A survey on graft released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Wednesday reveals that almost one out of three Adult Nigerians pay bribe to civil servants and other public officials. These amount to N400 billion ($1.27 billion) annually.

The survey, which was backed by a U.N. agency and the European Union, is based on 33,067 interviews with adults across the country. According to the report, Nigerians spent $1.27 billion; which is equivalent to 39% of the combined federal and state education budget in 2016, to bribe officials between June 2015 and May 2016.

Although the survey does not in every case include high-profile executive corruption cases such as the theft of oil revenues, it shows that in spite of efforts by the government to put senior officials accused of graft on trial, people still pay every day for basic services like dealing with customs or police officers. “The average sum paid as a cash bribe in Nigeria is approximately N5, 300 or the equivalent of an eighth of monthly salaries,” the report said.

About 42% of those interviewed said they had to pay bribes to fast-track or complete administrative work which has been delayed or refused by civil servants. 18% of bribes were paid to avoid a fine and 13% to avoid cancelling of state services such as water supply. Most often, passports or driving licences cannot be acquired unless the officials are bribed.

The report noted that police officers were the largest group of bribe takers, but by value, customs officers topped the list followed by judges.

Anita Fatunji