Integrity Journal of Arts and Humanities

Corruption is often recognized as a global issue, yet its intensity varies significantly across different regions. A major challenge confronting many developing nations, including Nigeria, is the pervasive nature of corruption, which substantially hinders progress. In Nigeria, this issue has become so ingrained that it permeates the very structure of society. Previous governments, both civilian and military, have attempted to implement measures to combat this problem. Currently, various institutions have been established specifically to eliminate corruption. However, the issue persists, largely because those leading the fight against corruption are frequently implicated in it themselves. Therefore, this study aims to explore the effects of corruption on Nigeria's national development. Theoretically, the study adopted the Prebendal theory. The study, being qualitative in nature, exclusively relied on secondary data sources such as academic journals, newspaper articles, and government statistics from the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Transparency International, historical records like government reports and official documents as well as internet sources. This study establishes that the most devastating challenge that has threatened economic growth and sustainable development in Nigeria is corruption. This realism explains the fact that since 1999 after twenty-four years into civilian rule, massive corruption, absence of political openness, transparency, accountability, electoral rigging, god-fatherism etc holds sway in the polity, coupled with huge incidences of poverty, inequality, unemployment and poor social infrastructure. This study posits that corruption severely obstructs national development by negatively influencing essential sectors such as education, health, electricity, transportation, and infrastructure. It recognizes that the repercussions of corruption encompass various issues, including sluggish economic growth, inadequate infrastructure progress, inefficient utilization of human and natural resources, distorted policy frameworks, ineffective policy implementation, significant public fund misappropriation, and reduced Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). The paper ultimately concludes that, despite its global prevalence, corruption is fundamentally detrimental to development in all respects. It advocates for a reassessment of existing legal structures and emphasizes the need for reform and strengthening of anti-corruption bodies like the police, judiciary, EFCC, ICPC, and SERVICOM to minimize administrative conflicts, enhance cost-effectiveness, ensure independence from executive control, and promote optimal operational efficiency.