Abstract

This paper addressed the rationale for the establishment of a state and the institutions of governance and state administration of Nigeria, the old British colony which was annexed in 1861 by the then British Government. It further analysed the social challenges that the old colony has been battling with since independence in 1960 which constitute variety of social ailments for the country and its citizens. Yet, the country still suffers from the ailments, and to this end, this paper attempted to further identify the ailments and proffer healing solutions. This paper heavily relied on secondary sources of information and documentary responses on the social ailments inflicting Nigeria. The facts were elicited and descriptively analysed. The findings of the analysis revealed that the social ailments infecting Nigeria since her independence are not insurmountable as long as the Nigerian political elites are upright, selfless and regard political offices as a national service, and not a forum for acquisition of personal wealth. The authors also asserted that strict adherence to democratic principles and legal compliances with the constitution and statutes will go along way to heal the country of its social ailments. This paper concluded that unless the leadership variable is properly reexamined and sanitized, healing of Nigeria social ailments may be a mirage hence political and economic decay instead of political, social and economic transformation and development.

Key words: Old colony, social ailments, bureaucracy and administration.