INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (IJEFM )

E-ISSN 2545-5966
P-ISSN 2695-1932
VOL. 10 NO. 2 2025
DOI: 10.56201/ijefm.v10.no2.2025.pg58.77


Corruption and Its Implication for Development in Nigeria

Fiebai, Dauebi, Michael Baghebo PhD, Emmanuel Nathan PhD


Abstract


The economic sector of Nigeria has shown continuous growth throughout the past twenty years. Researchers utilized ARDL techniques for analyzing corruption and economic development patterns within Nigeria from 1990 to 2023 while investigating both immediate-term and long- lasting relationships of corruption on development. Public spending and economic growth produce positive and statistically significant effects on economic development in the short run and long run according to the results because their coefficients remain positive and their respective probability values fall below 5 percent significance. The analysis reveals that corruption lag values produce negative findings which demonstrate a negative impact of national corruption on country development through t-statistic and probability tests during the long duration. The persistent rise of corruption will continue to generate harmful impacts on Nigerian living standards as well as health services and education together with international relations and beyond. Research findings demonstrate that corruption generates adverse effects which harm Nigeria’s economic development at both time horizons. The study advises decentralizing the corruption fighting efforts through state-based investigations to proceed with state-based corruption cases. The states need to add studies about corruption to their primary and secondary school curricula to teach children the origins and implications of corruption as part of creating better future minds.


keywords:

Corruption, Human development index, Nigeria, Government expenditure


References:


