Corruption and Service Delivery: A Content Analysis of Nigeria Local Governments Administration

Abstract

Nigeria local government is the closest to the people at the grass root which supposed to provide some basic needs for the people; various forms of corrupt practices have negated this constitutional duty. Corruption has become a cankerworm sucking into the system of every nation without differentiation between developed and emerging economies. It is conspicuously and widely pronounced in the developing nation like Nigeria hence its negative effects on economic development.  This paper therefore examined the concept of corruption as it affects service delivery in Local Governments in Nigeria. The paper critically looked into the concepts of Corruption, Service Delivery and Local Government. The paper specifically conceptualizes corruption in the Local government administration in Nigeria and the impact on service delivery. The study thus, recommends that the value system at the local government should be reassessed and that there should be adequate social security that will cater for the needs of dedicated officers after their useful productive lives. The paper further recommends that due process and rule of law should be enhanced at the local government levels and that the Financial Crime regulatory institutions should extend their anti-corruption search light to the grass root level in Nigeria and at the same time, all the outstanding financial fraud cases of  the past local government officials that are in the various court in Nigeria should be concluded on time so as to checkmate and serve as deterrent to others.