CORRUPTION AND DEMOCRATIC SUSTAINABILITY IN NIGERIA, 2007-2017

Abstract

Corruption, especially political and financial corruption, has fraught and impedes efforts of government towards socio-economic development in Nigeria. The rate, at which public funds are looted, siphoned and mismanaged with impunity calls for serious concern. This study therefore examined the effects of political and governmental corruption on the sustenance of Nigeria’s democratic rule between 2007 and 2017. Content analytical method was adopted to ascertain the consequences of corruption on the development of Nigeria’s economy through the review of secondary data, such as write-ups from textbooks, journals, and internet materials, periodicals and quarterly magazines. The theory of prebendalism was adopted for the study. Prebendalism espouses the reasons why corruption, be it, political, bureaucratic, economic or financial is on the increase in Nigeria. Findings revealed that greed, quests for power to perpetuate self in governance breeds all forms of corrupt acts in government circles. Recommendations were made that leaders with vision should be elected or appointed; that those in leadership positions should lead with the spirit of patriotism and sense of objectivity so as to move the country to next level of social and economic transformation.