NBS Report: Kogi Scores 48% to Defeat Gombe, Rivers, Others, Wins Most Corrupt State In Nigeria
'We Are Not Corrupt Says' Kogi Govt...
Kogi, Gombe, Rivers and Adamawa have been adjudged the most corrupt states in Nigeria, according to the latest report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The report titled ‘The 2nd Corruption Survey Report in Nigeria’ and released in Abuja on Friday, showed Kogi as the most corrupt state with 48 per cent score, followed by Gombe (45 per cent); Rivers (43 per cent); and Adamawa (41 per cent).
Conversely, Imo is the least corrupt state in the country with 17.6 per cent prevalence, followed closely by Jigawa, Kano and Plateau states.
On a zonal basis, the most corrupt geopolitical zone is the North-Central, while the North-West recorded the least corruption cases.
The Nigeria Police Force retained its position as the leading corrupt public agency in Nigeria, a position which it occupied in the first corruption survey report on Nigeria presented in 2016.
In the latest report, police officers led the charts with 33 per cent (down from 46 per cent in 2016), followed by land registry officers (26 per cent); and revenue officers (25 per cent). The least corrupt officials in 2019 are health workers with five per cent.
The report indicated a slight reduction in corruption cases, particularly bribery, nationwide. While the prevalence of bribery was 32.3 per cent in 2016; in 2019, it dropped to 30.2 per cent.
The report, based on data collected from a total of 33,067 persons in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory through interviews, noted that while the drop might not be “substantial”, it’s an indication that Nigerians were rejecting bribery somehow.
The NBS conducted the survey with the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and other partner international organs.
The highlights of the report were presented at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, by the Statistician General, NBS, Dr Yemi Kale, and the Country Representative of UNODC in Nigeria, Mr Oliver Stople.
Kale was represented by Mr Yemi Adeleran.
Reacting, the Logo State government described the report
as a “dubious attempt to blackmail and blacklist the state by those scared by her rising economic profile and opportunities”.
The Director General of Media and Publicity to the State Governor, Kingsley Fanwo raised the allegation while briefing newsmen in Abuja on Saturday, saying the Bureau has lost the
“little credibility left in it”.
He said the State Government will soon come with facts to challenge the false report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
“How can we be the most corrupt state when we have institutionalized strong mechanisms to check fraud in the system? It is unfortunate that the Bureau just looked through its office windows to cook the discredited report.
“In the last 47 months, we have strengthened our internal mechanisms to combat corruption in the system. We undertook a strenuous staff verification exercise to exorcise
corruption from our civil service.
“The state government has since digitalize the civil service. We granted autonomy to the tax administrative board, changing the name from the Board of Internal Revenue to the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service. Today, the Service is led by one of the most respected hand in the industry, leading to opening new vistas for higher revenue as a result of managerial innovations and blockage of leakages in the system.
“Our accounting and auditing administration have been digitalized and made to be more effective, efficient and dynamic.
“Sitting in their offices at the Central Business District in the FCT to write fiction will not be accepted by the Kogi State Government. We are the most transparent state in the federation and deserves an award for that.
“We are not unaware of some sinister political moves to discredit the State by some individuals for certain reasons. However, it is our responsibility to defend the integrity of our system and our openness to investments. No amount of blackmail and falsehood can halt our march to economic prosperity”.
Fanwo questioned the indices leading to the unfortunate conclusions, saying nobody came to ask questions from relevant authorities in the State.
“The Kogi State Government has consistently and religiously published its financial report every year. We have also published how every penny that accrued to the state either through bailout or Paris Refund was expended. NBS didn’t find out all these facts and transparency initiatives before publishing its controversial report.
“Like BudgIt, it is our hope that the NBS will be honorable enough to own up to its errors on the Corruption Index and tender unreserved apologies to the state”, he said.
He said if NBS fails to provide the parameters for the rating, the state government may have no choice than to seek legal redress to save the name of the state.
Kogi, Gombe, Rivers and Adamawa have been adjudged the most corrupt states in Nigeria, according to the latest report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The report titled ‘The 2nd Corruption Survey Report in Nigeria’ and released in Abuja on Friday, showed Kogi as the most corrupt state with 48 per cent score, followed by Gombe (45 per cent); Rivers (43 per cent); and Adamawa (41 per cent).
Conversely, Imo is the least corrupt state in the country with 17.6 per cent prevalence, followed closely by Jigawa, Kano and Plateau states.
On a zonal basis, the most corrupt geopolitical zone is the North-Central, while the North-West recorded the least corruption cases.
The Nigeria Police Force retained its position as the leading corrupt public agency in Nigeria, a position which it occupied in the first corruption survey report on Nigeria presented in 2016.
In the latest report, police officers led the charts with 33 per cent (down from 46 per cent in 2016), followed by land registry officers (26 per cent); and revenue officers (25 per cent). The least corrupt officials in 2019 are health workers with five per cent.
The report indicated a slight reduction in corruption cases, particularly bribery, nationwide. While the prevalence of bribery was 32.3 per cent in 2016; in 2019, it dropped to 30.2 per cent.
The report, based on data collected from a total of 33,067 persons in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory through interviews, noted that while the drop might not be “substantial”, it’s an indication that Nigerians were rejecting bribery somehow.
The NBS conducted the survey with the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and other partner international organs.
The highlights of the report were presented at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, by the Statistician General, NBS, Dr Yemi Kale, and the Country Representative of UNODC in Nigeria, Mr Oliver Stople.
Kale was represented by Mr Yemi Adeleran.
Reacting, the Logo State government described the report
as a “dubious attempt to blackmail and blacklist the state by those scared by her rising economic profile and opportunities”.
The Director General of Media and Publicity to the State Governor, Kingsley Fanwo raised the allegation while briefing newsmen in Abuja on Saturday, saying the Bureau has lost the
“little credibility left in it”.
He said the State Government will soon come with facts to challenge the false report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
“How can we be the most corrupt state when we have institutionalized strong mechanisms to check fraud in the system? It is unfortunate that the Bureau just looked through its office windows to cook the discredited report.
“In the last 47 months, we have strengthened our internal mechanisms to combat corruption in the system. We undertook a strenuous staff verification exercise to exorcise
corruption from our civil service.
“The state government has since digitalize the civil service. We granted autonomy to the tax administrative board, changing the name from the Board of Internal Revenue to the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service. Today, the Service is led by one of the most respected hand in the industry, leading to opening new vistas for higher revenue as a result of managerial innovations and blockage of leakages in the system.
“Our accounting and auditing administration have been digitalized and made to be more effective, efficient and dynamic.
“Sitting in their offices at the Central Business District in the FCT to write fiction will not be accepted by the Kogi State Government. We are the most transparent state in the federation and deserves an award for that.
“We are not unaware of some sinister political moves to discredit the State by some individuals for certain reasons. However, it is our responsibility to defend the integrity of our system and our openness to investments. No amount of blackmail and falsehood can halt our march to economic prosperity”.
Fanwo questioned the indices leading to the unfortunate conclusions, saying nobody came to ask questions from relevant authorities in the State.
“The Kogi State Government has consistently and religiously published its financial report every year. We have also published how every penny that accrued to the state either through bailout or Paris Refund was expended. NBS didn’t find out all these facts and transparency initiatives before publishing its controversial report.
“Like BudgIt, it is our hope that the NBS will be honorable enough to own up to its errors on the Corruption Index and tender unreserved apologies to the state”, he said.
He said if NBS fails to provide the parameters for the rating, the state government may have no choice than to seek legal redress to save the name of the state.
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