BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ON CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA POLITICAL SYSTEM

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Political corruption is not a recent phenomenon that per4vades the Nigerian state. Since the creation of modern public administration in the country, there have been cases of official misuse of resource for personal enrichment. Nigeria ranked 139th out of 176 countries in Transparency international. The rise of public administration and the discovery of petroleum and natural gas are two major events seen to have led to a litary of ignoble corrupt practices in the country. Over the years, the country has seen if wealth withered with little for show in living condition of the average human being.

The pervasive corruption has been blamed on colonialism, according to this view; the nation colonial history may have restricted any early influence in an ethical revolution. Throughout   the colonel; period, most Nigerians were stuck in ignorance and poverty. The trapping of flash cars, houses and success of the colonist as symbols of success and to emulate the colonial. This view is what has degenerated for into the more recent disregarded for public property and lack of public trust and concern for public goods as a collection.

Corruption also generates economic distortions in the public sector by diverting public investment into capital projects where bribes and kickbacks are more plentiful. Officials may increase the technical complexity of public sector projects to conceal such dealings, thus further distorting investment. Corruption also lowers quality of standards of compliance with construction, environmental or other regulations. It reduces the quality of government services and infrastructure and increases budgetary pressures on government. This may be the reason the federal government still finds it quite difficult to balance its annual budgets, despite the unprecedented surge in oil revenues following hikes in oil prices over time. In the private sector, corruption increases the cost of business through illicit payments, high cost of negotiating with officials and the risk of breached agreements or detection. Although some claim corruption reduces costs by cutting red tape, an emerging consensus holds that the availability of bribes induces officials to contrive new rules and perpetrate delays. Corruption is found in democratic and dictatorial politics; feudal, capitalist and socialist economies. Christian, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist cultures are equally bedeviled by corruption. Corruption and corrupt practices did not begin today; the history is as old as the world history. Ancient civilizations have traces of widespread illegality and corruption. Thus, corruption has been ubiquitous in complex societies from ancient Egypt, Israel, Rome, and Greece down to the present. This does not, however, mean that the magnitude of corruption is equal in every society; some countries are more corrupt than others.

Since corruption is not new, and since it is a global phenomenon, it is not peculiar to Nigeria. However, corruption is pandemic in Nigeria as well as in several other African, and Asian nations; the leaders as well as the followers are equally corrupt. Consequently, it has defied all the necessary medicines. It is however, against the background of this study that an attempt is being made to investigate bibliographic information on corruption in Nigeria political system.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The issue of the upsurge of corruption in Nigeria undoubtedly remains one of the most pressing and unresolved problems facing Nigeria as a nation. The prevalence of corruption and corrupt practices in Nigeria particularly among the leaders is absolutely deplorable and troubling, considering its astronomical damages on Nigerian polity. The peril of corruption could be felt from the slow movement of files in offices, police perennial extortion points along our major and indoor roads and tollgates, slow traffics on the highways, port congestion, queues at the passport offices and gas stations, ghost workers syndrome and election irregularities. The chaos caused by corruption in this country could be recognized even by a newly born baby. The funds allocated for their welfare disappear into the thin air. Thus, it is believed by many that in the society that corruption is a bane of Nigeria. Consequently, the issue keeps reoccurring in every academic and informal discussion in Nigeria. Some writers on corruption argued that corruption is endemic in all governments, and that it is not peculiar to any continent, region, ethnic and racial group. Thus it is upon this premise that this study seeks to examine the patter and trends of corruption in Nigeria Political System.

1.3 Objective of the Study

The main focus of this study is to examine the  bibliographic information on corruption in Nigeria political system. Specifically the study seeks: 1. To appraise the nature  and causes of corruption in Nigeria

2. To examine critically different trends and patterns of corruption in different administration

3. To determine the prospect to corruption

1.4 Research Question

1.       What is  the nature  and causes of corruption in Nigeria?

2.       What are the different trends and patterns of corruption in Nigeria political administration?

3.       What are  the prospect to corruption?

1.5 Significance Of The Study

In view of the devastating effects of corruption, this paper examines the causes and effects on the Nigeria states and probable solutions were proffered. Many factors are adduced to have been responsible for this ugly trend; amongst which is the institutional factors. The effects are manifest in the decay infrastructure and decline in people‟s trust and this call for concerted efforts so as to checkmate and eliminate corruption in Nigeria. Findings from the study will enable the various agencies established with intelligence on how to fight corruption. In addition, this study would aid in securing the needs of prospective researchers or students in the areas of secondary data collection and also would serve as reference in their research activities.

1.6 Scope of the Study

The scope of this study borders on bibliographic information on corruption in Nigeria political system. The study will examine the pattern and trend of corruption in specific administration.The study is however delimited to Nigeria first to  fourth republic.

1.7 Methodology Of The Study

The researcher followed the accepted rules of the qualitative research method in order to offer a high-quality work. The usual analytical and description of authors contribution and evidence was used in the qualitative method. The researcher began the study by examining and studying the facts in the secondary sources that were pertinent to the study's scope and context. Notes were meticulously taken during the data collection course to allow the researcher to understand the major ideas and important elements of the materials gathered, as well as the perspectives and conclusions of authors whose works were indispensable to the study.

In examining the study, secondary sources were utilized as part of the study requirement, the researcher began by reviewing the required secondary documents such as articles, contemporary newspapers, journals, and magazines, as well as those available on the internet, were also consulted.