THE NECESSITY OF STRENGTHENING PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA
Keywords:
Institutions, Sustainable Development, Weak Institutions, Strong InstitutionsAbstract
Anchored on institutional theory and utilizing a qualitative analysis of documentary sources, this study investigates the role of resilient public institutions in advancing sustainable development in Nigeria. Addressing a critical gap in the literature that often prioritizes economic indicators over institutional capacity, the study demonstrates that Nigeria’s persistent development challenges are largely rooted in weak, fragile, and inefficient governance structures. The findings reveal that institutional deficiencies undermine accountability, transparency, and effective policy implementation, thereby reinforcing corruption, poverty, and socio-economic stagnation. Conversely, the study shows that resilient institutions constitute a foundational driver of political stability, effective governance, and inclusive development. By systematically linking institutional resilience to sustainable development outcomes, this study contributes a nuanced institutional perspective to Nigeria’s development discourse. It concludes that sustainable development in Nigeria is unattainable without deliberate and sustained institutional strengthening, positioning institutional reform as a central pathway for unlocking the country’s long-term developmental potential.
References
Acemoglu, D., & Robinson, J. A. (2012). Why nations fail: The origins of power, prosperity, and poverty. New York: Crown Publishers.
Ackerman, S. R. (1999). Corruption and governance in Nigeria: Implications for sustainable development. Journal of African Policy Studies, 4(1), 33–52.
Amenta, E., & Ramsey, K. M. (2010). Institutional theory. In K. T. Leicht & J. C. Jenkins (Eds.), Handbook of politics: State and society in global perspective (pp. 15–39). Springer.
Azoro, C. J. S., Onah, C. H., & Agulefo, Q. O. (2021). Weak institutions and poor governance in Nigeria: A socio-legal perspective. African Journal of Law, Political Research and Administration, 4(2), 61–70.
Bello, M., Adamu, U., & Mackson, A. (2023). The role of institution building in development administration in Nigeria. NIU Journal of Social Sciences, 9(2), 7–20. https://doi.org/10.58709/niujss.v9i2.1620
Durkheim, E. (1982). The rules of sociological method. Free Press.
Etim, E. O., Udoh, A. P., & Akpan, S. E. (2023). Democratic governance and sustainable development in Nigeria: Institutional challenges and prospects. Journal of Public Administration and Development Studies, 8(2), 45–62.
Etim, N. A., Urama, C. E., Mohammed, J., & Asa, U. A. (2023). The nexus between democratic governance and sustainable development in Nigeria. African Journal of Economic and Sustainable Development, 9(2), 138 - 147. https://doi.org/10.1504/ajesd.2023.129022
Fage, K. S. (2021). From dividends’ optimism to dashed hopes: The imperatives of leadership re-engineering in Nigeria. Kano: Bayero University Press.
Federal Republic of Nigeria. (2011). Amended Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Fukuyama, F. (2013). Political order and political decay: From the industrial revolution to the globalization of democracy. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Gado, M. A. (2024). Institution building and development administration in Nigeria: A review. Journal of African Innovation and Advanced Studies, 7(2), 45 – 63. https://doi.org/10.70382/ajaias.v7i2.006
Imhanlahimi, J. E., & Ajiteru, S. A. R. (2023). Public institutions, democratic consolidation and sustainable development in Nigeria: An exploratory discourse of challenges. Journal of Public Administration and Development Alternatives, 8(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.55190/AUHA9046
Joseph, R. A. (1987). Democracy and prebendal politics in Nigeria: The rise and fall of the Second Republic. Cambridge University Press.
Kaufmann, D., Kraay, A., & Mastruzzi, M. (2010). The worldwide governance indicators: Methodology and analytical issues. World Bank Policy Research Working Paper, 5430, 1–53. https://doi.org/10.1596/1813-9450-5430
March, J. G., & Olsen, J. E. (1984). The new institutionalism: Organizational factors in political life. American Political Science Review, 78(3), 734–749.
