Corruption and Socio-economic Development in Nigeria: A Sociological Perspectives

Abstract

For the fact that in Nigeria corruption has become a social epidemic and economic pathology to the extent that those who claim to be right physicians as the previous and current revelation have shown, have ironically come out as patients of the disease. Thus the paper attempts to determine the socio-economic determinate of corruption, using contents analysis to explain it. Sociological perspective of Functionalists and Marxist paradigms were used. It also argues that Nigeria’s socio-economic failure due to corruption can be easily recognized when we compare her with huge populous, ethnically diverse-rich nations. The idea of sustainable socio-economic development is predicted on the creation of healthy, societies that can sustain the present generation as well as those that follows through the judicious use of economic, environmental and cultural resources which have always been a mirage due to persistent corruption. Having observed the strong relationship between corruption and socio-economic development in Nigeria, the paper concludes that corruption is a national disaster that has eaten so deep into the entire fabric of the Nigerian society, it confers undue benefits on few people contrary to legal and moral norms of the society. in addition to its contagious and incurable infection, it undermines authority’s effort to provide welfare for all citizens as the resources to do this are in the hands or at the reach of no fewer than 1% of the population. the paper therefore recommends that “institutional approach “ and” no sacred cow” are the only antidotes that can fight this monster called corruption. the fight must be a genuine and collective one, if Nigerian’s desired economic and democratic growth and this can only be possible by a determined, blunt, firm and resolved leadership and followership.