The study examined the Impact of Corruption on the Socio-economic Development in Akwa Ibom State, with specific attention on Ikot Ekpene local Government Area. To achieve the stated objective, the study adopted a descriptive and survey design method and thus, data were collected from both the primary and secondary source. The hypotheses of the study were subjected to statistical test using the chi − square tool and analyzed within the limit of available literature. Findings revealed and among others, that corruption has a negative Impact on Socioeconomic development in Ikot Ekpene local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. That embezzlement of public funds by the administrators or officials of the council impedes the allocation of scarce resources (social amenities) in Ikot Ekpene local government area which does not allow for a commensurate development evidence to justify the huge disbursement from the Federal allocations. It was recommended among others, that officials of the local government Council caught in the act of Corruption should be tried in the court of competent jurisdiction and if found guilty, such officials should be jailed and their accounts or assets frozen by the government to serve as deterrent to others. Funds provided to local government for Socio-economic development should be monitored effectively to avoid reckless use of council’s resources in inappropriate, wasteful purposes and reckless abused of cash advance, contrary to the financial regulations of the council. This can be achieved through reinforcing the auditing unit of the council with people of high integrity.
1.1 Introduction
In this section, Impact of Corruption on the Socio-Economic Development is discussed, with relevant and recent citations. As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the aim and objectives of the study. Others are significance of the study, scope of work, research hypothesis and questions, limitation of the study and definition of terms.