AIRUOYUWA, Evans Osahon

This study examined the effect of corruption on revenue generation among civil servants in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Based on the findings, it is evident that various forms of corruption, including bribery, fund misappropriation, and kickbacks, significantly undermine the revenue generation capacity of the government in Edo State. The specific objectives were to evaluate the impact of corruption perception onrevenue generating among civil servants in Benin City; investigate the effect of misappropriation on revenue generation among civil servant in Benin City; determine the impact of bribery on revenue generation among civil servants in Benin City; and analyze the influence of kickbacks on revenue generation among civil servants in Benin City; The study used primary data sourced from the respondents from the various ministries, departments and agencies in Benin City, the Edo State capital. The study adopted the descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, andmeanas well as the cross section regression technique. The findings of this study show that corruption perception has a negative significant impact on revenue generation capacity in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. It was discovered that fund misappropriation has an adverse significant impact on the revenue generation capacity in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. It was revealed that level of bribery has a significant negative effect on revenue generation capacity of government in Benin City, Edo State. It was found that kickbacks among civil servants have a significant negative impact on the revenue generation capacity of the Edo State. Thus, the study recommended that government should implement regular public disclosure of revenue collection and expenditure reports to build trust in the system. Strengthening accountability mechanisms—such as audits, clear documentation of processes, and transparent financial reporting—can make it more difficult for corrupt practices to go unnoticed and improve citizens' confidence in the revenue collection system. The state government should strengthen anti-corruption laws and ensure robust enforcement with clear penalties for offenses.

This study examined the effect of corruption on revenue generation among civil servants in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The findings reveal that various forms of corruption—such as bribery, fund misappropriation, and kickbacks—significantly undermine the government’s revenue generation capacity in Edo State. The study was guided by the following specific objectives: to evaluate the impact of corruption perception on revenue generation among civil servants in Benin City; to investigate the effect of fund misappropriation on revenue generation; to determine the impact of bribery on revenue generation; and to analyze the influence of kickbacks on revenue generation among civil servants in the study area. Primary data were collected from respondents across various ministries, departments, and agencies in Benin City, the capital of Edo State. The study employed descriptive statistical tools, including frequencies, percentages, and mean values, alongside cross-sectional regression analysis. The results indicate that corruption perception has a statistically significant negative impact on revenue generation capacity in Benin City. Similarly, fund misappropriation was found to have a significant adverse effect on government revenue. The study also revealed that bribery significantly reduces revenue generation capacity, while kickbacks among civil servants further contribute to the decline in government revenue. Based on these findings, the study recommends that the government should implement regular public disclosure of revenue collection and expenditure reports to enhance transparency and build public trust. Strengthening accountability mechanisms—such as routine audits, proper documentation of financial processes, and transparent reporting systems—would help reduce opportunities for corrupt practices. Additionally, the state government should reinforce anti-corruption laws and ensure strict enforcement through clearly defined penalties for offenders.