60% of fuel subsidy funds smuggled abroad –Jonathan

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="post-257896 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-news entry" style="margin: 0px 0px 30px;"> <h1 class="entry-title" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: url(http://www.punchng.com/wp-content/themes/punch/images/dots-horizontal.gif); background-position: 0% 100%; border-top-color: rgb(255, 1, 1) !important; border-top-style: solid !important; border-top-width: 1px !important; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 9px 4px;"> <br /></h1> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><div class="entry-content" style="overflow: hidden;"> <div class="story-featured-image" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); float: left; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-right: 15px; min-width: 378px !important; width: 368px;"> <img alt="President Goodluck Jonathan" class="attachment-bigstoryimage" height="225" scale="0" src="http://www.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/President-Goodluck-Jonathan-360x225.jpg" style="border: none; float: left; margin-right: 10px; padding: 4px;" width="360" /><div class="featured-image-caption" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 5px; padding: 5px 10px 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">President Goodluck Jonathan</span></div> </div> <div style="float: left; padding: 10px 18px 5px 0px; width: 370px;"> <ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7167863529667065" data-ad-slot="6184555097" data-adsbygoogle-status="done" style="display: inline-block; height: 140px; width: 370px;"><ins id="aswift_0_expand" style="border: none; display: inline-table; height: 140px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 370px;"><ins id="aswift_0_anchor" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: none; display: block; height: 140px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 370px;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="140" hspace="0" id="aswift_0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="aswift_0" scrolling="no" style="left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px;" vspace="0" width="370"></iframe></ins></ins></ins></div> <div id="nrelate_flyout_placeholder"> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday lamented that a number of government programmes, which ought to have been effectively implemented for the benefit of Nigerians, could not be realised owing to poor data management system.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">For instance, he listed the abuse of the fuel subsidy scheme, which was meant to reduce the cost of transportation for Nigerians as well as make life more meaningful for the ordinary people, as one of the disadvantages of not having an efficient national identity management system.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The President, who said this in Abuja during the unveiling of the national identity card, noted that it was unfortunate that after spending billions of naira annually on fuel subsidy payment, majority of the citizens did not get to enjoy the subsidy owing to the fact that about 60 per cent of the funds were smuggled out of the country.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He lamented that those who smuggled the subsidy funds out of the country were the ones who later turned around to instigate the citizens against the government.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Jonathan said, “I’m particularly pleased with the National Identity Management Commission because a number of things we are supposed to do well as a nation, we are not doing well. And sometimes, we blame the government because of the failure of the system and the credibility of the process.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“If you take the issue of subsidy of transport; what we do is subsidising hydrocarbon, it does not go to the ordinary people. Government spends huge sums of money, hundreds of billions of naira every year in the budget, ask the National Assembly.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Sometimes it is controversial subsidising kerosene; yet, it is going very high in the market, subsidising the PMS and so on.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“We are thinking about how to subsidise the transportation system such as the person going to school, the person going to the market, the person moving from Lagos to Enugu or Lagos to Kano, and not paying subsidy 60 per cent of which will be smuggled out of the country.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“And those who make the money will come and use that money to induce the people suffering to even riot against government.”</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He said the lack of an efficient national identity management system had made it difficult for Nigerians, especially those at the bottom of the pyramid, to benefit from government’s programmes.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">According to him, it is difficult to effectively replicate the amnesty programme for the Niger Delta region in the North when the security crisis began few years ago owing to lack of accurate data of those affected by insurgency.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Jonathan said, “When the issue of the crisis in the North came up, some people came up with the idea of how we could replicate the amnesty programme of the Niger Delta in the North.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“And I said, look, we must not wait for people to carry arms against the state before we help them. I said let us as a government identify those without jobs. I asked those in finance to see our resources and how we can accommodate them, and not to wait for the youth to carry weapons against the state in the South East, South-South and North East before you can think of how to address their needs.