Abstract:
Abstract
Political corruption among other factors is one of the major clogs militating against
Nigeria‟s quest for growth and development. It is a paralysis of our economy. We all
know it exists. We birthed and nurtured it. It now stood unconquered in our social and
economic lives despite all the fights against it. It is the fundamental reason for Nigeria's
poor economic performance despite our globally acknowledged economic potential as
one the largest economies in the world amid massive corruption, increasing rate of
graduates‟ unemployment, infant and child mortality, poverty, and so on. The fight must
be won to enable Nigeria to take her rightful place among the comity of nations. This paper
examined political corruption, growth and development in Nigeria. It focused on the 2nd
republic (1979-83); 3rd and 4th republic (1999-2007); 5th and 6th republic (2007-2014).
The method adopted is historical research, and analysis from the platform of Bonger‟s
economic theory of crime. The paper finds that political corruption has eaten deep into
the fabric of our society. It is also systemic and militating greatly against Nigeria's growth
and development. The paper recommends the welfarist/socialist alternative
economic system for Nigeria against the capitalist alternative; bridging gaps in our
constitution on sections that aid and abet corrupt practices among others.
