A RAWLSIAN FRAMEWORK FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

This research has undertaken a critical examination of the persistent failure of development policies in Nigeria and the structural injustices that have continued to marginalize large sections of the population. It began by exposing the unequal access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunity, showing how existing policies often fail to reach those who are most in need. Through a detailed analysis of the Nigerian context, it was revealed that social injustice is not merely a policy gap but a deep institutional problem, rooted in unfair structures that have been allowed to persist. In this light, the failures of development are not incidental but are shaped by a lack of moral orientation in public policy and governance. The second chapter turned towards philosophy for answers, engaging deeply with John Rawls’ theory of justice as fairness. By analyzing key concepts such as the original position, the veil of ignorance, the two principles of justice, and the method of reflective equilibrium, the chapter offered an alternative vision for how societies can be structured. Rawls’ theory challenges conventional development thinking by emphasizing fairness, equality, and the moral priority of the least advantaged. This framework provides a powerful critique of utilitarian and technocratic models that fail to protect vulnerable populations. Instead, it grounds justice in shared moral reasoning and demands that political and economic arrangements be evaluated from the perspective of those with the least power. In the final chapter, Rawls’ theoretical insights were applied directly to the Nigerian context, offering a practical and normative framework for development. It argued that development planning must go beyond statistical growth and address the moral legitimacy of institutions and policies. From healthcare and education to budgeting, employment, and governance, the chapter outlined how Rawls’ principles could reshape Nigeria’s policy landscape. The proposed Rawlsian framework demanded that public institutions be evaluated not merely by efficiency but by their capacity to enhance the lives of the least advantaged. Moreover, it insisted on public reason as the standard for legitimacy in political decision-making, thereby offering a route toward inclusive and justice-oriented governance. This research therefore contributes to a deeper understanding of how moral theory can inform institutional design in developing contexts. By linking philosophical inquiry with policy analysis, it offers a normative approach to justice that is both principled and actionable. It shows that Rawlsian justice is not a Western abstraction, but a practical moral compass that can guide reform in pluralistic societies such as Nigeria. In societies fragmented by ethnicity, religion, and inequality, the possibility of building overlapping consensus through public reason becomes essential to democratic stability and inclusive progress. Ultimately, this research makes the case that Nigeria’s path to sustainable development lies not in more reforms or foreign investments alone, but in a radical rethinking of how justice is embedded in its institutions. Fairness must become the standard by which public action is judged. This study affirms that justice is not only a philosophical ideal, it is a practical necessity. By prioritizing the least advantaged and grounding development in moral reason, Nigeria can begin to transform its institutions from instruments of privilege into vehicles of fairness. Through this moral reorientation, the country stands a real chance of building a just and inclusive society, one where development is no longer reserved for the few, but becomes a shared and lived reality for all.