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“I asked the then Minister of National Planning, Shamsudeen Usman, to come up with a blueprint because we must know the figures; we must know what we have. We cannot venture into what we cannot conclude; it is difficult because we don’t know ourselves; and up to this time, it is still paperwork.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“During the 2011 elections, there were crises in some states, properties were burnt but how do we address it? We set up a committee to take inventory of things; take data of people but by the time you want to do payment, the duplications will be so much; those who are affected will not get the money.”</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The President said with the inauguration of the new national ID card, Nigerians would begin to enjoy the benefits of government programmes as everyone would now have a unique national identification number from birth till death.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He commended the MasterCard Worldwide Corporation, Access Bank Plc and the NIMC for following all laid down procedures to bring to birth the new identity card.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Jonathan said his administration would continue to strengthen institutions such as the NIMC, so that they would not go the way of the Nigeria Airways, Nigerian Shipping Line and Ajaokuta Steel Company.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">To this end, he said the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, had been directed to reposition the Nigerian Security and Minting Company to enable it to become a global player in the printing of security documents.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He said, “In fact, when I appointed the new CBN governor, I told him that the Nigerian Security and Minting Company must be reformed.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“There is no way we are doing local government election, electing House of Assembly members, electing governors in Oyo, Ekiti and Adamawa states that all what we will produce will be done outside this country. Why?</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Other countries produce their needs; we claim to be a giant, a giant that will just send everything out; we empower others and we don’t create jobs for our people. And so, the Mint must be restructured as well as the Independent National Electoral Commission and other bodies.”</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Also speaking, the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, described the unveiling of the card as a significant milestone that would change the social safety programme of the government.</span></div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

60% of fuel subsidy funds smuggled abroad –Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday lamented that a number of government programmes, which ough...

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I Will Expose Secrets of Corrupt Leaders after 2015 Elections – Oba of Lagos

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img alt="Oba Rilwan Akiolu - August 2014 - BN News - BellaNaija.com 01" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-422290" height="402" src="http://www.bellanaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Oba-Rilwan-Akiolu-August-2014-BN-News-BellaNaija.com-01.jpg" width="599" /></span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">After the 2015 general elections, the Oba of Lagos <strong>Rilwanu Akiolu</strong> may expose corrupt leaders in Nigeria.</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The monarch at a book launch held on Monday 18th August 2014, said he will make known the illegal and corrupt acts of traditional leaders who pretend not to be corrupt.</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">His statement was in response to a recent allegation by another monarch that claimed only two of the country’s prominent monarchs were free of corruption.</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Akiolu refuted the reports, and said that <strong>President Goodluck Jonathan</strong> is not the reason for the constant rise in corruption.</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Oba of Lagos said that because he was the Commissioner of Police in charge of criminal investigation at the time, he has vital information about corrupt acts by traditional rulers in the South West during <strong>General Sani Abacha</strong>‘s administration.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He said;</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“The monarch that made the statement that I lifted oil will be shocked when I make certain revelations after</span></div> </div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="" name="more"></a>the 2015 elections and I think he should close his eyes in shame because as at that time, I was still serving in the Nigeria Police and I wonder how I could have such time to be involved in the lifting of oil.</span><br /> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">One person does not cause the problem of corruption. So, nobody should blame President Goodluck Jonathan for the problems in Nigeria, as about 99 per cent of us are guilty of the syndrome of corruption. So, everyone should be involved in the fight against corruption.</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">All hands must be on deck to assist the government to bring corruption to an end. We should forget the past and face the future by contributing to the future of the nation.”</span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=77609" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Sun Newspaper</a> was first to report the story.</i></div> </div>

I Will Expose Secrets of Corrupt Leaders after 2015 Elections – Oba of Lagos

After the 2015 general elections, the Oba of Lagos  Rilwanu Akiolu  may expose corrupt leaders in Nigeria. The monarch at a book lau...

