The Influence of Religion on Nigeria's Public Policy
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Date
2024-09
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Abuja Journal of Administration & Management
Abstract
Nigerian public sees religiosity mostly as a “Nigercentric” affair which influences policy
making and decision taking. This nigercentrism describes the public and political
dominance of religion in Nigeria. This study has appraised the influence of religion on
Nigerian public policy. In other word, the geography of religion influences the geography
of politics in all national decisions, including elective and appointive offices even in
conducting admission to public schools and institutions. In fact, Nigerian society since
independence till date is strongly connected to religion. The consistency in the use of
religion is attributable to the essentials or fundamentals or virtually all the successive
regimes in the country in recognizing the pride of place it has always assumed in the policy
and style of government. Thus, public policy describes the notion of decisions and actions
of government in relation to issues and questions affecting the society. However,
politicians, policy makers and religious leaders are the past masters in the exploitation
and manipulation of decisions. Therefore, the affinity of religion and public policy in
essence gives the impression that the two institutions are inter-changeably important,
instrumental and enforceable through government process which is universally applicable
to society as a whole. the study is premised on theories of interaction with religious and
historical approaches garnished with qualitative method of data analysis in order to justify
its claims.