IMPROPER POLICIES’ IMPLEMENTATION AS A CATALYST FOR UNDERDEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS

Abstract

The persistent underdevelopment in Nigeria has been a continuous subject of discourse, with improper policy implementation emerging as a critical factor impeding progress. This paper examines the correlation between ineffective policy execution and the nation’s socioeconomic stagnation by exploring the challenges that undermine policy outcome and the prospect for addressing them. The study spanned through the forms of policies, roles of policies in nation building, challenges arising from improper policies in Nigeria, as well as strategies for effective policy implementation in the country. The paper identifies systematic issues such as corruption, lack of accountability, inadequate stakeholder engagement, and poor monitoring framework amongst others; as key impediments to effective policy delivery. The paper provides suitable theoretical framework in analysing the subject of discourse, as well as proposing actionable recommendations to enhance policy implementation in Nigeria. This study contributes to the broader discourse on governance and development in Africa generally, offering insights into strategies for overcoming policy related barriers to progress.