The Problematic of Development Planning in Nigeria: A Critical Discourse

Abstract

Development planning that involves processes which ensure that national policies and strategies are realized and development concerns at all levels are fully integrated into the overall national development thrusts are globally an on-going concern. In Nigeria, there have arguably been development planning initiatives and programmes, yet such efforts do not seem to produce concrete developmental results from all indicators. This study which relied on valuable secondary sources of data, critically examined the problematic of development planning in Nigeria. This study which also contend that development planning in Nigeria has over the years been constrained by the failure of the Nigerian leadership to properly envision true development and place same on the agenda, further argued that sundry factors like misplacement of priorities, poor plan discipline, lack of s ineffective executive capacity and public sector inefficiency, technology transfer syndrome, system corruption and inefficacious public/private partnership have made a genuine development path somewhat illusory. The study concluded with some useful remarks and recommendations such as a true development plan, public sector efficiency and discipline, public/private sector synergy and collaboration and attitudinal change that will create a genial climate clement for the much desired development in Nigeria.

Keywords: Development planning, genial climate, public/private sector