The Effect of Public Policy Implementation on Community and Rural Areas Development in Nigeria

This study examines the impact of public policy implementation on rural and community development in Nigeria, guided by Implementation Theory. The research aims to assess the multisectoral influence of public policies, the role of local governments in policy execution, and the barriers to effective implementation. Using a mixed methods approach, 400 respondents from Various individual in different local government area in South East of Nigeria were surveyed. Data analysis through descriptive statistics and regression analysis revealed a strong correlation (R = 0.999) between public policy types and rural development, with 99.7% of rural development variability attributed to policies. Additionally, local government actions had a significant correlation (R = 0.942), explaining 88.8% of the variability, emphasizing the critical role of local governance in policy implementation. The study concludes that while public policies can enhance rural development, their effectiveness relies on overcoming systemic barriers and empowering local governments. It recommends developing targeted policies for rural communities and strengthening local governance to improve policy outcomes, contributing to a deeper understanding of policy dynamics in Nigeria.