According to the report of the survey’s corruption index, which examined five public institutions in Nigeria in the last five years, the Nigerian power sector was ranked second.
Other public institutions identified as corrupt by 70% of Nigerians surveyed are: the judiciary, education and health ministries.
The survey released on Tuesday in Lagos noted that the level of corruption has not changed in the last five years in the country.
The report entitled Nigeria: Corruption Perception Survey said: “A bribe is paid in 54% of interactions with the police. In fact, there is a 63% probability that an average Nigerian would be asked to pay a bribe each time he or she interacted with the police. That is almost two out of three.”
Local media reports on Wednesday stated Prof. Akin Oyebode, who chaired the launching of the report said: “Nigeria is looked upon as a giant of Africa. Yet Nigeria could not conduct free, fair and credible elections. It is a smear on the image of Nigeria. If we do away with selective enforcement and condonation of corruption, we will build and live in a better society.
“Corruption is a refined form of stealing. The politicians are stealing our common patrimony. Development of the people is almost inversely proportional to the level of corruption.”
The survey identified corruption as a significant impediment to law enforcement, access to justice and basic public services such as affordable healthcare, education, and electricity supply.
“Several Nigerians have to pay a bribe to access police, judiciary, power, education and health services. Corruption is still a key concern in the country with 70% of Nigerians describing the level of corruption as high and in the same measure, stating that corruption levels either increased or remained the same in the last five years,” the report said.
“The national survey carried out between September and December 2018, covered the police, judiciary, power, education and health sectors to assess the state of corruption in law enforcement and public service provision,” the report added.