Vol. 9 No. 1 (2024): January-Febuary
Original Articles

ECONOMIC UNDERCURRENTS: UNRAVELING THE NEXUS BETWEEN LOW WAGES AND CORRUPTION IN THE CIVIL SERVICE OF SOKOTO STATE, NIGERIA

Amina Y. Bello
Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
Ibrahim O. Ahmed
Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.

Published 2024-01-31

Keywords

  • Corruption, Civil Service, Abuse of Power, Socio-economic Development, Anti-corruption Strategies

How to Cite

Bello, A. Y., & Ahmed, I. O. (2024). ECONOMIC UNDERCURRENTS: UNRAVELING THE NEXUS BETWEEN LOW WAGES AND CORRUPTION IN THE CIVIL SERVICE OF SOKOTO STATE, NIGERIA . International Journal of Political and Social Sciences, 9(1), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10599808

Abstract

Corruption, a pervasive force impacting political, economic, and social spheres, poses a formidable barrier to development and undermines the credibility of government institutions. This study scrutinizes the far-reaching consequences of corruption within the civil service, emphasizing its deleterious effects on the supply of public goods and services, as well as the broader socio-economic development of affected states. The nexus between corruption, abuse of public power for private gain, and the exacerbation of poverty-related challenges is a focal point of investigation.

The detrimental implications of corruption on economic growth and democratic transition are underscored, drawing from the assertion that corruption in the civil service entails the illicit manipulation of delegated authority. As elucidated by Adam (2015), civil servants, entrusted with delegated authority, engage in unlawful practices that compromise the integrity of public service tasks. This not only impedes bureaucratic progress but also hampers development efforts, exacerbating poverty through low income, diminished health and education services, and heightened vulnerability to economic shocks.

The study examines the multifaceted dimensions of corruption within the civil service, shedding light on its intricate role in hindering political institutions and derailing developmental trajectories. By exploring the intersections of corruption, abuse of power, and socio-economic challenges, this research contributes to the discourse on anti-corruption strategies and institutional reforms. The findings aim to inform policymakers and practitioners seeking effective measures to curb corruption within civil service structures, ultimately fostering a more transparent and accountable governance framework.

