NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Anure, Joseph .K.

Department of Academic Planning and Performance

Fidei Polytechnic, Gboko, Benue State, Nigeria.

E-mail: kanure@yahoo.com

Abstract: As humanity enters the third millennium Nigeria is bewildered by myriads of economic, political and social problems, which show either no or very little sign of diminishing. The country is plagued by economic depression, political instability, rising ethnic tension, kidnapping, religious conflicts, social malice, inflation, appalling corruption as a system and failure of democracy and state responsibility to citizen. A major issue for the country and the masses is the issue of endemic poverty, which is a denial of fundamental human rights and underdevelopment in all sectors of the economy. The United Nations has set up 8 Millennium Development goals and all its agencies are working towards the achievement of such goals. In Nigeria also the target of development has been shifted from 2000 to 2015. Many organizations have committed themselves as development partners both internally and internationally this paper looks at the importance of non-governmental organizations in the national development of Nigeria. NGOs should contribute to the development of Nigeria by investing in education, agriculture, housing, roads constructions, and health and human services.