A Case for Multi – Level Development Planning in Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria's development planning history as evident in several plans reveals lopsidedness in participation by the different regions and tiers of government. While most development plans claim to have a national outlook in design, implementation and execution, the exclusion of local governments in the planning process, particularly after the adoption of rolling plans, affected popular participation in development planning. Effective conceptualization of any plan aimed at national development must adopt the multi-level development planning approach to factor in all critical variables and problems for even and predictable path of growth and development. The Indian development planning experience shows that all planning variables are important in the compilation of a national development plan. In this regard, state development plans in Nigeria should be based on inputs from the local councils which, if properly amalgamated becomes the national development plan.