The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has seen its profile rise since Dr Yemi Kale was appointed as Statistician-General in 2011. Also known as the ‘statistician who doubled Nigeria’s economy overnight’, the 42-year-old economist has brought credibility and authority to an agency once filled with inactive civil servants. From its quarterly GDP reports andrebasing exercise in 2014 to its release of unemployment statistics – favourable or not, the NBS has helped put a microscope on Nigeria's economy.

It is not enough to say ‘Nigeria is corrupt’; anecdotes are great, but data, when accurate, is far superior. Questions like ‘what is the level of corruption?’, ‘what areas of society are most affected?’ and ‘why are people corrupt?’ have remained unanswered by Nigerians. So, last month, the Bureau tackled one of Nigeria’s more popular issues: corruption. The Corruption in Nigeria report, published in collaboration with the European Union and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), addresses some of these issues.

Findings from the study show that ₦400 billion, or 5% of the 2017 Federal Budget, is spent on bribes each year. More startlingly, on average, 13% of an individual's annual salary is spent on bribes. 

It gets worse. 70% of bribes are paid before a service is rendered, and those surveyed described corruption as the third most important problem facing Nigeria, lagging only behind the high cost of living and unemployment.

Corruption hits poorer people hardest, because they do not have privileged connections that give them access to public services, and do not have many alternatives. As such, they have to pay bribes, often before the service is rendered. In other words, corruption perpetuates inequality. 

The report also revealed the extent to which corruption has penetrated our law enforcement agencies. Of all respondents to come into contact with the police and judiciary in the 12 months before the survey, nearly half (46%) had to pay a bribe to the police, and a third (33%) had to pay a bribe to prosecutors. This figure was closely matched by payments to judges and magistrates (32%).

The implications of this report are wide-ranging. For one, if you already pay 13% your annual income on bribes, the reluctance to pay taxes becomes understandable. Yet, we often argue that Nigerians do not pay their taxes without factoring in these other burdens. 

As you can imagine, this sort of data can prove useful to agency heads determined to clean up their departments or improve efficiency. Unfortunately, the reaction from some agencies, particularly the ones with the most damning results, was less than complimentary.

The response of Assistant Commissioner of Police, Abayomi Shogunle, who is also the Head of the Police Complaints and Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU), left a lot to be desired. In a barrage of tweets, he outright refuted the findings. 

He also criticised the just-departed Director-General of Public Service Reform, Dr. Joe Abah, suggesting that he didn't know anything about police reform.

The Judiciary was not left out, as a statement from the National Judicial Council’s (NJC) Director of Information, Soji Oye, read in part:

“The Judiciary calls on the public to disregard the aforestated allegation as it is untrue, baseless, unfounded and a figment of the Agencies’ imagination.”

It's important to pause for a moment and understand these reactions. This is a report from the National Bureau of Statistics being criticised by influential actors from other national institutions. Rather than treat the report with the seriousness it deserved, ACP Shogunle opted to mock the effort and the research that went into the study.

It is not unusual for data, reports and surveys to be questioned, even in advanced countries. Querying data is common and can be highly constructive to improving institutional practices or raising academic standards. Nevertheless, the reactions from the Police and Judiciary fall far short of any form of rigorous analysis.

If any of these bodies felt the data points in the report were not reflective of reality or flawed in methodology, the particular failure could have been succinctly pointed out. Otherwise, they could have commended the research behind the Report and committed to changing the interaction between the public and their institutions. This did not happen, keeping in character with the approach of the Nigerian state when faced with anything that looks like criticism – even from within.

We can recall the ongoing battle between the Nigerian Army and Amnesty International when taken to task regarding human rights abuses in the North East. Typically, the approach was to cast doubt on the intentions of Amnesty International, while failing to investigate the claims and bring anyone to justice.

Reports about the state of governance that are less than complimentary, especially those based on statistical evidence, should be used to serve the purpose of improving the delivery of governance so that the effect can be maximised. Trying to discredit them or wish them away will not get us anywhere. Other countries have done it. At the opening of the Nigerian Bar Association's Annual General Conference in August, former Georgian Prime Minister Nika Gilauri recalled how his country was the 5th most corrupt country in the world in 2004 and had nearly completely reversed that by 2010. So it can be done.

There is plenty of anecdotal evidence to show that corruption has eaten deep into every aspect of Nigerian society, but accurately quantifying the problem will serve as a benchmark for finding out if reform efforts are yielding fruit, and where they are not, change strategy. It is in this area that the NBS report is critical. It is in the interest of the police, judiciary and other public institutions to engage with the report and bring informed and constructive criticism, or, otherwise, accept the report's findings and act on them. In the meantime, most will agree that the NBS Corruption Report is an accurate reflection of the experience of most Nigerians, especially with the Police.

After all, no matter how much lipstick you put on a pig, it will always be a pig.

Follow this Writer Joachim on Twitter.

