ABSTRACT
The study examines interrogating bureaucratic corruption as impediment to national development.
Qualitative data of data collection was used in the study. In view of this, data were generated from secondary source materials. Data used in this research were sourced from relevant text materials. These include texts, journals, magazines, past project relating to this study, archives, publications of research work and internet. The content analysis was adopted in this research.
The study revealed that; There are structures that determines Nigerian bureaucratic system; corruption in Nigeria has a negative impact on the economy development; There is corruption in Nigeria bureaucratic system; bureaucratic corruption has effect on national development.
The study concluded that, bureaucratic corruption has a negative effect on the national development of Nigeria. The study further recommended that; The government should introduce transparency and accountability in government functions, particularly in all financial transaction; The government should encourage a free press and electronic media to forcefully report to the public on corrupt; The organize civil society to address the problems of corruption by the process of transparency; The government should introduce watch-dog agencies- anti-corruption bureaus, inspectors general and auditors general who will identify corrupt practices and bring them to public attention; Introduce similar anti-bribery clauses into contracts relating to privatizations of government enterprises and the development of natural resources; Government should take up the challenge of managing pension funds in all sectors of its economy; New recruitment measures should be adopted in all sectors of the nations economy.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
The pride of any government is the attainment of higher value level of development in such a way that its citizens would derive natural attachment to governance. However, for a nation to be in a phase of development there must be some prerequisites, which include socio-political and economic stability (Lawal and Abe, 2011). Bureaucracy is the institutional mechanism for carrying out the functions and responsibilities of the state, and it is the vehicle for administering the state based on hierarchy, rules, regulations, and orders, and helps to translate the vision of the leadership into reality. Public officers who work in the bureaucracy are active bureaucrats whose actions either promote or hinder good governance. In Nigeria, bureaucratic corruption is usually associated with the activities of bureaucrats, and takes the form of buying favor from bureaucrats who formulate and implement government policies (Lawal & Tobi, 2006).
Provision of essential public services through implementation of government’s programs and policies is the core object of public bureaucracy. But whether (and the extent to which) the service production and delivery conforms to ethical standard and guarantees citizens’ satisfaction is subject to bureaucratic environment. Public bureaucracy must function well to enable an effective and efficient service delivery system. The effective functioning of government bureaucracies entails available and accessible incentives for the autonomy of the bureaucrats. However, to have a good deal of discretion in decision-making entrusted to bureaucrats, they must have the professional ethics (Ukeje, Ogbulu, Eze, Ekwunife, Obi and Obasi, 2019).
Corruption is efforts to secure wealth or power through illegal means for private gain at public expense; or a misuse of public power for private benefit. Corruption like cockroaches has co-existed with human society for a long time and remains as one of the problems in many of the world’s developing economies with devastating consequences. Corruption as a phenomenon, is a global problem, and exists in varying degrees in different countries. Corruption is not only found in democratic and dictatorial politics, but also in feudal, capitalist and socialist economies. Christian, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist cultures are equally bedeviled by corruption (Alege, Adamu & Muhammad, 2014).
Corruption has been a major problem of the Nigerian society. According to Lawal and Tobi (2006), different political leaders in Nigeria have at one time or another instituted some form of anticorruption measures, but to no avail. Good governance cannot be attained in a chronically corrupt political leadership structure because, as Lawal and Tobi postulated that corruption violates public trust and deviate from high moral standard in exchange or anticipation of personal and pecuniary gains at the expense of the common good. Good infrastructure is required to spur good governance in order for people to realize their pursuit of happiness (Lawal & Tobi, 2006).
In Nigeria, corruption has placed a huge barrier on the path to individual rights to liberty, equality, justice, and national development, and has been blamed for the failure of the nation to provide employment, eradicate poverty, develop infrastructure, and institute good public governance. Corruption, lack of political will, and the absence of probity, accountability, and transparency are partly responsible for the failure of the previous development plans in Nigeria (Onolememen, 2015).
