The Persistence Of Bribery Practices In Abuja, Nigeria: An Empirical Analysis

The main purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions on the persistence of bribery practices in Abuja, Nigeria. Previous studies focused more on the prevalence and pervasiveness of bribery practices; minimal attention was accorded to why the practices continued to occur despite combative policy measures, strategies and programs put in place. Relying on the economic processes, anomie and institutional quality among other theories, this study specifically investigated the relationship between societal acceptance of bribery, anti-bribery measures, perceived socioeconomic benefits of bribery, influence of demographic differences and the perception on the persistence of bribery practices in Abuja, Nigeria. Cluster and purposive sampling techniques were employed to identify the respondents in the study area. The data for this study were collected using a survey questionnaire and semi-structured interview questions. A total of 836 valid responses were collected from the survey questionnaire, whereas six respondents participated in the semi-structured interview. The responses generated from the survey questionnaire were analysed using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) method, while the thematic approach was used in analysing the responses generated from the semi-structured interview. The study was conducted using the convergence quantitative and qualitative mixed method-triangulation design. The findings of this study demonstrated that societal acceptance of bribery, anti-bribery measures, perceived socio-economic benefits of bribery, gender and educational qualification significantly influenced the persistence of bribery practices in Abuja, Nigeria. The study has made theoretical, methodological and practical contributions towards the reasons for the persistence of bribery practices. The study provides policy makers with alternative measures of dealing with the persistence of bribery practices as well as recommendations for further research in the field of bribery practices were offered based on the limitations of the study.