OGETTE, Anthony Omokhudu

Abstract

This study presents a sociological appraisal of the effects of corruption on sustained national growth and development in Nigeria from the socioeconomic standpoint of individuals and groups. The city of Lagos was purposively selected for the study due to its cosmopolitan characteristics with heterogeneous population. A questionnaire was used to obtain primary data from respondents in three major areas in Lagos namely; Ikoyi, Akoka, and Mushin to represent the three major socioeconomic classes; Upper, Middle and Lower classes respectively. The quota sampling technique of non-probability sampling technique which reserves certain proportion of the sample for certain categories of respondents chosen on the basis of quota factor was adopted. Thus, a sample size of 300 respondents were drawn from the selected three residential areas respectively as follows: Ikoyi (50), Akoka (100), and Mushin (150) to reflect the different hierarchical strata of the Nigerian society. The study adopted descriptive and inferential statistics through the use of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Three hypotheses were tested and findings reveals as follows: firstly, socioeconomic class do not have significant effect on respondents’ views about the effects of corruption on sustainable development in Nigeria, secondly, a significant percentage of Nigerians from upper class background also feel the negative impact of corruption. Thus, suggesting that the negative impacts of corruption cuts across socioeconomic classes in Nigeria, and finally, support for the anti-graft war cuts across socioeconomic boundaries, which further affirm the fact that irrespective of their socioeconomic background, a significant number of Nigerians have confidence in the war against corruption, and were of the opinion that the momentum should be sustained. This study therefore recommends sound moral education and massive re-orientation of the general public on the damaging effects of corruption as well as establishment of special courts to try corruption cases for speedy and accelerated hearing.

   

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Published: 2024

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