Bureaucracy and National Development in Nigeria: A Content Analysis

Abstract

This work moves to clarify conflicting issues bordering on the role of bureaucracy in the development of the state. It identifies the contemporary use of the word ‘development’ in this context based on social advancement and economic growth which is considered the most recent factor of judgement but not undermining other outstanding indices acting as paths to development. Bureaucracy which seems to be the driving force to the actualization of policies has been analyzed by scholars to either enhance or retard development. This paper however, adopts a descriptive analytical approach to the study and concludes that available knowledge is inadequate to assess the performance of state bureaucracies vis a vis their developmental strides as it has variations between the developed and underdeveloped countries of the world with particular attention to how they operate or are allowed to operate in their different political environments