Nigerians have reportedly lost confidence in their most important institutions, with the police, the presidency and the federal government ranking among the least trusted, according to a new national survey conducted by Chatham House in partnership with the National Bureau of Statistics.
The survey was part of Chatham House’s Social Norms and Accountable Governance project, which examines how trust affects governance across different countries.
Nearly half of all respondents – 46 per cent – said they “greatly distrust” the police, making it the most distrusted institution. Only seven per cent expressed strong trust in the police force.
The presidency and federal government fared little better. Some 36 per cent of people said they greatly distrusted the presidency, whilst 35 per cent felt the same way about the federal government. The courts, local councils, and state-level politicians also received poor ratings from the public.
25 years of anti-corruption efforts have fallen flat
The findings suggest that 25 years of attempts to tackle corruption have not worked. The report argues that these efforts have failed to create stronger accountability. Instead, political campaigns focused on party loyalty, unpunished wrongdoing, and unequal law enforcement have damaged the reputation of public institutions.
This breakdown in trust has had serious consequences. Public money has been diverted from essential services, living costs have risen, and security problems have worsened across the country.
“Corruption has not only weakened Nigeria’s economy but corroded public trust in governance, fuelling repeated crises of legitimacy,” the report noted.
Power beats honesty, but exploitation still stings
The survey uncovered contradictory attitudes among Nigerians about integrity and fairness. When asked about their communities, 59 per cent of respondents said power matters more than honesty. Yet 73 per cent also agreed that people feel bad when others are exploited.
This suggests Nigerians are torn between looking out for themselves and wanting fairness for everyone – a conflict that reflects the difficult environment many face in their daily lives.
Despite the gloomy findings, researchers identified reasons for optimism. Nearly half of those surveyed believed their local communities would be willing to work together to monitor how public money is spent on projects.
Chatham House noted this figure exceeds what research shows is needed to create effective citizen movements. The organisation suggested that future anti-corruption efforts should build on people’s underlying desire for fairness and encourage communities to demand accountability from their leaders.
Tax reforms face trust deficit
The survey results come at a crucial time as the government pushes ahead with new tax reforms designed to increase revenue. However, the report warns that without public trust in institutions, people will be reluctant to pay taxes voluntarily.
The researchers recommend that political leaders show clearly how tax money gets converted into public services that benefit ordinary citizens. They argue this would help rebuild the relationship between taxpayers and the state.
“Nigeria is faced with a fundamental question: how to reduce the cost of being honest in a system where corruption is entrenched and formal institutions are widely distrusted,” the report concluded.
COURTESY: businessday
