COVID 19 AND PUBLIC POLICIES SOMERSAULTING IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper appraised the nexus between public policies and the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. The study set out to ascertain if the ecology of Nigeria public policy caused the degeneration of legitimacy of government institutions by the citizenry. It continues with a conceptual exploration of the meaning of policy and public policies as general concept and as perceived by various scholars within the context of this study. The study looked at the elite theory as theoretical anchorage to illuminate the nature, patterns and varying degrees as well as the strategies adopted by the elites to facilitate public policies in Nigeria. The content elements of the study x-ray public policy typology, problems of public policy in Nigeria, COVID-19 and public policy somersaulting in Nigeria that portrays the failing nature of the Nigerian-state. The paper concludes that COVID-19 pandemic met Nigeria as an unprepared state that almost lost it sovereignty due to various crises generated by the pandemic. We recommended sustainable public policy paradigm and technological advancement courses at all levels of education in Nigeria as part of embodiment against such pandemic.