There are several factors causing bureaucratic corruption in Nigeria, which includes bureaucratic structure of the public service, lack of value and desire for financial advancement (Lawal & Tobi, 2006). It can be said that bureaucratic corruption is an obstacle to good governance and poses a serious threat to the efficient management of resources and the improvement of the well-being of the people. Ogbuagu, Ubi, and Effiom (2014) pointed out that there is a relationship between infrastructural decay in Nigeria and bureaucratic corruption, and argued that beyond lack of funds, corruption is principally responsible for the level of infrastructural decay in Nigeria (Onolememen, 2015). Lawal and Tobi (2006) stated that bureaucratic corruption has not only denied the Nigerian people good infrastructure, but has also distorted incentives, undermined institutions, and redistributed wealth and power to the undeserving without adding value to the nation’s economy and development. These ill-fate gotten from bureaucratic corruption is the center focal for this study.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
IOne of the greatest challenges facing the efficiency of Nigeria bureaucratic system is corruption. Nigeria is blessed with both human and natural resources necessary for development and progress but its citizens are still languishing in poverty due to corrupt practices. Thus, corruption is the major obstacle to the national development is inhibited by corruption which results in slow economic growth, reduced investment, low educational attainment, etc. corruption is prevalent in the public sector of the Nigeria state and manifests itself primarily through tender, fraud, nepotism, favoritism, lack of accountability and bribes. The corruption in the bureaucratic system in Nigeria characteristically signifies an indication that Nigerian is functioning poorly and there is urgent need for reformation. Therefore, this study intends to examine the effect of bureaucratic corruption on national development and to give recommendation on how to curb corruption among the bureaucratic system in Nigeria.
1.3 Research Objectives
The study aims at examine the effect of bureaucratic corruption on the national development.
- Highlight the structure of Nigerian bureaucratic system;
- Discuss concept and causes of corruption in Nigeria;
- Analyzes causes of corruption in Nigeria bureaucratic system;
- discusses the effects of bureaucratic corruption on national development;
- profound recommendations on how to curb corruption in Nigeria bureaucratic system for national development.
1.4 Research Questions
This study seeks to proffer answers to the following questions:
- what is the structure of Nigerian bureaucratic system;
- what are the concept and causes of corruption in Nigeria;
- what are causes of corruption in Nigeria bureaucratic system;
- to what extent does the bureaucratic corruption affects national development;
- how can corruption in Nigeria bureaucratic system curb for national development.
1.5 Scope of the Study
In order to achieve the stated objectives, this study will be narrowed down to the study of Nigeria bureaucratic system, the issue of corruption within the system and how it affected national development in Nigeria. The period under study is well-defined in scope from the Fourth Republic in 1999 to the year 2019.
1.6 Significance of the Study
Few studies have been conducted on the effect of bureaucratic corruption on national development in Nigeria. This study, therefore, has the potential to make a contribution to the on-going research on how to curb corruption and to ensure national development in Nigeria. The findings of this study provide a framework on ways to improve leadership within bureaucratic system and in general. It will also produce a comprehensive recommendation on how to curb corruption in Nigeria bureaucratic system for national development. The study will also be useful to sociologists, economists, political science, history students and international law students, researchers especially experts in international relations and organization as well as in relevant fields.
1.7 Research Methodology
The study shall adopt the historical research method. Further information will be sourced from both primary and secondary sources. The primary source shall include oral in-depth interviews, government archival documents and de classified diplomatic cables. The secondary sources shall include academic research journals, newspaper reports, published texts and web sources.
1.8 Operational Definition of Terms
Bureaucracy: A body of non elective government officials or an administrative policymaking group.
Corruption: According to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, corruption is defined as dishonesty which encompasses deceitfulness, fraudulence, lying, untruthfulness, treachery and duplicity.
Bureaucratic corruption: Corruption instituted or committed by government officials.
Development: Development is essential and critical to growth and sustenance of any country.
National Development: The term national development is very comprehensive. It includes all aspects of the life of an individual and the nation. It is holistic in approach. It is a process of reconstruction and development in various dimensions of a nation and development of individuals.
