Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) do not operate in a vacuum. In active partnership with the State, they can be
effective in addressing public policy. Given the ginormous development demands of the Nigerian populace, the policy
engagement of NGOs ipso facto becomes desirable. However, with the present state of affairs, NGOs seem not to be active
participants in public policy design and governance; an iniquitous practice which negates the ideal of participatory
development. The paper gives a revelatory insight into the contextual issues involved in the policy engagement of NGOs in
Nigeria. If the policy performance of NGOs must be enhanced, the paper contends that NGOs require legal protection, the
reciprocal relations between the state and civil society organizations must be strategically defined, NGOs need to be
economically viable and must comply with ethical operating procedures.
Keywords: NGOs; Public Policy; Political Economy; Nigerian Stat
