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Abstract
Nigeria’s development journey is characterised by numerous economic reforms aimed at
catalysing citizens’ welfare and development since its independence in 1960. Regimes, military
and civilian, have adopted diverse christened economic reforms such as development plans,
Operation Feed the Nation, SAP, NEEDS, and ERGP. The overarching question of whether
these policies achieve the intended welfare of citizens and enshrine sustainable economic
development remains paramount to achieving SDG 8. This sets the objective for this study.
The research adopted a qualitative analytical design and employed secondary data sources from
credible online and offline to interrogate Nigeria’s experience. It found that the series of economic
reforms undertaken was abysmally low, made sustainable economic development difficult,
inflicted pains on Nigerians and betrayed their promised expectations. Hence, the repeated
regime’s disappointment qualified the parenting tough love approach to theory in application
to the government-citizen relationship. The study canvass, amongst others, suggests that the
government should be selective of the policy to adopt.
Keywords
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Copyright (c) 2026 Samuel Sunday Idowu
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
References
- Adedokun, A. (2015). Nigeria 2015: What Next for Buhari’s Agenda? March 3rd https://ourworld unu.edu/en/nigeria-2015-what-next-for-buharis-agenda
- Akande, O. (2022, 14th February). 2023: Revisiting Jonathan’s transformation agenda. 3rd March https://w ww.the cabl e.n g/2023-revisiting-jonathans-transformation-agenda/
- Arowolo, D. E. & Ologunowa, C. S. (2012). Privatisation in Nigeria: A Critical Analysis of the Virtues and Vices. International Journal of Development and Sustainability, 1(3): 785-796.
- Bassey, E. A, Ijim, U. O., Ironbar, V. E., Out, A. P., Duke, O. O. and Eba, M. B. (2024). Economic recovery and growth plan, economic sustainability plan and national development plan (2021-2025): The Nigerian experience under President Muhammadu Buhari. Cogent Social Science Vol. 10 (1) https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2023.2289600
- BudgIT, (2023). The economic legacy of the Buhari administration. March 3rd https://www.t hecabl e.ng/the-economic-legacy-of-the-buhari-administration/
- Caldwell, C and Anderson, V. (2023). Tough Love and the Leadership Relationship. Nova Science Publisher.
- Effiong, E. U. (2022). Industrial Policies and Industrial Sector Performance in Nigeria. Asian Journal of Economics, Finance and Management 7(2): 24-45
- Eze, M. C. and Nnedum, O. A. U. (2013). Public expenditure management reforms and national development: A critical evaluation of Obasanjo’s administration, 1999-2007. African Journal of Political Science and International Relations 7(2) 42-51
- Idowu, S. S. (2020). Mono Economy Syndrome of Nigeria: Reposition of Manufacturing Sector for Sustainable Diversification and Development. Research Nepal Journal of Development Studies 3(1) 77-90
- Max, E. and Adum, A. (2016). Politics of Economic Reforms in Nigeria: A Comparative Analysis of NEEDS AND SAP, Journal of Policy Development Studies Vol 10(2) 127-143
- NCCG (2021). Worldwide Governance indicator and Good Governance Index. https://ncgg.org.in/sites/default/files/lectures-document/1_1.pdf
- Nwannpka, N. N. (2017). Sustainable Agricultural Development in Nigeria: A way out of Hunger and Poverty. European Journal of Sustainable Development 6(4) 175-184
- Olorunfemi, S., Tomola, M. O., Felix, O. A. and Ogunleye, E. O. (2013). Manufacturing Performance in Nigeria: Implications for Sustainable Development. Asian Economic and Financial Review 3(9) 1195-1213
- Severance, S. J. (2019). “I Love you, but Shut up and do Something about it.”: An Appraisal Theory Exploration of Tough Love. A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied Science. March 3rd https://library.ndsu.edu/ ir/bitstre am/handle/10365 /31701/%E2%80%9CI%20Lov e%20You%2C%20but% 20Shut %20 Up%20and%20Do%20Something%20About%20It.%E2%80%9D%20An%20Appraisal%20Theory%20Exploration%20of%20Tough%20Love.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
- Udeaja, E. A., Akanni, E. O. and Offum, P. F. (2021). Revisiting the Finance and Industrial Growth Nexus in Nigeria. Economic and Financial Review 59 (2) 5-26
- Ugwukah, A. C. (2022). The Nigerian Agricultural Sector: Analysis of Influential Impediments Factors to its Growth, Development and Prospects for Improvements. Journal of Agriculture and Crops DOI: 10.32861/jac.84.299.308
References
Adedokun, A. (2015). Nigeria 2015: What Next for Buhari’s Agenda? March 3rd https://ourworld unu.edu/en/nigeria-2015-what-next-for-buharis-agenda
Akande, O. (2022, 14th February). 2023: Revisiting Jonathan’s transformation agenda. 3rd March https://w ww.the cabl e.n g/2023-revisiting-jonathans-transformation-agenda/
Arowolo, D. E. & Ologunowa, C. S. (2012). Privatisation in Nigeria: A Critical Analysis of the Virtues and Vices. International Journal of Development and Sustainability, 1(3): 785-796.
