Abstract
With the continued manifestation and intensification of poverty, child and maternal mortality, unemployment, HIV/AIDS and other economic problems in Nigeria after the expiration of the deadline set for the realization of the Millennium Development Goals, the preoccupation of the existing scholarships have been channeled in interrogating the fundamental impediments to the actualization of these goals. Factors such as lack of human capacity, inadequate and unreliable data system, lack of finance, poor coordination of the policy framework, and among others, were identified by scholars as the bane of the MDGs framework in Nigeria. As the global community moves into the post-MDG era, the study examined the role and relevance of Political Science in advancing the objectives enshrined in the Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria. Employing the basic propositions emanating from the Marxist theory of the Post-Colonial State, the study, beyond the conventional positions of scholars, argued that the non-adherence to the dictates of politics was implicated in the failure of Millennium Development Goals in Nigeria. Also, the study utilized the secondary method of data collection largely drawn from official publication, journal articles and books while we analyzed the data using the content analysis. In the light of the foregoing, we suggested for more inclusion of political scientists in the formulation and implementation of policy frameworks relating to SDG initiatives, on one hand, and the application of basic principles of good governance which remains the core of Political Science, on another hand, in order to address the development challenges that confronting the Nigerian state. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n5p319
Highlights
Nigeria, as presently constituted, is a conglomeration of varied ethnic groups which prior to the historic amalgamation of 1914, were bereft of common social, economic and political background
The Millennium Development Goals remains a genuine commitment by World Leaders to rid the international system of the fundamental challenges that beset the developing countries
From all indicators shown in the tables, Nigeria’s performance within the framework of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) was abysmally below expectation as the country failed to meet up with seven out of the eight goals
Summary
As presently constituted, is a conglomeration of varied ethnic groups which prior to the historic amalgamation of 1914, were bereft of common social, economic and political background. The unification project orchestrated by the British imperialists ushered in an entity known and addressed as Nigeria. By an act of the British Parliament, Nigeria became an independent country within the Commonwealth on October 1, 1960. Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe was installed as governor general of the federation and Balewa continued to serve as head of a democratically elected parliamentary system of government, not until 1963 when the Queen ceased being the Head of State. The Governor-General represented the British monarch as head of state and was appointed by the crown on the advice of the Nigerian prime minister in consultation with the regional premiers. The governor general, in turn, was responsible for appointing the prime minister and for choosing a candidate from among contending leaders when there was no parliamentary majority. The governor general's office was essentially ceremonial (Dawodu, 2007)
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