Nigeria’s global image has taken another battering, dropping two places to rank 142nd out of 182 countries in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).

The report, released on Tuesday by Transparency International, assigns Nigeria a dismal score of 26 out of 100—far below the global average of 43. This stagnation has triggered a fierce reaction from the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), which warns that the country is losing the war against graft not for lack of laws, but for lack of political will.

Stagnation is Regression

Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), the Executive Director of CISLAC, described the results as a "national embarrassment." Speaking in Abuja, he noted that while the score remained unchanged from 2024, the drop in ranking signifies that other nations are improving while Nigeria stands still in the muck of corruption.

"The level of corruption going on in various public institutions is worrisome," Rafsanjani declared. He pinpointed the judiciary, health, power, and procurement sectors as the "epicenters" of the rot. "If you look at the corruption in the judiciary, Nigerians are losing hope and confidence in getting any justice, because people believe that justice is for sale."

The Cost of Corruption

The CISLAC boss drew a direct line between the CPI ranking and the daily suffering of Nigerians.

• The Subsidy Mirage: He criticized the management of subsidy savings, noting that despite the government's promise that removing the fuel subsidy would improve lives, there is "no credible data" to show where the trillions have gone.
• Security Failure: "Nigerians are losing their lives on a daily basis courtesy of corruption," he lamented, citing diverted funds meant for arms and ammunition.
• Health Sector Collapse: The "dead" health sector was flagged as a victim of procurement fraud, where money budgeted for drugs and equipment disappears into private pockets.

A Call to Arms

CISLAC’s message was not just a lamentation but a call to action. Rafsanjani urged citizens to stop being passive spectators. "Citizens must act responsibly, avoid criminal activities, and pay taxes," he said, arguing that moral authority is required to demand accountability. He also defended the existence of the EFCC and ICPC, warning that without these imperfect institutions, "criminality would be more than overwhelming."

As Nigeria prepares for another political cycle, the 2025 CPI serves as a grim mirror. The question is whether the leadership will look into it and flinch, or simply look away as the country slides further down the list.