Proceedings of the 2nd (Hybrid) International Conference, Faculty of Social Sciences, Niger Delta University, Held on March 13, 2024
March, 2024
Pages 402-419
DOI: 10.36108/wjss/ConfP.2024.023
LEADERSHIP-CORRUPTION NEXUS IN PUBLIC SECTOR GOVERNANCE IN NIGERIA
Prince Beteh Barisuka, Winifred Idubamo Gagariga and Ambily Etekpe
Abstract
Democracy is considered the most ideal form of government in the modern world as it encourages participation of every segment and strata of the society to engender good governance. This is, however, not the case in Nigeria, in particular, and Africa in general due to bad leadership entanglement with corruption. This has resulted in diminishing dividends of democracy with its attendant negative effects on human security and unsustainable development. The study aimed at examining leaders that have subjected themselves to diverse forms of corruption have been responsible for the crisis of development and underdevelopment of Nigeria between 1999 and 2022. It adopted the two public theories as theoretical framework, and applied a combination of survey and desktop methods of data collection. It found that vested interest of political leaders have promoted different forms and types of corruption to manipulate instruments and institutions of government to become ineffective. In consequences, the electorates have not experienced dividends of democracy and clamoring for another forms of government. The study concluded that the crisis of governance is instigated by the political leadership subjecting themselves to corruption, and recommended capital punishment as crime for those found guilty of corruption charges to serve as deterrence.
Keywords: Corruption, democracy, development, good governance, and leadership