PATHOLOGICAL INERTIA: INSTITUTIONAL DECAY OR STRUCTURAL RIGIDITY? EVALUATING BUREAUCRATIC BARRIERS TO ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

EZE, Benjamin N. and ANOWOR, OLUCHUKWU F and Ukpere, Wilfred Isioma (2025) PATHOLOGICAL INERTIA: INSTITUTIONAL DECAY OR STRUCTURAL RIGIDITY? EVALUATING BUREAUCRATIC BARRIERS TO ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS. Annals of Spiru Haret University, Economic Series, 25 (4). pp. 1-16. ISSN 2068-6900

[img] Text
PATHOLOGICAL INERTIA_INSTITUTIONAL DECAY OR STRUCTURAL RIGIDITY EVALUATING BUREAUCRATIC BARRIERS TO ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS.pdf
Download (577kB)

Abstract

Nigeria's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) hang in the balance, strangled by pathological inertia, a silent killer manifesting as institutional decay or structural rigidity. Are bureaucratic barriers mere decay or unbreakable rigidity, dooming progress? Distinguishing between institutional decay and structural rigidity, this study interrogate the reason Nigeria remains persistently off track in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals despite extensive policy commitments. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the research analyses Nigerian governance and budget data from 2015–2023. Findings reveal that structural rigidity, manifested through siloed mandates and rigid procedures, is the dominant constraint on SDGs delivery. Regression results confirm that bureaucratic functionality, not macroeconomic volatility, dictates SDGs performance. Consequently, the paper argues that institutional reforms targeting coordination and budget execution under SDG 16 must precede new policy frameworks to break this cycle of outcome scarcity.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: A General Works > AS Academies and learned societies (General)
Divisions: Faculty of Arts > Faculty of Law > Faculty of Management and Social Sciences > Faculty of Education
Depositing User: Uchenna Eneogwe
Date Deposited: 01 Jun 2026 12:19
Last Modified: 01 Jun 2026 12:19
URI: http://eprints.gouni.edu.ng/id/eprint/5697

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item
GOUNI Repository is powered by EPrints 3 which is developed by the School of Electronics and Computer Science at the University of Southampton. More information and software credits.