<p>Nigeria should have one of West Africa’s most powerful economies. However, it is positioned as a low to middle income country, hampered by high (youth) unemployment, poor educational performance, inefficient law enforcement and a weak health care system. These key public service institutions (education, law enforcement and healthcare) are undermined by a lack of transparency that aids corruption throughout. During elections the ‘war against corruption’ has been presented as a priority, however, the fight has proved ineffective. This is not surprising given the criticism that political opponents were more often the subject of investigation than those within the ruling party. Rather than add to the literature on grand corruption our contribution considers the lesser researched area of corruption at the work-floor, facilitated by the dilapidated state of the equipment and infrastructure, arrears of salaries and absenteeism of staff. Our analysis of secondary data concludes that the system of service provision in these three areas is hampered by negligent management in which fraud, general social laxity and indiscipline thrive. These shortcomings are aggravated by what is called the ‘ghost worker syndrome’: non-existing workers on the payroll of these services. Circumstances in which infrastructure and personnel have been neglected have lessened resistance to corruption as demoralised staff seek ways of making ends meet. Able to justify their abusive conduct, there has been a normalisation of bribery. We conclude that addressing these deficiencies can improve morale and reduce the need for employees to seek ways in which to illegally supplement their incomes.</p>