Given the complexity and varied functions of government, effective management of public resources requires well-trained officials who can deliver social services that support a country’s developmental aspirations. In Nigeria, however, administrative corruption remains a major obstacle to national development. While previous studies have examined public administration, underdevelopment and corruption as separate issues, this study uniquely links Nigeria’s developmental challenges to entrenched administrative corruption. Using trend analysis and a qualitative assessment of secondary data drawn from official reports, government audits, scholarly works and investigative media accounts, the study explores how corruption within administrative system undermines development efforts. The findings show that administrative corruption in Nigeria is pervasive and replicates itself across sectors, thereby weakening the development initiatives of successive governments. The paper recommends the adoption of stringent measures, not only to penalise offenders, but also to promote integrity, probity and accountability across public institutions as essential steps towards national development.
Administrative Corruption and Development in Nigeria, 2025, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 37-49. PDF