Abata, A. M., & Adejuwon, K. D. (2012). Accountability and transparency in public financial
management in Nigeria: Challenges and prospects. International Journal of Marketing
and Technology, 2(5), 14–33.
Abiola, F. (2019 December 8). Six former governors who have been jailed for corruption. The
Nation. https://thenationonlineng.net/six-former-governors-who-have-been-jailed-for-
corruption/
Abimbola, P. O. (2006). Eradication of corruption from the Nigerian economy. In B. Aboyade &
S. Ayodele (Eds.), Fighting corruption in Nigeria: Challenges for the future (pp. 175–
183). Ibadan.
Abucar, M. H. (1986). The socio-economic structure and rationalization of corruption in a semi
peripheral society. In F. Odekunle (Ed.), Nigeria: Corruption in development (pp. 242–
254). Ibadan University PressAburime, T. U. (2009). Impact of corruption on bank
profitability in Nigeria. Euro Economica, 2(23), 50–57.
Aburime, T. (2009). Impact of corruption on bank profitability in Nigeria. EuroEconomica ,
issue 2(23), 50-57
Adenike, E. T. (2013). An econometric analysis of the impact of corruption on economic growth
in Nigeria. Journal of Business Management and Economics, 4(3), 54–65.
Adebayo, E.O. (2008). An econometrics analysis of determinants of corruption in a corruptible
environment: Evidence from Nigeria. In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference
on Socio-Economic Policies and Millennium Development Goals (MGDs) in Africa (pp.
125–134).
Agu, B.O. & Nwankwo, S.N.P. (2018). Responsiveness of economic growth to saving and
investment in Nigeria. Research Journal of Financial Sustainability Reporting, vol 3 no 2
50 – 116.
Akers, R. L. & Sellers, C. S. (2008).Criminological theories: Introduction, evaluation and
application. New York: Oxford University Press.
Aluthge, C., Jibril, A. & Abu, M. (2021). The impact of government expenditure on economic
growth in Nigeria, 1970 – 2019. CBN Journal of Applied Statistics, vol 12, 1, 139-174.
Anti-Corruption Law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (2000)
Attah, A. P., Baba, E. I. & Haruna, P. O. (2019) Corruption and its impact on the socio-
economic development of Nigeria. Journal of Good Governance and Sustainable
Development in Africa (JGGSDA), vol. 4, no 4, 62-69.
Bamgboye, P.O. (2018). The negative impact of corruption on development in Nigeria. Research
on Humanities and Social Sciences vol.8, no.6, 108 – 112.
Benedict, E. T. (2022). The implication of corruption on sustainable development in Africa:
(Using Nigeria as a case study), Young African Leaders Journal of Development: vol. 4,
Article 7, 79 – 86.
Chandana, A., Adamu, J. & Musa, A. (2021). Impact of Government Expenditure on Economic
Growth in Impact of Government Expenditure on Economic Growth in Nigeria, 1970-
CBN Journal of Applied Statistics vol. 12No. 1 139-174.
Doig, A, (2009). The corruption of British politics and public service. Journal of Law and
Society: vol 23 pp 36 – 56.
Ejekwonyilo, A. (2024, March 1). Corruption in Nigeria judiciary is extensive – UN. Premium
Times. https//www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/673568- corruption-in-nigeria-
judiciary-is-intensive-unodc.html?tztc=1
Ekiyor, H.A. (2009). Corruption in local government administration: An historical summary as
found in local government administration: Old and new version
Ele, I. S. (2021 August 22). 20 corrupt cases dragging in court. Daily Trust.
https://dailytrust.com/20-corruption-cases-dragging-in-court/
Enweremadu, D. U. (2012) Introduction: Corruption in Nigeria—A Historical Challenge. Anti-
Corruption Campaign: In Nigeria (1999-2007): The Politics of Failed Reform, IFRA-
Nigeria.
Erhieyovwo, E. K., & Onokero, I. I. (2013). Corruption, foreign direct investment and its impact
on the exchange rate of the Nigerian economy. Mediterranean Journal of Social Science,
4(3), 345–350.
Hirschi, T. (1969).Causes of delinquency. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Ikeh, G. (2024, November 18). World Bank detect $32 million unaccounted fund in Nigeria
water project. Agence de Presse Africaine https:// apanews.net/world-bank-detect-32m-
unaccounted-fund-in-nigeria-water-project/
Johnny, N. & Ayawei, M. J. (2020). Effect of corruption on employment in Nigeria: An
empirical investigation. International Journal of Development and Economic
Sustainability, vol 8, no 3, 32-46
Khan, M. H. (1996). A typology of corrupt transaction in developing countries. IDS Bulletin,
27(2).
Lilly, J.R., Cullen, F.T. & Ball, R.A.(2007).Criminological theory: Context and consequences.
Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Makar, T. A., Ngutsav, A., Ijirshar, V.U. & Ayaga, J. M. (2023) Impact of corruption on
economic growth: An empirical evidence from Nigeria. Journal of Public Administration,
Finance and Law issue 27, 245 -276.
Mbaegbu, D. (2017). Endemic corruption in high places and mass poverty in Nigeria: A threat to
sustainable development goals (SDGs). Research Journal of Humanities, Legal Studies &
International Development vol. 2, no. 1, 64 – 149.
Mathew, R.E., Barnabas, O., Lawal, A. & Joseph, O. (2013). Analysis of corruption and
economic growth in Nigeria. Afro Asian Journal of Social Sciences. vol. 4, no. 4. 2
Quarter II 1-19.
National Bureau of Statistics (2023). Nigeria gross domestic quarterly report.
Nnaemeka, N. (2021). Does corruption matter for unemployment? Investigating the role of
bribery, favouritism and nepotism corrupt practices in employment, evidence from
Nigeria. Journal of Developing Economies, 3(1), 32–50.
Ogar, A., Eyo, I. E. & Oka Felix Arikpo, O.F. (2019). Public expenditure and economic growth
in Nigeria: Var approach. European Journal of Economics and Financial Research, vol
3, No 3 36 – 57.
Oghuvbu, E. A. (2021). Political corruption and economic development in Nigeria. Journal of
Public Administration, Finance and Law. Issue 20, 250 -261.
Oloni E. (2013). The impact of economic growth on employment in Nigeria. International
Business and Management 6(1):113-119 DOI: 10.3968/j.ibm.1923842801.1145
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. (2017). Annual statistical bulletin.
Rotimi, M.E., Ise-Olorunkanmi, O.J., Rotimi G.G. & Doorasamy M. (2021) Re-examining
corruption and economic growth nexus in oil dependent economy: Nigeria’s
case. Journal of Money Laundering Control. 25(3):526-539.
Raimi, L., Suara, I.B. & Fadipe, A.O. (2013). Role of economic and financial crimes commission
(EFCC) and independent corrupt practices & other related offences commission (ICPC)
at ensuring accountability and corporate governance in Nigeria. Journal of Business
Administration and Education; 3(2):54-78
Rotimi, M. E., Umar, P. A. & Doorasamy, M. (2022) Corruption dynamics and economic growth
in Nigeria. From the edited volume Corruption – New Insights, edited by Josiane Fahed-
Sreih
Sunkanmi, O.A. & Isola, A.L. (2014) Corruption and economic growth in Nigeria. Journal of
Economics and Sustainable Development, vol.5, no.6, 45 – 56.
Tanzi, V. & Davoodi, H. (1997) Corruption, Growth and Public Finances. IMF Working Paper.
Available from: http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/wp97139.pdf
Taylor, T. (2010) Corruption and liberation: The experience of Nigeria. Decaritas Journal of
Management and Social Sciences, 2(3), 1-9.
Transparency International (2013). Corruption Perception Index
Transparency International (2023). Corruption Perception Index.
Weidman, J.C. (2007). Quantifying the relationship between corruption and education and
economic development in Eastern Europe and Euroasia region: A feasibility study.
Institute for international studies in education, university of Pittsburg.
World-Bank (1997). Helping developing countries combat corruption: The role of the World
Bank. New York, Oxford University Press Crimes in Nigeria, p. 39-51.


DOWNLOAD PDF

Back


Google Scholar logo
Crossref logo
ResearchGate logo
Open Access logo
Google logo