Corruption in Nigeria: An Impediment to National Development in the Fourth Republic

Abstract

Corruption has become a pervasive social phenomenon in Nigeria. It has
become institutionalized in the country’s political life. Previous civilian
administration of Alhaji Shehu Shagari and the military regimes of General
Ibrahim Babangida and General Sanni Abacha were beset with
unprecedented corrupt practices. With the return of democratic rule in May
1999, there were high expectations that the new democratic dispensation
would address the menace of corruption that bedeviles the polity. It is very
unfortunate that since the return of civil rule, the incidence of corruption
has reached dangerous proportion. This study therefore aims at x-raying
these corrupt practices that infest the country and determines its impact on
national development. The study is based on content analysis that relies on
the use of secondary data as its source of information. The findings reveal
that infrastructural decay, poverty and poor management of public
enterprises, human capital flight among others are the impact of corruption
on the present democratic dispensation. It therefore, recommends among
others that civil society organizations should organize workshops for
Nigeria’s political leaders to facilitate complete change of attitude towards
corruption. The culture of credible and accountable governance must be
instilled in the olitical leaders at all levels.