Bassey, E. A, Ijim, U. O., Ironbar, V. E., Out, A. P., Duke, O. O. and Eba, M. B. (2024). Economic recovery and growth plan, economic sustainability plan and national development plan (2021-2025): The Nigerian experience under President Muhammadu Buhari. Cogent Social Science Vol. 10 (1) https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2023.2289600
BudgIT, (2023). The economic legacy of the Buhari administration. March 3rd https://www.t hecabl e.ng/the-economic-legacy-of-the-buhari-administration/
Caldwell, C and Anderson, V. (2023). Tough Love and the Leadership Relationship. Nova Science Publisher.
Effiong, E. U. (2022). Industrial Policies and Industrial Sector Performance in Nigeria. Asian Journal of Economics, Finance and Management 7(2): 24-45
Eze, M. C. and Nnedum, O. A. U. (2013). Public expenditure management reforms and national development: A critical evaluation of Obasanjo’s administration, 1999-2007. African Journal of Political Science and International Relations 7(2) 42-51
Idowu, S. S. (2020). Mono Economy Syndrome of Nigeria: Reposition of Manufacturing Sector for Sustainable Diversification and Development. Research Nepal Journal of Development Studies 3(1) 77-90
Max, E. and Adum, A. (2016). Politics of Economic Reforms in Nigeria: A Comparative Analysis of NEEDS AND SAP, Journal of Policy Development Studies Vol 10(2) 127-143
NCCG (2021). Worldwide Governance indicator and Good Governance Index. https://ncgg.org.in/sites/default/files/lectures-document/1_1.pdf
Nwannpka, N. N. (2017). Sustainable Agricultural Development in Nigeria: A way out of Hunger and Poverty. European Journal of Sustainable Development 6(4) 175-184
Olorunfemi, S., Tomola, M. O., Felix, O. A. and Ogunleye, E. O. (2013). Manufacturing Performance in Nigeria: Implications for Sustainable Development. Asian Economic and Financial Review 3(9) 1195-1213
Severance, S. J. (2019). “I Love you, but Shut up and do Something about it.”: An Appraisal Theory Exploration of Tough Love. A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied Science. March 3rd https://library.ndsu.edu/ ir/bitstre am/handle/10365 /31701/%E2%80%9CI%20Lov e%20You%2C%20but% 20Shut %20 Up%20and%20Do%20Something%20About%20It.%E2%80%9D%20An%20Appraisal%20Theory%20Exploration%20of%20Tough%20Love.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Udeaja, E. A., Akanni, E. O. and Offum, P. F. (2021). Revisiting the Finance and Industrial Growth Nexus in Nigeria. Economic and Financial Review 59 (2) 5-26
Ugwukah, A. C. (2022). The Nigerian Agricultural Sector: Analysis of Influential Impediments Factors to its Growth, Development and Prospects for Improvements. Journal of Agriculture and Crops DOI: 10.32861/jac.84.299.308