Nigeria’s Development Conundrum: The Interplay Between Corruption, Economy, and Social Welfare (A Politico-Economy Analysis)

Abstract

Nigeria continues to experience severe developmental challenges despite its abundant natural and human resources, largely due to the persistent problem of corruption. This study examined the relationship between corruption, economic development, and social welfare within Nigeria’s political economy framework. The study specifically investigated how corruption affects economic growth, social welfare, and governance structures in Nigeria. A mixed-method research design was adopted using secondary macroeconomic data from the World Bank, IMF, and National Bureau of Statistics, alongside primary data collected through 400 questionnaires distributed across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, of which 307 were returned and analysed. Descriptive statistics, correlation, regression analysis, and thematic analysis were employed. Findings revealed that corruption significantly reduces economic productivity, discourages investment, weakens institutional performance, and limits access to essential social services such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure. The study further revealed that institutional failure, rent-seeking behaviour, and weak accountability mechanisms contribute to governance breakdown and declining public trust. The study concludes that corruption remains a major barrier to sustainable development and social welfare improvement in Nigeria. The paper recommends stronger institutional accountability, transparency reforms, and increased investment in public service delivery to strengthen governance and national development