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The Most Corrupt Countries in the World

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br /> <div class="post-meta" style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="byline" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By <a class="vcard author url" href="http://247wallst.com/author/alex-hess/" itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" rel="author" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Posts by Alexander E.M. Hess"><span class="fn" itemprop="name" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Alexander E.M. Hess</span></a> and <a class="vcard author url" href="http://247wallst.com/author/michael-sauter/" itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" rel="author" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Posts by Michael B. Sauter"><span class="fn" itemprop="name" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Michael B. Sauter</span></a></span></span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">More than half of the world’s population believes corruption in the public sector is a very serious problem. Liberia and Mongolia are the two most corrupt countries in the world, according to a recent study. In both countries, 86% of residents believe corruption in the public sector is a very serious problem. Residents in the vast majority of countries around the world believe corruption has only gotten worse in the past two years.</span><br /> <div id="dfp-in-text" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div id="google_ads_iframe_/1016069/247WS_Special-Report_In-Text_Box_1_300x250_ATF_0__container__" style="border: 0pt none; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><iframe frameborder="0" height="250" id="google_ads_iframe_/1016069/247WS_Special-Report_In-Text_Box_1_300x250_ATF_0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="google_ads_iframe_/1016069/247WS_Special-Report_In-Text_Box_1_300x250_ATF_0" scrolling="no" style="border-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="300"></iframe></span></div> </div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Anti-corruption nonprofit Transparency International has released its <a href="http://www.transparency.org/gcb2013" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">2013 Global Corruption Barometer</a>, which surveyed residents in 107 countries. The world’s corrupt nations differ in many ways. Four are located in Africa, three in Latin America and two in Asia. These nations also vary considerably in size and population. Mongolia has just 3.2 million residents, while Mexico, Nigeria and Russia are three of the largest countries on the globe, each with more than 100 million people. Based on the percentage of surveyed residents that reported corruption in the public sector is a very serious problem, these are the world’s most corrupt nations.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Read more: <a href="http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/07/11/the-most-corrupt-countries-in-the-world/#ixzz394m7cuVS" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Most Corrupt Countries in the World - 24/7 Wall St.</a> <a href="http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/07/11/the-most-corrupt-countries-in-the-world/#ixzz394m7cuVS" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/07/11/the-most-corrupt-countries-in-the-world/#ixzz394m7cuVS</a><br />Follow us: <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=deb6QsC_Cr3702adbi-bpO&u=247wallst" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@247wallst on Twitter</a> | <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=deb6QsC_Cr3702adbi-bpO&u=247wallst" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">247wallst on Facebook</a></span><br /> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">What many of these nations do have in common is that their people are largely opposed to corruption. Globally, 69% of people questioned by Transparency International said they would report corruption if they encountered it. In seven of the nine nations with the worst corruption, residents were at least slightly more likely to oppose corruption. In Paraguay, one of the countries with high corruption, 90% of citizens said they would report corruption, while 87% and 86% said they would do so in Mexico and Russia, respectively.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Many of those surveyed in the highly corrupt countries also felt their governments were not holding up their end of the bargain. In seven of the nine countries, more than half of those questioned felt their government was ineffective at fighting corruption. In Liberia, 86% of residents surveyed said their government was ineffective at fighting the problem. This was the largest proportion of any of the 107 nations Transparency International surveyed.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">While corruption appears to affect every part of the public sector, certain segments were much worse than the rest. Globally, at least 60% of respondents claimed political parties and police were corrupt. Additionally, more than 50% of people stated their legislature, their public officials and their judiciary were corrupt.