Corruption And Public Procurement Practices In Nigeria

Abstract

Corruption within public procurement has persistently posed a major obstacle to good governance and socio-economic development in Nigeria. As a critical mechanism for delivering goods, services, and infrastructure to the populace, public procurement is intended to ensure efficiency, transparency, and accountability; however, corrupt practices undermine these objectives. This study explored the nature and effects of corruption on public procurement in Nigeria, examining how such practices compromise service delivery and weaken institutional credibility. A historical research design was employed, utilizing secondary sources such as government reports, policy documents, scholarly articles, and textbooks to trace patterns of procurement-related corruption and identify systemic weaknesses over time. The study was guided by Public Accountability Theory, which asserts that public officials and institutions are obliged to be answerable for their decisions, actions, and management of public resources. This framework offers insight into how accountability mechanisms can curb or mitigate corrupt practices in procurement processes. Findings indicated that corruption in Nigeria’s public procurement is driven by weak institutional oversight, political interference, inadequate transparency, and limited enforcement of regulations. These conditions result in inflated contracts, misappropriation of funds, incomplete projects, and diminished public trust. Global experiences underscore the importance of strong monitoring systems, performance-based accountability, and active citizen participation in promoting transparency and improving procurement outcomes. The study concluded that tackling corruption in public procurement requires a combination of legal reforms, institutional strengthening, digital innovations, and active citizen engagement. The study recommended, among others, that the Nigerian government should strengthen oversight institutions by fully constituting the Procurement Councils at the federal and state levels and empowering them to monitor procurement activities, detect irregularities, and sanction offenders consistently.