PUBLIC POLICIES/PROGRAMMES AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

¹Ali Mohammed Attai, ²Orokpo, Ogbole F.E & ³Paul Salisu Ojonemi

^1,2,3 Department of Public Administration

Federal Polytechnic Idah, Kogi State

E-mail: mohammedattaiali@yahoo.com, orokpogbole@yahoo.com & salisunelson@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Nigeria evidently has a history of national economic planning of policies and programmes which spans both the colonial and post-colonial periods as enunciated in this paper. There is however, no gain saying the fact that no country can attain any form of development without putting in place sound policies and programmes. It is on this premise that the paper established the nexus between government policies/programmes and national development. Thus, Nigeria must thrive to put in place sound policies and programmes if the country must attain the much needed national development towards becoming an economic giant by the year 2020. In the context of the foregoing, the paper recommends among others that; Policies and programmes must be a direct reflection of available human and material resources, cultural realities and political persuasions and also policies and programmes must be rooted in deep democratic norms of accountability, transparency and fiscal discipline because of the choking impact of corruption on policies and programmes in Nigeria over the years.

Key words: Policies, Programmes, Development, National Development Plans