Corruption and Democratic Governance in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic: Myths and Reality

Abstract

Corruption has continued to pose a formidable obstacle to the development and sustenance of the democracy project in Nigeria. For about twenty years now, the democratic journey has remained tortuous because of the reckless pursuits of power by the political class. The cancer of corruption devastatingly destroys the fabric of national existence in Nigeria. The paper examines the prevalence of corruption and its impacts in the process of democratic governance in Nigeria. It argues that corruption has affected democratic governance with serious consequences for the development of the nation. Such consequences include the diversion of resources; poor budget implementation, looting the public treasury and rigging elections, among others. The capture theory of politics is adopted to explain the nature and character of politicians in Nigeria, especially how they use political power or office to corruptly capture the state for their own pecuniary and particularistic interest, which runs contrary to national interest. The paper thus recommends the need to demonetize politics by making appointments into the parliament a part-time job; strengthening institutions and agencies of anti-corruption and democracy and intensifying awareness campaigns by especially Civil Society Organizations, with emphasis on oversight and monitoring the activities of the executive and legislative institutions in the country.