Reconceptualising public policy: A qualitative assessment of its implications for economic development in Nigeria

Abstract

Public policy remains one of the most contested concepts in governance and public administration, with no universally accepted definition despite its central role in shaping economic and social development. This conceptual ambiguity has significant implications for policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation, particularly in developing economies such as Nigeria, where public policy is expected to address persistent challenges of economic diversification, unemployment, poverty, infrastructure deficits, and institutional weakness. This paper reconceptualises public policy by critically examining the definitional debates within the literature and assessing their implications for economic development in the Nigerian context. Adopting a qualitative, doctrinal, and analytical approach, the study synthesises extant literature, theoretical perspectives, and policy experiences to demonstrate that traditional state-centred definitions inadequately capture the complexity of contemporary policymaking. The paper argues that public policy should be understood as a dynamic, context sensitive governance framework that integrates governmental institutions, non-state actors, policy processes, implementation mechanisms, and measurable development outcomes. It further examines the strategic role of public policy across key sectors of the Nigerian economy, including petroleum, agriculture, manufacturing, finance, energy, and services, while highlighting the institutional and governance constraints that continue to undermine policy effectiveness. The study concludes that sustainable economic development depends not merely on the existence of sound policies but on conceptual clarity, institutional capacity, stakeholder collaboration, accountability, and evidence-based implementation. It recommends a shift towards an adaptive and outcome-oriented policy framework capable of responding to Nigeria's evolving socioeconomic realities. The paper contributes to public policy scholarship by offering a broader conceptual understanding that strengthens both policy analysis and development practice in emerging economies.