NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
National development refers to the process by which a nation improves the economic, political,
and social well-being of its people. It encompasses a wide range of activities and progress in
areas such as:
i. Economic Growth – Increasing the wealth of the country through improved industries,
agriculture, trade, and employment opportunities.
ii. Social Development – Enhancing quality of life through better education, healthcare, housing,
and social justice.
iii. Political Stability and Governance – Ensuring good governance, rule of law, democratic
institutions, and protection of human rights.
iv. Infrastructure Development – Building and maintaining roads, electricity, water supply,
communication systems, and other facilities.
v. Environmental Sustainability – Managing natural resources wisely to ensure long-term
sustainability for future generations.
In summary, national development aims at improving the standard of living for all citizens and
creating a stable, prosperous, and equitable society.
HOW TO MEASURE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
1. Economic Indicators:
i. Gross Domestic Product (GDP): Measures the total value of goods and services produced in a
country.
ii. GDP per Capita: Reflects the average income per person, showing individual prosperity.
iii. Unemployment Rate: Indicates how many people are jobless and actively seeking work.
iv. Poverty Rate: Measures the percentage of the population living below the poverty line.
2. Social Indicators:
i. Literacy Rate: The percentage of people who can read and write, often used to gauge
educational development.
ii. Life Expectancy: Average number of years a person is expected to live, showing the quality of
healthcare.
iii. Infant and Maternal Mortality Rates: Reflect healthcare quality and access.
iv. Access to Clean Water and Sanitation: Basic indicators of health and infrastructure
development.
3. Political and Governance Indicators:
i. Political Stability and Absence of Violence: Indicates a secure and peaceful environment for
development.
ii. Corruption Perception Index (CPI): Shows the level of corruption in public sectors.
iii. Democracy Index: Measures the state of civil liberties, political participation, and electoral
processes.
4. Human Development Index (HDI): This is a composite index developed by the United Nations
that includes:
i. Life expectancy (health)
ii. Education level (literacy and school years)
iii. Income level (GNI per capita)
5. Infrastructure and Technological Indicators:
i. Access to electricity and internet
ii. Quality of roads and transportation
iii. Innovation and research output
Each of these indicators helps provide a broader picture of national development, beyond just
economic growth.
REASONS / BASIS FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
I. To bring about an improvement in the service delivery of the government of the
country.
II. To encourage the active involvement of people in the political processes of a
nation.
III. To improve on the existing infrastructure in the country.
IV. To bring about improvement in the welfare of the people.
V. To provide social amenities like quality education, potable water,
transportation infrastructure, medical care, etc for the people.
VI. To make life more meaningful to the people.
VII. To make the impact of the government to be felt by the people.
VIII. To develop the country generally.
IX. To make the country attractive to tourists, investors and others.
X. To make the country have a say in the committee of nations and
subsequently make her citizens walk tall among nationals of other nations.
IMPORTANCE OR BENEFITS OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
I. The country will become attractive to investors whose activities will generate
employment opportunities for the people of the country.
II. Life will become more meaningful to the people.
III. The impact of government will be felt by the people.
IV. Basic infrastructural facilities will be readily available in the country.
V. The country will be able to compete with advanced countries of the world.
VI. There will be general improvement in the country.
VII. People will be actively involved in the political activities of the people.
FACTORS THAT HAVE RETARDED NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN
NIGERIA.
Below are some of the factors that have retarded national development in Nigeria
over the years:
I. Corruption is a major problem retarding progress and development in Nigeria.
Whatever money or other resources allocated for development in the country often
end up in the pockets of government officials that were assigned with the task of
using those allocated resources judiciously.
II. Rural urban migration which makes people to concentrate essentially in urban
areas often make policy planners not to reckon with rural areas in their planning
since they will want to believe that whatever is established for people there will not
be adequately used by people, who will still find their way out of the place.
III. Lack of developmental plans by successive government in the country is
another factor retarding progress and development in the country. Lack of planning
it is often said, amount to planning to fail.
IV. Selfishness and greed of government officials also contribute greatly to
retardation of progress and development in the country.
V. Favouritism and nepotism among government officials particularly when
considering citizens for government positions and promotion can also retard
development in the country.
VI. Lack of cooperation with government among her citizens for her programmes
is another way by which development is being retarded in the country.
VII. Suspicion and mistrust of government by the citizens can also retard
development.
WAYS THROUGH WHICH CORRUPTION HAS RETARDED THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE NIGERIAN STATE.
i. Quality jobs are not been done because the contract sum was not handed over
fully to the contractor. Those in charge of awarding contracts must have
systematically cornered part of the contract sum.
ii. Contract sums are being shared, therefore preventing delivery of job at agreed
time and sum.
iii. Job sites are being abandoned because the approved sum could not be
accounted for.
iv. Assassination of prominent Politicians and businessmen with bright future are
becoming increasingly rampant, because of competition for government contracts
v. Laudable projects could not be planned because of the fear of non-execution.
vi. Projects that could impact greatly on the lives of Nigerians could not be
executed because people that will approve them refused unless they are corruptly
enriched through the contract.
vii. The cost of carrying out developmental projects in the country has become
unbearably high because people in charge will want to have their own share of the
contract sum.
viii. Sub-standard projects are carried out in different part of the country because a
substantial part of the contract sum has been misappropriated.
HOW TO TACKLE CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA
1. Existing legislation on anti-corruption need to be strengthened.
2. Special corruption panels could be established to try cases of corruption.
3. Government should beam her searchlights on government agencies, departments
and ministries, to discover cases of corruption.
4. There should be no cases of sacred cows in the fight against corruption.
5. People convicted of corruption charges, should be made to go with heavy
sanctions.
6. Public enlightenment on evils of corruption should be embarked upon by the
government.
7. Media campaign on corruption should be intensified.
8. Moral instruction should be reintroduced in schools.
