Strategic Leadership in Times of Crisis and Adaptive Public Administration: A Developing Nation Experience of Policy Response to Economic Volatility

Introduction: Global economic volatility driven by factors such as market fluctuations and inflation, poses significant challenges to governance and stability. Nigeria like some other developing nations rely heavily on oil exports which heightened their vulnerability to global price shifts. This study examined the effectiveness of a developing nation Nigeria policies adopted to tackle economic volatility focusing on adaptive public administration and long-term resilience. Method: This study used a quantitative approach with survey data collected through interviewer administered questionnaire on 500 civil servants in South-East Nigeria. The tool collected information on policy effectiveness, adaptive governance and economic outcomes. Purposive sampling was used to ensure participants had at least five years of experience in civil service. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression analysis. Results: Over 80% of the respondent viewed the policy response of the government as ineffective in addressing the current economic volatility. 87.2% rated the government low in adapting quickly to changes in global economic environment. Over 70% feels there are no long-term prospects in the policies of the present Nigerian government with another 73.8% believing this government can’t lay the good foundation needed in bringing economic growth. Conclusion: Adaptive public administration is vital for addressing economic challenges in developing nations like Nigeria where the current governance under President Tinubu has struggled to stabilize the economy and tackle issues like inflation, unemployment and energy shortages. There is need for such developing nation to enhance policy adaptability with real-time data and continuous evaluation while fostering stronger coordination with stakeholders. Then again, the government must focus on reducing its reliance on oil and prioritize diversifying the economy while also tackling structural challenges to enhance economic stability. Keywords: Strategic leadership; Adaptive public administration; economic policy; economic volatility; inflation