Effective Implementation of Public Policies in Nigeria: Issues And Challenges.

Abstract

The need to provide the citizens with socio-economic and infrastructural facilities has continued to be a serious concern to countries all over the world, especially the developing ones including Nigeria. To achieve this, various governments in Nigeria have continued to initiate and implement policies aimed at addressing these problems. This study therefore set out to examine the challenges of implementation of public policies in Nigeria.  The objectives of the study include: to find out the strategies adopted by government and its agencies in the implementation of public policies and to identify factors militating against their effective implementation. The study contends that the continued use of neo top-bottom approach in policy formulation and implementation has serious consequences for the realisation of the desired objectives. The paper highlights the relevance and practical issues relating to citizens input in policy formulation and implementation in their respective areas. The work argued that public policy implementation agencies and government officials have not shown any commitment to the effective implementation of public policies in Nigeria which would allow it achieve the desired result. The research methodology adopted is the contents analysis of the existing literature on the related subject while secondary source of data were used. The paper was predicated on the progressive utilization theory as its framework of analysis. The findings reveal that the implementation of public policy in Nigeria is characterised by weak institutional frame work, over politicisation of policies, lack of political will on the part of government, non-involvement of the beneficiaries and corruption among others. The paper therefore, recommends that the institutional frame work should be restructured for proper application of the strategies to avoid unnecessary political influence and neglect of the intending beneficiaries. The government should be more committed and see public policies as major tools for the development of the country.