The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Problem of Policy Implementation in Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria is one United Nations member state that is increasingly working on achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which took off at the turn of this century. The MDGs are eight goals and targets to be attained within 2015. Giving the available time, it is obvious that it is a major challenge to Nigeria because of its requirements for actualization in the country. Among the requirements is ensuring effective policy implementation. However, poor policy implementation is believed by some analysts to be the bane of development in Nigeria. The paper therefore, seeks to highlight the need for proper and effective policy implementation while identifying some impediments to be tackled if Nigeria is to ensure that policies, particularly those relating to the MDGs, are effectively and timely implemented. These impediments include, among others: corruption, badleadership, political instability, slow public service structures, ethnicity etc. The paper posits some sustainable development measures for Nigeria, such as effective use of political will, eschewing social vices (like ethnicity, favouritism, nepotism and mediocrity), continuity of policies between governments, eradication of corruption etc.

Keywords: Policy, Implementation, Millennium Development Goals, Nigeria

International Journal of Development and Management Review (INJODEMAR) Vol. 7 June, 2012