The Mixed-Economy Framework and Nigeria's Public Policy Process: A Review of Growth and Development Implications

The issue of close affinity or linkages between environmental resources, systems characteristics and public policy is a subject that goes beyond any form of doubt within the cycle of scholars of Public Policy and Public Policy making.  In consolidating this view point which is also a reality within varied public policy contexts, this paper would be looking at the Nigerian scenario with particular reference to the nation's mixed economy characteristics and how it relates or even affect the process of making public policies in Nigeria.  The paper further noted and observed that various political actors; the Executive, Legislature, Pressure Groups and Parties are greatly constrained, aided and guided by environmental conditions or policy scenario  thus, further confirming that environmental resources, its texture or landscape, have great influence on not only the character but content of public policy.  It is on the basis of this broad premise that we situate the objective and focus of this paper or presentation which is essentially based on discussions with policy scholars and several other secondary information sources.  In attaining its conclusions, the paper is aided by earlier empirical analysis in the area of policy studies in Nigeria.  Accentuated by data from other  authoritative  secondary sources, the paper is concluded by emphatically re-stating the need to clearly redesign the partnership between the two key sectors - public and private sectors through which the best characteristics of free enterprise as well the 'welfarist' stance of a command economy could be brought to bear on the policy process.