Sextortion and Institutional Integrity in Nigeria: Insights from Public Institutions in Osun State

Abstract

Sextortion in Nigeria reflects a complex interplay of socioeconomic inequality, gender power relations, institutional weakness, gender inequality and the patriarchal system. It undermines educational institutions' integrity, erodes public trust, creates a bad image, and perpetuates gender-based violence and violence against women in all sectors. Drawing on the institutional theory of corruption, the paper argued that sextortion impedes progress and weakens organisational performance with consequences for governance. This empirical paper examined the perceptions of participants on sextortion in the public sector in Nigeria through semi-structured interviews with selected key informants in Osun State. Participants' lived experiences indicated a pervasive phenomenon that has been normalised as institutional culture. Sextortion as a behavioural issue undermines institutional ethics. Thus, the paper suggested that addressing this phenomenon requires a rethink of the culture of corruption and its economic consequences, which mirror the structural and institutional dimension of the problem. This will also include legal reforms, institutional accountability, gender-sensitive policies, and cultural transformations.