Why Policies Fail in Nigeria: An Evaluation of Agriculture Policies Made from 1972-1985

Abstract

This paper shall examine why policies fail using as a case study the failure of agriculture policies in Nigeria from 1972-1985. It shall examine how factors such as lack of proper policy formulation, implementation and evaluation led to policy failure in the agriculture sector in Nigeria. Furthermore, the role of socio-political and economic factors affecting policy making shall be evaluated. In order to seek possible solutions to the problem of policy making in Nigeria, this paper shall evaluate relevant policy frameworks recommended by scholars for furthering the policy cycle. Consequently, this paper shall establish the best possible framework that can be used to avert policy failure in Nigeria. Theories of public policy that are used in writing this paper include the theory of agenda setting, inheritance before choice theory, deliberative process theory, and the rational policy transfer theory.

Keywords: Agriculture, formulation, implementation, policy

JEL Classification: J4