Nigerian Public Sector Corruption against Social Development: Empirical Cases and Remarks

This study examines the social causes and effects of corruption on the Nigerian public sector. The study applies the qualitative research method where 19 cases were selected purposively from the Nigerian public sector. Some of the selected cases are key regulatory Federal Government agencies, Education sector, Judiciary, Internal Affairs Ministry and four NGOs such as the Nigerian Labour Congress, Nigeria Bar Association, CSO members and Legal Practitioners. In-depth interviews were conducted across all the selected cases in 2014 and the study used a thematic approach for data analysis. Results showed that some of the civil servants and political office holders embarked on corrupt behavior as a result of a number of causes. However, the study under context limits its finding only on social causes of corruption and the effects. The corrupt behavior exerts its effects on the social institutions, causes a downturn in the people’s well-being and the country’s development at large. The findings serve as guidelines for policy-makers and investors. While this research focused on Nigeria, the implication is universal in scope.