The study examined the nexus between public debt and institutional quality in Nigeria for the period 1996 to 2023. The data for the study is drawn from World Bank Development Indicators (WDI) and was analysed using Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) econometric technique and Bound Co-integrated test. The study found that control of corruption, government effectiveness and political stability and absence of violence had a positive and long run significant relationship with public debt in Nigeria. The result further reveal that political stability and absence of violence had positive effect on debt in both short run and long run while control of corruption and government effectiveness have only in short run in Nigeria. The study, therefore, recommended for greater beneficial debt to ascertain in the country there is need to introduce reforms on fighting against corruptions and fast tract the process in handling corruptions cases as well as intensify effort to minimize social vices that would ensure security of lives and properties and enhance efficiency in governance.