Saudi Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (SJHSS)
Volume-2 | Issue-08 | 688-695
Review Article
Challenges Militating against Reform Policy, Economic Growth and Development in Nigeria: Reflections on the Transformation Agenda of Goodluck Jonathan’s Administration
Muddassir Ahmad Gado, Sanusi Abdulwasiu
Published : Aug. 25, 2017
Abstract
Nigeria as a country have experienced a number of reform and economic policies pursued by previous Heads
of Government from Independence to the democratic dispensation of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. One of
these policy package was the transformation agenda which was planned to last for the period of five (5) years. The
strength of the Transformation Agenda lies in a well thought out policy document, driven by the best world class
Economic Management Team through a potential financial, human and political resource based. The total projected
investment for the 5 years programme was N35. 511.29 trillion. Out of this, government will contribute 57.10% or N20.
277.72 trillion, while the private sector share will be 42. 9% or N15. 233.57 trillion. Looking at the cash flow budgetary
plan, one will expect a drastic ransacked economic recovery. In spite of this huge investment, the country growth at this
mention period remained blurred and disastrous however, a number of threats and challenges to the realization of the
Transformation Agenda were cited as the caused. These include, absence of good governance and accountability;
ineffective public service; lack of synergy between political office holders and holders of public office; the incessant
problem of insecurity; corruption to mention but a few. Haven embarked on a rigorous and extensive qualitative method
of research design, the authors adopted a content analysis method for analyzing their findings, the paper posited that there
is the need for a radical developmental strategy that will guarantee inclusiveness as opposed to exclusiveness in the
governance of the Transformation Agenda and almost all previous reform policies which shall act as a platform for future
government reform plan. The paper was divided into five sub-related sections including introduction, theoretical
framework and review of related literature, some selected reform agenda. While the fourth section was specifically
dedicated to the constraints and challenges of the reform agenda; and section five dealt with concluding remark and
recommendations.