Mimiko, N. O. (2010, October 12). Swimming against the tide: Development challenges for the long-disadvantaged in a fundamentally skewed global system (Inaugural Lecture Series 233). Obafemi Awolowo University.
Momoh, S., Okoye, C., & Eze, U. (2025). Good governance and national development in Nigeria: Challenges and prospects. Global Journal of Political Science and Administration, 13(1), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.37745/gjpsa.2013/vol13n1124
North, D. C. (1990). Institutions, institutional change and economic performance. Cambridge University Press.
Nwafor, L. C. (2023). The impact of government institutions on the attainment of good governance for sustainable development in Nigeria under the Buhari administration (2015–2023). Journal of Law and Sustainable Development, 1(10), 1–30. https://doi.org/10.55908/sdgs.v11i10.1484
Nwankwo, A. (1987). The military option to democracy: Class, power and violence in Nigerian politics.
Nzereogu, D. C. (2024). Weak institutions: A challenge to good governance. A review of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Nnadiebube Journal of Religion, Culture and Society, 4(1), 78–85.
OECD. (2021). Building trust to reinforce democracy: Main findings from the 2021 OECD survey on drivers of trust in public institutions. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/b407f99c-en
Ogayi, C. O., & Onyebuchi, E. M. (2024). ‘Powerful’ state, strong leaders and weak institutions: The paradox of political leadership in Nigeria. FUWUKARI Journal of Politics and Development, 8(1), 29–43.
Okoli, K., Nwokoye, E., Kalu, C., & Metu, A. (2025). Pathways to sustainable human development in Nigeria: The role of governance and disaggregated domestic debt. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 26(2), 3954–3969. https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2025.26.2.1962
Okolie, U. C., & Ikenga, F. A. (2023). Public administration and sustainable development in Nigeria. International Journal of Public Administration Studies, 3(2), 59 - 69. https://doi.org/10.29103/ijpas.v3i2.1389
Olufemi, T. O. (2022). Elite capture: How the powerful took over identity politics (and everything else). Haymarket Books.
Owogbemi, O. G. (2012). Anti-graft policy of the Federal Government of Nigeria: The case of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). African Journal of Stability and Development, 6(2), 111–134.
Rodrik, D. (2019). Institutions for high-quality growth: What they are and how to acquire them. Studies in Comparative International Development, 54(3), 397–421. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12116-019-09294-0
Stoddart, H., Schneeberger, K., Dodds, F., Shaw, A., Bottero, M., Cornforth, J., & White, R. (2011). A pocket guide to sustainable development governance. Stakeholder Forum.
Taylor, S. J. (2016). A review of sustainable development principles. University of Pretoria: Centre for Environmental Studies.
The Cable. (2023, October 14). Nigerians expecting much from an ineffective legislature. Retrievd from https://www.thecable.ng/nigerians-expecting-much-frpm-anineffective-legislature
Todaro, M. P., & Smith, S. C. (2006). Economic development (8th ed.). New York: Addison Wesley.
Ukase, P. I., & Dzeka, T. (2018). The legislature and the challenges of political institutionalization in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. Advances in Politics and Economy, 1(1), 32–43.
United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 agenda for sustainable development. United Nations.
Walker, C. (2023). Regulatory transfer in transitioning economies: responses to corruption and weak state institutions. Policy Studies, 44(1), 26-45.
Weber, M. (1978). Economy and society: An outline of interpretive sociology. University of California Press.
World Bank. (2020). Worldwide governance indicators: Methodology and analytical issues. World Bank.
World Bank. (2021). World development report 2021: Data for better lives. World Bank Publications. https://doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-1587-0
World Commission on Environment and Development. (1987). Our common future. WCED Publications.
Yagboyaju, D. A., & Akinola, A. O. (2019). Nigerian state and the crisis of governance: A critical exposition. SAGE Open, September, 1–10.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 J. D. Bisina, U.C. Okolie
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The Indonesian Journal of Social Studies is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Abstract views: 7
,
PDF Downloads: 3
