Public Administration and the Challenge of National Development in Nigeria: Issues and Concerns

Abstract

Nigeria’s disturbing socio-economic indicators are among the worst in the world; 70% of its 148 million people vegetate below the one US dollar poverty benchmark (World Bank, 2010). It has about the worst maternal/child mortality rates in sub-Saharan Africa (NHR, 2007), it sits 143 among the 183 most corrupt countries of the world (Transparently International, 2011), and coupled with the fact that unemployment is arguably over 40% (Nigeria News Network, November 17, 2012). That these uncomplimentary indicators exists side-by-side great national wealth and potentials make the Nigerian situation a complicated paradox requiring urgent, systematic, and strategic efforts at a reversal. This paper argues that such strides should begin with reforming Nigeria’s ailing public administration by way of repositioning it to both support and drive the processes of national development. It recommends, among others, purposeful political/administrative leadership, viable institutions of accountability, and huge investments in human capital development, as panacea for Nigeria’s weak public administration, and impetus for sustainable national development.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n6p113