An Assessment of causes and consequences of corruption on Nigeria Economy(1998 -2009)

CHAPTER ONE

BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

1.1   INTRODUCTION

1.2    All state whether benevolent or repressive control the distribution of valuable benefit and the imposition of onerous costs. The distribution of the benefit and cost is generally under the control of public official who possess discretionary power. Private individuals and firms who want favourable treatment may be willing to pay to obtain it. Payments are corruption if they are illegally made to public agents with the goal of obtaining a benefit or avoiding a cost. Corruption is not only peculiar to Nigeria but it's scope and impact in and on Nigeria have reached an alarming and embarrassing proportion, it is pervasive in Nigeria among the various sectors of economy including the public service, the organized private sector and even the civil society, political sector or practitioners. Corruption is a symptom that something has gone wrong in management of a state; Institutions design to govern the inter relationship between the citizen and the state. Here services are used instead, for personal enrichment and the provision of benefit to the corrupt personnel.