ABSTRACT
Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999 with the enthusiasm
to chat new political and socio-economic dispensation. The introduction of
National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) as a medium term
planning strategy was a blueprint for new order. It contains all the envisaged
policies and programmes of the federal government for the period 2003-2007 and
far beyond, and serves as the fountain of the much-touted Obasanjo’s reforms.
NEEDS is not only a macro-economic plan document, but also a comprehensive
vision, goals and principles of a new Nigeria that would be made possible
through four key policies of wealth creation, employment generation, poverty
eradication and value reorientation. This paper is a reflection on NEEDS. Using
historical and content analysis methods, the paper explores common indices of
development planning in the country. It reveals that NEEDS is not different
from previous development plans in Nigeria, despite the claims to the contrary.
While claiming to be a home-grown plan, it is very much in line with the wishes
of the international agents of developed capitalist economies; there is lack of
commitment of the leadership in pursing plan objectives; corruption is still
rife and priority in selecting plan projects is still poor. The paper
recommends among others, the need for committed leadership, continuity with
NEEDS II document, drawing adequate scale of preference in choosing policies
and programmes, and determined efforts to break from the crutches of neo imperialist
and neo colonial tendencies of the developed countries.
Hawkins, A. (2018). Development Planning in Nigeria: Reflections on the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) 2003-2007. Afribary. Retrieved from https://afribary.com/works/development-planning-in-nigeria-reflections-on-the-national-economic-empowerment-and-development-strategy-needs-2003-2007-9156
Hawkins, Albert "Development Planning in Nigeria: Reflections on the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) 2003-2007" Afribary. Afribary, 29 Jan. 2018, https://afribary.com/works/development-planning-in-nigeria-reflections-on-the-national-economic-empowerment-and-development-strategy-needs-2003-2007-9156. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Hawkins, Albert . "Development Planning in Nigeria: Reflections on the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) 2003-2007". Afribary, Afribary, 29 Jan. 2018. Web. 23 Nov. 2024. < https://afribary.com/works/development-planning-in-nigeria-reflections-on-the-national-economic-empowerment-and-development-strategy-needs-2003-2007-9156 >.
Hawkins, Albert . "Development Planning in Nigeria: Reflections on the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) 2003-2007" Afribary (2018). Accessed November 23, 2024. https://afribary.com/works/development-planning-in-nigeria-reflections-on-the-national-economic-empowerment-and-development-strategy-needs-2003-2007-9156