References

  1. Ackerman R (2016). Corruption and Government: Causes, Consequences and Reform, 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  2. Adam G (2015). Corruption: Classification and analysis. Policy and Society 34(2):87-96.
  3. Ades A, DiTella R (1997). The new economics of corruption: A survey and some new results. Political Studies 45(3):496-515.
  4. Andvig CJ, Fjelstad O, Amundsen I, Sissener T, Sorelde T (2001). Corruption: A Review of Contemporary Research. Chr. Michesisen Development Studies and Human Rights. Bergen: Norway.
  5. Akerlof G, Yellen A (1994). Gang behavior, law enforcement, and community. In Values in Public Policy, ed. H. Aaron, T. Mann, and T. Taylor. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution.
  6. Akpan NE.(2011). The Military and Bureaucratic Corruption in Nigeria: A Historical Perspective. Lapai International Journal of Management and Social Sciences 4(1).
  7. Akpan NE, Onya R (2018). Bureaucracy and Corruption in Nigeria: Implication for Buhari Change Agenda. American Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences 2(9):91-101.
  8. Aluko MAO, Adesopo AA (2003). Bureaucratic Corruption in Nigeria: A General and Sociological Insight into the Problem. Journal of Social Science 7(1):47-54.
  9. Anise L (1986). Bureaucracy and Modernization in Social Change in Nigeria Simi Afonja and Tola Olu Pearce (eds.). England: Longman Group Ltd.
  10. Becker G, Stigler G (1974). Law enforcement, malfeasance, and the compensation of enforcers. Journal of Legal Studies 3(1):1-8. Bond P (2008). Persistent court corruption. Economic Journal 118(531):1333-1353.
  11. Borcan O, Lindahl M, Mitrut A (2015). The impact of an unexpected wage cut on corruption: Evidence from a ‘Xeroxed’ exam. Journal of Public Economics 120:32-47.
  12. Caiden GE (1991). What really is public maladministration? Public Administration Review 51(6):486-493.
  13. Chetwynd E, Chetwynd F, Spector B (2003). Corruption and Poverty: A Review of recent Literature. Management Systems International, Washington DC, USA.
  14. De Graaf G (2007). ‘Causes of Corruption: Towards a Contextual Theory of Corruption. PAQ, Spring.
  15. Di Tella R, Schargrodsky E (2003). The role of wages and auditing during a crackdown on corruption in the city of Buenos Aires. Journal of Law and Economics 46(1):269-269.
  16. Dominik E, Christiana H (2017). Causes and consequences of corruption: An overview of empirical results, IW-Report, No. 2/2017, Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft (IW), Köln.
  17. Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN) (1999). The Constitution, Lagos: Government Printing Press.
  18. Foltz JD, Opoku-Agyemang KA (2015). Do Higher Salaries Lower Petty Corruption? A Policy Experiment on West Africa's Highways.
  19. International Growth Centre Working Paper (June).
  20. Gans-Morse J, Borges M, Makarin A, Mannah-Blankson T, Nickow A, Zhang D (2017). Reducing bureaucratic corruption: Interdisciplinary perspectives on what works. World Development 105(C):171-188.
  21. GOPAC (2005). Controlling corruption: A Parliamentarian handbook. World Bank Institute P 20.
  22. Gorodnichenko Y, Peter K (2007). Public sector pay and corruption: measuring bribery from micro data. Journal of Public Economics 91:963-991.
  23. Gray CW, Kaufman D (1998). Corruption and Development. IMF/World Bank, Finance and Development. IMF/World Bank.
  24. Hallak J, Poisson M (2007). Corrupt Schools, Corrupt Universities: What can be done? Paris: UNESCO-IIEP.
  25. Hellman JS, Jones G, Kaufmann D (2000). Seize the state, seize the day: State capture, corruption, and influence in transition. Policy Research Working Paper No. 2444 Washington: World Bank/
  26. Johnston M (2005). Syndromes of corruption: Wealth, power, and democracy. New York: Cambridge University Press.
  27. Kaufmann D, Kraay A, Mastruzzi M (2006). Measuring governance using cross-country perceptions data. In International Handbook on the Economics of Corruption, ed. S Rose-Ackerman. Cheltenham, United Kingdom: Edward Elgar.
  28. Kayode T (2000). Socio Cultural Values and Bureaucracy in Adebayo, N.(ed) Bureaucracy and Social Change: Studies in Bureaucracy and Underdevelopment. Lago: Pumark Nig Ltd.
  29. Klitgaard R (1997). Cleaning up and invigorating the Civil Service. Public Administration and Development. The International Journal of Management Research and Practice 17(5):487-509.
  30. Kunt AD, Lokshin M, Kolchin V (2021). Effects of Public Sector Wages on Corruption. Policy Research Working Paper- 9643.
  31. Lambsdorff JG (2006). Consequences and Causes of Corruption: What do we know from a Cross-Section of Countries? S. Rose-Ackerman (ed.) International Handbook on the Economics of Corruption. Cheltenham and Northampton, MA: Edward Elgar.
  32. Lawal G, Tobi A (2006). Bureaucratic Corruption, Good Governance and Development: The Challenges and Prospects of Institution Building in Nigeria. Journal of Applied Sciences Research 2(10):642649.
  33. Light M (2014). Police reforms in the Republic of Georgia: The convergence of domestic and foreign policy in an anti-corruption drive. Policing and Society 24(3):318-345.
  34. Mishra P, Subramanian A, Topalova P (2008). Tariffs, enforcement, and customs evasion: Evidence from India. Journal of Public Economics 92(10-11):1907-1925.
  35. Mookherjee D, Png IPL (1995). Corruptible law enforcers: How should they be compensated? The Economic Journal 105(428):145-159.
  36. Mookherjee D (1995). Reforms in income tax enforcement in Mexico. IRIS-India Working Paper No.6, University of Maryland. College Park, MD.
  37. Navot D (2014). The concept of political corruption. Public Integrity 16(4):357-374.
  38. Nye JS (1967). Corruption and political development: A cost-benefit analysis. American Political Science Association 61(2):417-427.
  39. Obaro A (2004). Bureaucracy and Corruption in Nigeria‖. BIU Journal of Social and Management Sciences 2(1).
  40. Olken B, Pande R (2012). Corruption in developing countries. Annual Review of Economics 4(1):479-509.
  41. Ogundiya IS, Amzat J (2020). The Clash of Morality and Legality: Interrogating Bureaucratic Corruption in Nigeria”. In Mason, C. H and Neelambar, H. Understanding Corruption: Traditional and Legal Rational Norms (eds). Social Science Press. New Delhi.
  42. Panizza U (2001). Public sector wages and bureaucratic quality: evidence from Latin America. Economía 2:97-151.
  43. Pope J (1995). Containing corruption in international transactions – The challenge of the 1990s. In Commission on Global Governance (Ed.), Issues in global governance: Papers written for the commission on global governance (pp. 67–90). London: Klewer Law International.
  44. Rose-Ackerman S, Søreide T (2012). International Handbook on the Economics of Corruption, vol. 2. Cheltenham, United Kingdom: Edward Elgar Publishing.
  45. Rose-Ackerman S (2016). Corruption and government: Causes, consequences, and reform. Cambridge University Press.
  46. Sampford C, Shacklock A, Connors C, Galtung F (2006). Measuring corruption. In: Burlington, VT: Ashgate. Teachout, Z. Corruption in America: From Benjamin Franklin’s snuff box to citizens united. Harvard University Press.
  47. Šumah Š (2018). Corruption, causes and consequences. IntechOpen. Tanzi V (1998). Corruption Around the World: Causes, Consequences, Scope, and Cures. Staff Papers IMF 45(4):559-559.
  48. Treisman D (2007). What have we learned about the causes of corruption from ten years of cross national empirical research? Annual Review of Political Science 10:211-244.
  49. Van Rijckeghem C, Weder B (2001). Bureaucratic Corruption and the
  50. Rate of Temptation: Do Wages in the Civil Service Affect Corruption and by how Much? Journal of Development Economics 65(2):307-331.
  51. Van Veldhuizen R (2011). The Influence of Wages on Public Officials' Corruptibility: A Laboratory Investigation. Journal of Economic Psychology 39:341-356.