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In the world’s most corrupt nations, those institutions were, naturally, even worse. In Nigeria, 94% of people claimed their political parties were corrupt, the most in the world. Similarly, 96% of Liberians reported their legislature was corrupt, also the most in the world. In eight of the nine most corrupt nations, more than 80% of residents considered the police to be corrupt.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Many of these nations remain among the world’s less-developed, and they lack the resources of the United States, Japan and the European Union nations. Among the most corrupt nations, only Mexico, Russia and Venezuela had an estimated gross domestic product (GDP) per capita over $10,000 in 2012. None were among the top 50 nations measured in GDP per capita. By comparison, the U.S. per capita GDP was estimated to be nearly $50,000.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Based on figures published by <a href="http://www.transparency-usa.org/" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Transparency International</a>, 24/7 Wall St. determined the nations with the highest percentage of respondents who claimed corruption was a very serious problem. Transparency International also provided other figures on corruption perception. Data on GDP by nation came from the International Monetary Fund. Population statistics are from The CIA World Factbook.</span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Read more: <a href="http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/07/11/the-most-corrupt-countries-in-the-world/#ixzz394lz1Q4e" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Most Corrupt Countries in the World - 24/7 Wall St.</a> <a href="http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/07/11/the-most-corrupt-countries-in-the-world/#ixzz394lz1Q4e" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/07/11/the-most-corrupt-countries-in-the-world/#ixzz394lz1Q4e</a><br />Follow us: <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=deb6QsC_Cr3702adbi-bpO&u=247wallst" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@247wallst on Twitter</a> | <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=deb6QsC_Cr3702adbi-bpO&u=247wallst" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">247wallst on Facebook</a></span><br /> <br /> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong>1. Liberia</strong><br /><strong>> Pct. saying corruption very serious:</strong> 86% (tied for the highest)<br /><strong>> Pct. claiming public officials corrupt:</strong> 67% (35th highest)<br /><strong>> Pct. claiming police corrupt:</strong> 94% (3rd highest)<br /><strong>> 2012 GDP per capita:</strong> $673</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The vast majority of Liberians surveyed said they believed the country was run either largely or entirely by a few entities acting in their own self interest. A world-leading 86% of residents who spoke to Transparency International claimed their government had been either ineffective or very ineffective at fighting corruption, while 96% of residents claimed Liberia’s legislature was corrupt, also the highest percentage of any nation. A stunning 75% of residents surveyed claimed they had paid a bribe to secure some service, trailing only Sierra Leone. In all, 80% of the population had at one point been asked to pay a bribe. Recently, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf fired the country’s auditor general for corruption.</span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Read more: <a href="http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/07/11/the-most-corrupt-countries-in-the-world/#ixzz394ljSRtw" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Most Corrupt Countries in the World - 24/7 Wall St.</a> <a href="http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/07/11/the-most-corrupt-countries-in-the-world/#ixzz394ljSRtw" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/07/11/the-most-corrupt-countries-in-the-world/#ixzz394ljSRtw</a><br />Follow us: <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=deb6QsC_Cr3702adbi-bpO&u=247wallst" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@247wallst on Twitter</a> | <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=deb6QsC_Cr3702adbi-bpO&u=247wallst" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">247wallst on Facebook</a></span><br /> <br /> <br /> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong>2. Mongolia</strong><br /><strong>> Pct. saying corruption very serious:</strong> 86% (tied for the highest)<br /><strong>> Pct. claiming public officials corrupt:</strong> 77% (12th highest)<br /><strong>> Pct. claiming police corrupt:</strong> 66% (49th highest)<br /><strong>> 2012 GDP per capita:</strong> $5,372</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Mongolia had one of the world’s fastest growing economies in 2012, when its GDP rose an estimated 12.3%, according to the IMF. But corruption has been identified by USAID as a critical threat to the country’s continued growth as well as to its democracy. Corruption has become pervasive in the country, after ”rapid transition to democracy and a market economy created huge demands on bureaucracy that lacks the [means] to prevent corruption,” according to the organization. Encouragingly, less than half of all people surveyed in the country said that corruption had increased in the past two years, versus 53% of respondents worldwide. Also, while 77% of people considered public officials to be corrupt, just 12% believed the country’s government to be run by a few large, purely self-interested entities.