Bureaucracy and Socio-Economic Management in a Depressed Economy

This paper examined the role of bureaucracy in socio-economic management in a depressed economy, using Nigeria as a case study. The logic and validity of the proposition that bureaucracy is the nucleus of governmental management has long been acknowledged by scholars of development administration. The contributions of such scholars have led to the realization that without a vibrant and dynamic bureaucracy, national socio economic development in less developed societies will nose-dive. The need for vibrant and dynamic bureaucracy in Nigeria cannot be overemphasised taking into cognisance the parochial political culture of the country. Again, the dominance of the political system by the amateur political class places heavy task on the bureaucracy in ensuring the proper functioning of the governmental system. However there are challenges facing bureaucracy in Nigeria which include cold war between bureaucrats and the politicians and the absence of national ideology amongst others. The paper concluded that for effective socio-economic development of the country, the political and the bureaucratic elites should work together as partners in nation building. This can only be attained with a clear national ideology and in a situation where each appreciates the role of the other and work within the limits of each boundary as spelt out by the law of the land.