Source: www.stearsng.com

The Police in Abia State said yesterday that soldiers  recovered Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and  petrol bombs from the  house of the leader of the  Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, in the state.

The items are now in the custody of the police, according to Police Commissioner Anthony Ogbizi.

Ogbizi briefing the visiting  Assistant Inspector General (AIG)  Operations, Force Headquarters, Taiwo Lakanu, in Umuahia said the Station Officer of the Ariaria Police Divisional Headquarters in Aba that was attacked last week by suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) died yesterday.

He had sustained serious injuries when  the station  was attacked by the arsonists and was subsequently taken to the hospital for treatment.

Ogbizi said the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP)  died early yesterday in an undisclosed hospital where he was receiving medical attention.

The Police Commissioner also said 37 suspected members of IPOB were arrested in the state in connection with last week’s unrest.

The suspects will be arraigned in court tomorrow.

Thirty of them were arrested by soldiers in Isiala Ngwa area of the state, while the remaining seven are accused of having a hand in the Friday looting and burning of the Ariaria Police Divisional Headquarters.

Police Commissioner  Anthony Ogbizi told the visiting  Assistant Inspector General (AIG)  Operations, Force Headquarters Taiwo Lakanu that  efforts were on to arrest more suspects in connection with the mayhem.

He said soldiers recovered Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and petrol bombs from Nnamdi Kanu’s house.

The items are now in police custody.

He added that the Station Officer, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, who sustained serious injuries after he was attacked by the arsonists, died early hours of today in an undisclosed hospital where he was receiving medical attention.

He recalled how arsonists forcefully broke the police station’s entrance zone and destroyed almost everything.

He said: “They were armed with petrol bomb. They burnt police vehicles and carted away three pump actions and other police materials. Some officers were injured and in fact as I’m talking to you, one of the injured police officer, an ASP is dead.

“The doctors tried their best to save him, but they couldn’t. Now, we have lost a soul. And you know what it takes to train a police officer. And you know the vacuum created. Once a police officer is gone, it takes a minimum of one year to train another

The seven we arrested will be charged for murder, arson and conspiracy for breach of the law.

“Simultaneously, they carried other attacks on law abiding citizens of this nation. You could see along the road the destruction of vehicles belonging to citizens. Certainly you cannot say that that is a peaceful demonstration. I think this attack was orchestrated to get arms which they succeeded in doing. Thank God the police succeeded in securing other arms. They attacked a bank may be with the intention to get more money to buy arms.

“IPOB, going to that extent, cannot say that it is a non-violent movement. While this one was happening here, along the road in Isiala Ngwa, the same IPOB members in droves confronted the military and the military were able to arrest up to 30 of them.

“They will be prosecuted for rioting and unlawful assembly and other things. While that was going on, the same IPOB carried attack of various manner in Umuahia and even tried to collect a rifle from a female military officer. In the process, the military resisted and were able to arrest 19 of them.

“At the same time, along the road leading to Umuahia, they set up bonfire attacking the police and innocent citizens and pulled out traffic stands. The vicinity where the Attorney General of the State, Assistant Inspector General Zone 9, Commissioner of Police, and other residents live. They attacked the quarters of the Assistant Inspector General of Police Zone 9 and that of the Commissioner of Police.

“And the house of the self acclaimed leader of IPOB, Kanu was the house they usually come out from to carry out these attacks and information reaching us is that they have started gathering there. Many exhibits were recovered from there like petrol bomb and coat of arm of Biafra.

“I know that 90% of Abians are not in support of this, but a few hoodlums and some others from other states operating under the disguise of IPOB with the motive to cripple the economy of Abia. If this is not planned, how could they come in droves to carry out these attacks? At a time, a mobile patrol vehicle was moving and IPOB members poured petrol on the van with intent to burn it. Imagine if that was successful. I’m glad that eastern governors have proscribed the organisation.

On the allegation by IPOB that security agents whisked away Kanu’s father and some members of the IPOB leader’s family, Ogbizi said “We don’t have Kanu’s father in police net.”

Source: thenationonlineng.net

A statement yesterday from the spokesman of the PSC, Ikechukwu Ani said, “The commission has also returned to the IGP all recommendations pertaining to special promotions as its special committee investigating the issues arising from it has since began sitting.”

He said the new promotions show that CP Hilda Ibifuro-Harrison was promoted to the next rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) while two deputy commissioners of police, Ajani Olasupo Babatunde and Olukola Taira Shina, were promoted to the rank of commissioners.

He added that 47 superintendents were elevated to chief superintendents of police and 498 deputy superintendents of police promoted to the superintendents of police.

He said 5,907 inspectors were also promoted to assistant superintendents of police, ASP II. 

Deputy commissioners of police Mohimi D. Edgal and Aji Ali Janga were appointed acting commissioners of police.

He said the promotions and other decisions of the commission, signed by the Chairman, Sir. Dr. Mike Mbama Okiro, will be conveyed to the Inspector General of Police for implementation.

Twitter: @naijapoliticko