</span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Read more: <a href="http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/07/11/the-most-corrupt-countries-in-the-world/#ixzz394lZ5I7r" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Most Corrupt Countries in the World - 24/7 Wall St.</a> <a href="http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/07/11/the-most-corrupt-countries-in-the-world/#ixzz394lZ5I7r" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/07/11/the-most-corrupt-countries-in-the-world/#ixzz394lZ5I7r</a><br />Follow us: <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=deb6QsC_Cr3702adbi-bpO&u=247wallst" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@247wallst on Twitter</a> | <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=deb6QsC_Cr3702adbi-bpO&u=247wallst" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">247wallst on Facebook</a></span><br /> <br /> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong>3. Venezuela</strong><br /><strong>> Pct. saying corruption very serious:</strong> 83%<br /><strong>> Pct. claiming public officials corrupt:</strong> 79% (9th highest)<br /><strong>> Pct. claiming police corrupt:</strong> 83% (24th highest)<br /><strong>> 2012 GDP per capita:</strong> $13,616</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Venezuela’s long-ruling socialist president, Hugo Chavez, passed away in March. Corruption was a concern in Venezuela since before Chavez’s first election victory in 1998. His chosen successor, Nicolas Maduro, has vowed to end corruption, which has often been associated with Venezuela’s socialist government. Before April’s presidential election, opposition candidate Henrique Capriles claimed that nationalization of private businesses allowed public officials to control major industries for personal profit. In Venezuela, 79% of respondents said their nation’s political officials were corrupt, among the highest percentages in the world.</span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Read more: <a href="http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/07/11/the-most-corrupt-countries-in-the-world/#ixzz394lTSQzB" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Most Corrupt Countries in the World - 24/7 Wall St.</a> <a href="http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/07/11/the-most-corrupt-countries-in-the-world/#ixzz394lTSQzB" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/07/11/the-most-corrupt-countries-in-the-world/#ixzz394lTSQzB</a><br />Follow us: <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=deb6QsC_Cr3702adbi-bpO&u=247wallst" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@247wallst on Twitter</a> | <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=deb6QsC_Cr3702adbi-bpO&u=247wallst" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">247wallst on Facebook</a></span><br /> <br /> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong>4. Zimbabwe</strong><br /><strong>> Pct. saying corruption very serious:</strong> 81%<br /><strong>> Pct. claiming public officials corrupt:</strong> 70% (25th highest)<br /><strong>> Pct. claiming police corrupt:</strong> 86% (15th highest)<br /><strong>> 2012 GDP per capita:</strong> $559</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Roughly 77% of those surveyed claimed that corruption in Zimbabwe had risen in the past two years, a higher percentage than in all but a few other countries. Potentially contributing to this rise, longtime President Robert Mugabe failed to keep past elections free from violence and voting irregularities. Mugabe’s opponent is likely far more popular with the people, but the upcoming elections on July 31 could still end up rigged in the Mugabe’s favor. More than three-quarters of residents stated that the government was run largely or entirely by a few entities acting in their own best interests.</span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Read more: <a href="http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/07/11/the-most-corrupt-countries-in-the-world/#ixzz394lO2LY5" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Most Corrupt Countries in the World - 24/7 Wall St.</a> <a href="http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/07/11/the-most-corrupt-countries-in-the-world/#ixzz394lO2LY5" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/07/11/the-most-corrupt-countries-in-the-world/#ixzz394lO2LY5</a><br />Follow us: <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=deb6QsC_Cr3702adbi-bpO&u=247wallst" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@247wallst on Twitter</a> | <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=deb6QsC_Cr3702adbi-bpO&u=247wallst" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">247wallst on Facebook</a></span><br /> <br /> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong>5. Mexico</strong><br /><strong>> Pct. saying corruption very serious:</strong> 79% (tied for 5th highest)<br /><strong>> Pct. claiming public officials corrupt:</strong> 87% (3rd highest)<br /><strong>> Pct. claiming police corrupt:</strong> 90% (8th highest)<br /><strong>> 2012 GDP per capita:</strong> $15,312</span></div> <div id="dfp-in-text" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div id="google_ads_iframe_/1016069/247WS_Special-Report_In-Text_Box_1_300x250_ATF_0__container__" style="border: 0pt none; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><iframe