political integrity erodes. Despite improvement in some countries, Sub-Saharan Africa maintains the lowest average at 33, with democracy and the rule of law under pressure.
The rest of the world remains stagnant with all other regions having averages under 50. Eastern Europe and Central Asia grapple with the dysfunctional rule of law, rising authoritarianism and systemic corruption.
Somalia which scored 11 out of 100 is ranked 180 out of the 180 countries on the Index. South Sudan, Syria and Venezuela all scored 13 out of 100, ranking 177 respectively out of 180 countries. Yemen scored 16 out of 100 and was ranked 176 out of 180 countries.
The CPI analysis specifically focused on how weakening justice systems contributed to a lack of accountability for public officials, thereby allowing corruption to thrive.
The Corruption Perceptions Index is the leading global indicator of public sector corruption, providing an annual comparative snapshot of 180 countries and territories. The index for 2023 was calculated using data from 13 external sources.
Transparency International said, “Despite an economic growth rate of 3.3 percent in 2023, Sub-Saharan Africa continues to grapple with extreme poverty, affecting about 462 million people. The region’s persistent challenges stem from decades of severe underfunding in public sectors, exacerbated by corruption and illicit financial flows siphoning resources away from basic public services.
“Addressing social and economic issues remains ineffective, often at the expense of the most vulnerable population. Corruption in justice delivery mechanisms disproportionately affects the poorest citizens and those who depend primarily on public services, such as people living with disabilities or women and children, hindering the realisation of global and regional development goals.”
