CORRUPTION AND ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE IN NIGERIA

Abstract This study aimed to examine the impact of corruption on economic performance in Nigeria. It sought to determine whether corruption acts as factor that disrupts economic growth rate and per capita income income. To achieve these objectives, the study employed panel data for the year 1996-2024 with respect to corruption perception index (CPI). Additionally, the study employed causal analysis techniques to establish a deeper understanding of the causal relationships between corruption, and economic performance. This was followed by estimating a co-integration regression using the multiple regression method. The empirical results show that corruption did not significantly influence economic growth rate and per capita income in Nigeria. The study recommends that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) should develop and publish disaggregated corruption indices and tax effort scores by geopolitical zone, to guide targeted anti-corruption and tax reform interventions. The findings clearly state that the unfavourable of economic growth is not due to corruption. But, if the government successfully controls corruption, tax collection will be increased which ensures self-sustaining economic growth.