frameborder="0" height="250" id="google_ads_iframe_/1016069/247WS_Special-Report_In-Text_Box_1_300x250_ATF_0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="google_ads_iframe_/1016069/247WS_Special-Report_In-Text_Box_1_300x250_ATF_0" scrolling="no" style="border-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="300"></iframe></span></div> </div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Globally, 53% of individuals surveyed by Transparency International claimed that corruption had risen in the past two years. However, in Mexico, that figure was 71% as the country’s citizens have become less tolerant of corruption. In addition, 72% of those polled stated the Mexican government was ineffective in fighting corruption, while 78% claimed that having personal contacts was either important or very important in getting the public sector to be helpful. Last year, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) won elections nationwide to return to power despite previous allegations of heavy corruption. In a July 2012 article, Time magazine described corruption as “the stubborn remnant of the PRI’s seven decades of authoritarian rule that is at the heart of the drug lords’ ability to operate in Mexico.”</span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Read more: <a href="http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/07/11/the-most-corrupt-countries-in-the-world/#ixzz394lGka8I" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Most Corrupt Countries in the World - 24/7 Wall St.</a> <a href="http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/07/11/the-most-corrupt-countries-in-the-world/#ixzz394lGka8I" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/07/11/the-most-corrupt-countries-in-the-world/#ixzz394lGka8I</a><br />Follow us: <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=deb6QsC_Cr3702adbi-bpO&u=247wallst" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@247wallst on Twitter</a> | <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=deb6QsC_Cr3702adbi-bpO&u=247wallst" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">247wallst on Facebook</a></span><br /> <br /> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong>6. Paraguay</strong><br /><strong>> Pct. saying corruption very serious:</strong> 79% (tied for 5th highest)<br /><strong>> Pct. claiming public officials corrupt:</strong> 58% (55th highest)<br /><strong>> Pct. claiming police corrupt:</strong> 82% (26th highest)<br /><strong>> 2012 GDP per capita:</strong> $6,136</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In few nations were personal connections considered to be more important than in Paraguay. As many as 88% of the country’s residents said such contacts were important in getting things done within the public sector, a higher proportion than all but two other countries worldwide. This was also the reasoning behind the majority of bribes, with 63% of all such payments going toward speeding up a service. Worse, 78% of residents noted that their government had been either ineffective or very ineffective at fighting corruption, one of the highest proportions worldwide.</span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Read more: <a href="http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/07/11/the-most-corrupt-countries-in-the-world/#ixzz394l2mRjg" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Most Corrupt Countries in the World - 24/7 Wall St.</a> <a href="http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/07/11/the-most-corrupt-countries-in-the-world/#ixzz394l2mRjg" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/07/11/the-most-corrupt-countries-in-the-world/#ixzz394l2mRjg</a><br />Follow us: <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=deb6QsC_Cr3702adbi-bpO&u=247wallst" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@247wallst on Twitter</a> | <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=deb6QsC_Cr3702adbi-bpO&u=247wallst" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">247wallst on Facebook</a></span><br /> <br /> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong>7. Russia</strong><br /><strong>> Pct. saying corruption very serious:</strong> 79% (tied for 5th highest)<br /><strong>> Pct. claiming public officials corrupt:</strong> 92% (the highest)<br /><strong>> Pct. claiming police corrupt:</strong> 89% (10th highest)<br /><strong>> 2012 GDP per capita:</strong> $17,709</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">According to 82% of individuals surveyed, it is important to have personal contacts to get anything done in Russia’s public sector. Additionally, 85% of Russians stated the government was run by just a few large entities for their own best interests. The only two other countries where residents were more likely to feel this way were Lebanon and Cyprus. The latter was known until recently as a haven for Russian oligarchs’ money. These hyper-wealthy individuals often have close political ties, which allowed many to become wealthy during Russia’s post-Soviet privatization.</span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Read more: <a href="http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/07/11/the-most-corrupt-countries-in-the-world/#ixzz394kx4zau" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Most Corrupt Countries in the World - 24/7 Wall St.