THE IMPLICATION OF CORRUPTION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA AN APPRAISAL OF PRESIDENT OLUSEGUN OBASANJO'S ADMINISTRATION

Corruption remains one of the fastest growing social problems in Nigeria. It is virtually becoming a way of life that permeates both private and public sectors of the economy. Over the years, this pervasive behavioural proclivity has earned the country the notorious status of one of the most corrupt nations i n the world. Despite seemingly concerned efforts of past and present administrators to combat corruption, the problem remains persistently endemic with disastrous consequences for the Nigerian society. It is against this backdrop that the paper specifically explores the upsurge of corruption and its implications for sustainable development in Nigeria. Within the symbolic interactions framework as a result of how corruption is perceived and valued. The paper maintains that corruption, especially, in the public sector, breeds infrastructural decay, high cost of governance, insecurity and distorted development priorities thus making the hope of achieving sustainable development a mirage. In the course of this work, both primary and secondary research method of data collection which is the collection of data from published research studies, textbooks, journals relating to this research work and also in the internet. The theoretical perspective that was employed in this study is the constructionist theory. For the institutional approach to be effective to combat corruption, three issues are considered which are as follow: A system must be put in place for monitoring official conduct and exposing wrongdoing, a credible system be build for assessing charges for wrongdoing and for punishing convicted wrongdoers, building a framework for insulation institutions of watchdogs exposure and punishment from the control manipulation of the very state actors they are meant to monitor.