PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, DEMOCRATIC CONSOLIDATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA: AN EXPLORATORY DISCOURSE OF CHALLENGES

This article undertakes an exploratory analysis of the impediments and optimal approaches to building strong public institutions in Africa, with specific reference to Nigeria, through extensive literature review. Beyond clarifying concepts such as institutions and institutionalisation, the article provides a brief examination of the history of institutions building in Nigeria in order to show that the colonialists deliberately undermined institution building. The main colonial focus was on the exploitation of Africa, extraction of raw materials for the metro-poles, even during the post-independence era. The article identifies challenges to strong public institutions building in Nigeria, which include juxtaposing “weak” (otherwise wrongly styled “strong”) individuals/leaders for strong institutions, primordial issues, godfather syndrome, federal character system and jumbo pay for some public office holders. Basic elements that promote strong public institution building including availability of appropriate rules, authority-based administration, operational transparency and accountability, promotion of security, peace and order, political community, and positive political will and responsible government. Policy recommendations are: the compelling need for deliberate efforts at building strong public institutions in Africa, particularly Nigeria, as the only route to sustainable peace, security and development. Also, weak individuals/leaders should no longer be styled as strong individuals because the latter only operate within, not above institutional rules. Finally, challenges to strong institution building need to be taken care of because they constitute clogs in the wheel of progress. Keywords: Democracy, Development, Government, Institutions, Nigeria