</a> <a href="http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/07/11/the-most-corrupt-countries-in-the-world/#ixzz394kx4zau" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/07/11/the-most-corrupt-countries-in-the-world/#ixzz394kx4zau</a><br />Follow us: <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=deb6QsC_Cr3702adbi-bpO&u=247wallst" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@247wallst on Twitter</a> | <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=deb6QsC_Cr3702adbi-bpO&u=247wallst" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">247wallst on Facebook</a></span><br /> <br /> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong>8. Nigeria</strong><br /><strong>> Pct. saying corruption very serious:</strong> 78%<br /><strong>> Pct. claiming public officials corrupt:</strong> 69% (28th highest)<br /><strong>> Pct. claiming police corrupt:</strong> 92% (tied for 4th highest)<br /><strong>> 2012 GDP per capita:</strong> $2,720</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In Nigeria, 84% of those surveyed by Transparency International claimed corruption had increased in the past two years, a higher percentage than almost any other country in the world. Troublingly, 75% of those surveyed also said the government was, at best, ineffective at fighting corruption, worse than in all but 10 countries. Nigeria is heavily dependent on the oil industry, yet the government refuses to act on accusations the oil companies underreporting the value of the resources they extract and the tax they owe by billions of dollars. Certain transparency groups also blamed politicians for encouraging corruption. In 2012, Nigeria had just the 37th largest GDP in the world, despite having the world’s seventh largest population.</span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Read more: <a href="http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/07/11/the-most-corrupt-countries-in-the-world/#ixzz394krlULw" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Most Corrupt Countries in the World - 24/7 Wall St.</a> <a href="http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/07/11/the-most-corrupt-countries-in-the-world/#ixzz394krlULw" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/07/11/the-most-corrupt-countries-in-the-world/#ixzz394krlULw</a><br />Follow us: <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=deb6QsC_Cr3702adbi-bpO&u=247wallst" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@247wallst on Twitter</a> | <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=deb6QsC_Cr3702adbi-bpO&u=247wallst" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">247wallst on Facebook</a></span><br /> <br /> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong>9. Zambia</strong><br /><strong>> Pct. saying corruption very serious:</strong> 77%<br /><strong>> Pct. claiming public officials corrupt:</strong> 65% (41st highest)<br /><strong>> Pct. claiming police corrupt:</strong> 92% (tied f0r 4th highest)<br /><strong>> 2012 GDP per capita</strong>: $1,722</span></div> <div id="dfp-in-text" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div id="google_ads_iframe_/1016069/247WS_Special-Report_In-Text_Box_1_300x250_ATF_0__container__" style="border: 0pt none; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><iframe frameborder="0" height="250" id="google_ads_iframe_/1016069/247WS_Special-Report_In-Text_Box_1_300x250_ATF_0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="google_ads_iframe_/1016069/247WS_Special-Report_In-Text_Box_1_300x250_ATF_0" scrolling="no" style="border-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="300"></iframe></span></div> </div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In September 2011, Zambia held elections that resulted in the election of President Michael Sata. Since Sata’s victory, several officials from the past administration, including former President Rupiah Banda, have been arrested for corruption. Complicating matters, many of the corruption allegations relate to government officials receiving improper benefits from Chinese investors, who are unpopular in much of the country yet provide direct investment and jobs. Zambia’s residents are poor, with an estimated GDP per capita of just $1,722 in 2012, versus nearly $50,000 in the United States. An extremely high 85% of residents claimed they had been asked to pay a bribe in the past.</span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Read more: <a href="http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/07/11/the-most-corrupt-countries-in-the-world/#ixzz394klE2O9" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Most Corrupt Countries in the World - 24/7 Wall St.</a> <a href="http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/07/11/the-most-corrupt-countries-in-the-world/#ixzz394klE2O9" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/07/11/the-most-corrupt-countries-in-the-world/#ixzz394klE2O9</a><br />Follow us: <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=deb6QsC_Cr3702adbi-bpO&u=247wallst" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@247wallst on Twitter</a> | <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=deb6QsC_Cr3702adbi-bpO&u=247wallst" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">247wallst on Facebook</a></span></div>

The Most Corrupt Countries in the World

By  Alexander E.M. Hess  and  Michael B. Sauter More than half of the world’s population believes corruption in the public sector is a v...

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