The Paradox Of Silent Governance And Loud Suffering In Nigeria: Political Priorities, Mass Poverty, Policy Inertia, And The Strain On Democratic Accountability In The Pre-2027 Era
Ass. Professor Orie, Sylvester Okorie (Ph.D, MSc, MPA, MBA, PGD, BSc, CNA, FCNA, FNIM, FCAI)
Department of Public Administration & Policy Studies, Tansian University, Umunya.
Keywords: Governance, Accountability, Transparency, Corruption, Policy, Development
Abstract
This study reflects on the paradox of governance failure and persistent mass poverty in Nigeria. It examines how political priorities, policy inertia, corruption, and weak institutional accountability shape socio-economic deprivation. The main objective is to assess the relationship between governance practices and poverty outcomes in Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design supported by qualitative content analysis. Primary data were obtained through questionnaires and key informant interviews. Secondary data were drawn from government reports, academic journals, policy documents, and credible media sources. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequency tables, percentages, and mean scores. Thematic content analysis was also applied for qualitative interpretation. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 was used as the analytical software package. Sampling size determination was guided by the Yaro Yamane mathematical model for finite populations. Theoretical analysis was anchored on Elite Theory, Structural Functionalism, and Dependency Theory. The study reveals that entrenched political corruption distorts public resource allocation. It also shows that policy inconsistency and governance inertia intensify poverty and unemployment. Furthermore, weak accountability structures sustain underdevelopment despite rising national revenues. It is recommended that anti-corruption institutions be strengthened with greater independence and enforcement capacity. It also recommends the institutionalisation of policy continuity frameworks across political administrations. In addition, public financial management systems should be restructured to improve transparency and equitable distribution of resources. Therefore, the study concludes that Nigeria’s development challenges are deeply rooted in governance failures that require urgent structural and institutional reforms.