EFFECT OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Civil society groups are agents of development in any nation. Civil society organizations play vital role in social, political and economic development activities. The transformation of any society or system, particularly the developing societies like Nigeria depend on the effectiveness and efficiency of its civil societies. This paper critically assessed the impact of civil society groups, and its contribution to sustainable development in Nigeria. The paper also examined factors that hinder the performance of civil society groups in relation to national development. Secondary method of data collection was used to source information. The paper concludes that civil society groups in Nigeria are bedeviled with series of problems ranging from political instability, inadequate funding, disconnection from rural organizations, government patronage, lack of internal democracy, lack of unity, corruption and lack of state support and partnership. The paper recommends that civil society groups need to be sanitized and
strengthened so as to ensure effective service delivery through the creation of an enabling environment for their operation and that they should maintain a high degree of independence from the government.