Public bureaucracy and sustainable development in nigeria: identifying the normative challenges and the way forward

Abstract

Sustainable development and sustainability in Nigeria still remain a project far-fetched. Structural disarticulation of public bureaucracy role in sustainable development vitiates the Nigerian project. Sustainable development and sustainability are all encompassing.Within the framework of statism and over-developed state theories, an eclectic approach, the article examined the role of public bureaucracy in sustainable development and sustainability. To address the issues raised, the article utilized qualitative research approach to gain an insight into the nature and character of the Nigerian state towards sustainable development and sustainability.Subsequently, relevant sources of this research were fairly and professionally scrutinised, understood and tested with the available literature for the purpose of the research. Inter alia, it included scan-reading, comprehensive and critical reading and writing down ideas. Authoritative scholarly sources were reviewed, during a desktop study.This article argues that Nigeria is yet to understand the central concerns of sustainable development. Although, development is an ongoing project, marginal improvement being recorded in various areas of the society need to be sustained and consolidated upon over time. For Nigeria to entrench sustainable development and sustainability, government has to champion development, while corruption in both public and private sectors of the economy needs to be cured. The bureaucracy is the channel through which all these ideas and activities can be coordinated and delivered in Nigeria efficiently and effectively.