Policymaking and Development Strategies for Local Governments in Nigeria

The purpose of this book is to highlight prevalent democratic principles and how they can impact on public policy formulation and projects development in local governments in Nigeria. The book explores the impacts of democratic theories as they relate to the new perspectives for public administration; especially at the local government levels. Much of the discussions in this book pertain to the democratic and policy making principles that could engineer effective and sustainable public policy formulation within the local administration and governance. The book also uses these democratic perspectives to design the corrective measures that are needed for the successful policy formulation and implementation in local government administrations in Nigeria. By identifying the factors that have led to the failures of public policy and service delivery in Nigeria, this book develops the problem solution steps for the country's public policy processes in local government administration. Essentially, the book seeks to relate these perspectives to citizen empowerment and participation in public policy making and service delivery at the grassroots levels. This book illustrates the significance of the various democratic approaches and discusses the challenges facing public policy making in local in governance. The importance of deliberative democracy, democratic renewal, and citizen participation in governance is emphasized as an important normative concern in public policy formulation. Public policies formulation during a democratic dispensation is usually more representative, participatory, and hence more sustainable. By analyzing these perspectives, their effects on the policy making in local governments of Nigeria become more appreciated. Partnerships between nonprofit, business, and government sectors are becoming more pronounced in most countries as the societal problems become more complex and difficult for the individual sectors. Moreover, public policy practitioners and public administrators are increasingly realizing the benefits of collaboration; this book, hence, explores the alternative non-governmental means of influencing policy making and delivering public services. The book is also aimed at creating the developmental strategy that would offer avenues for achieving meaningful partnerships between local government agencies and neighborhood councils/ development unions/town unions under a metropolitan environment. This is based on citizen participation that focuses on the interactive processes of building the trust among participants; and creating understanding and agreement. The book presents a model of citizen participation; designed to forge neighborhood councils and local government agencies together in a collaborative partnership. This model also offers a way for citizens and public administrators to overcome obstacles that prevent the creation of government-citizen relationships.