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Transparency International CPI does NOT show that corruption has increased under Buhari’s administration

The 2017 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) rating of Nigeria shows that the Country has scored a point less (27) in comparison to the previous year (2016; 28), but not as bad as 2015 with 26. Note that the index is ranked in a descending manner so that the more your number the less corrupt your rating. This figures show that while Nigeria is seen as more corrupt in 2017 than in 2016, Nigeria was rated as much more corrupt in 2015 and before President Buhari took over,

The German-based anti-corruption agency, Transparency International believes Nigeria is experiencing a setback in its anti-corruption war as all warfare experiences setbacks.

The President and leader of the anti-corruption war in Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, while speaking at the last African Union summit in Addis Ababa, where he was awarded the AU anti-corruption champion, said

“While we may face some setbacks, we should remain resolute. Our common goal is to eradicate corruption in the best interest of our societies”.

Also, since the CPI ranking is based on the perception of corruption and not corruption itself, it may be difficult to ascertain if the ranking of Nigeria at 148 is factual enough to undermine the anti-corruption strides of the Government. Though Former President Goodluck Jonathan made the same point while in office but did not secure the understanding of Nigerians.

As effective as it may seem for some, the CPI has been under fire for its methodology.

Political Scientist, Dan Hough, sights three flaws in the Index;

  • Corruption is too complex to be captured by a single score. The nature of corruption in rural Kansas will, for instance, be different than in the city administration of New York yet the Index measures them in the same way.
  • By measuring perceptions of corruption, as opposed to corruption itself, the Index may simply be reinforcing stereotypes and clichés.
  • The Index only measures public-sector corruption, leaving out private actors.

How CPI gets its result

For the Corruption Perception Index, Transparency International carries out 13 different surveys from 12 different institutions, which according to Economist, Alex Cobham, involves individuals with ‘striking commonality’.

  • African Development Bank
  • Bertelsmann Foundation
  • The Economist Intelligence Unit
  • Freedom House
  • Global Insight
  • International Institute for Management Development
  • Political and Economic Risk Consultancy
  • The PRS Group Inc.
  • The World Economic Forum
  • The World Bank
  • The  World Justice Project

For a country to be featured in the CPI, it has to be evaluated by at least three sources.

Cobham, in Corrupting Perceptions, also expresses dissatisfaction with the Corruption Perception Index; “The problem with the Index, however, can be found in the name. Perceptions are not facts, and in this case they may be an unhelpfully distorted reflection of the truth.

“Imagine a situation in which lawmakers in a lower-income Country end up shutting major business figures out of a commodity deal. Suspicions of corruption are raised — but, importantly, with zero evidence. There may have been foul play, but then again, there may not have been. As we all know, stuff happens and it’s only natural to want to find someone to blame. But now, with the perception that corporate dealings aren’t exactly kosher, that particular Country, regardless of the absence of evidence, will be affected in its CPI ranking”.

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