Political Science as Prospect for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria

Abstract

With the continued manifestation and intensification of poverty, child and maternal mortality, unemployment, HIV/AIDS and other economic problems in Nigeria after the expiration of the deadline set for the realization of the Millennium Development Goals, the preoccupation of the existing scholarships have been channeled in interrogating the fundamental impediments to the actualization of these goals. Factors such as lack of human capacity, inadequate and unreliable data system, lack of finance, poor coordination of the policy framework, and among others, were identified by scholars as the bane of the MDGs framework in Nigeria. As the global community moves into the post-MDG era, the study examined the role and relevance of Political Science in advancing the objectives enshrined in the Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria. Employing the basic propositions emanating from the Marxist theory of the Post-Colonial State, the study, beyond the conventional positions of scholars, argued that the non-adherence to the dictates of politics was implicated in the failure of Millennium Development Goals in Nigeria. Also, the study utilized the secondary method of data collection largely drawn from official publication, journal articles and books while we analyzed the data using the content analysis. In the light of the foregoing, we suggested for more inclusion of political scientists in the formulation and implementation of policy frameworks relating to SDG initiatives, on one hand, and the application of basic principles of good governance which remains the core of Political Science, on another hand, in order to address the development challenges that confronting the Nigerian state.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n5p319