Contemporary Public Administration and Challenges of Rural Development in Nigeria

Abstract

Rural development in Nigeria has been characterized by persistent challenges that reflect the neglect of the majority of the population. Although both successive and present governments have demonstrated interest in fixing them by providing the needed infrastructure,, extant literature still shows a dearth of socioeconomic conditions in the rural areas. This was due to the non-existence of development infrastructures, pushing the rural dwellers into abnormal frustration, suffering, hardship, poverty and poor status of livelihoods. Bearing in mind that public administration frameworks play an important role in providing the necessary institutional basis for achieving rural developmental needs, this paper examined the effects of the current public administration system on rural development in Nigeria. Primary and secondary methods were used to source data. While primary data consisted of a structured questionnaire, published materials were used to collect secondary information. Adopting the Felt Needs Theory as theoretical framework, participation, responsiveness and capacity building were identified as factors for curbing rural development challenges. The paper found that rural infrastructure development provisions, such as healthcare, socioeconomic empowerment, education, portable water and employment opportunities, which were lacking have positive effects on addressing rural development challenges. The paper concluded that the contemporary public administration system in Nigeria has been characterized by bureaucratic delays, governance deficits and limited community engagement that have significant effects on rural development efforts. It recommended, among others, administrative reforms to strengthen the institutional capacities of the current public administration to foster active community engagement that will focus on rural development governance in Nigeria.