The security and development of any nation depend critically on the adequacy of its social service delivery to the populace. Social service delivery in Nigeria's Fourth Republic focused essentially though not exclusively on education, health, water resources and housing. Meanwhile, government mechanism for successful implementation of these programmes is not adequate in Nigeria. This paper examines the nexus between economic reforms and social service delivery in Nigeria with a view to

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... the policy issues and options. For the purpose of this objective we drew references from advanced Western societies that have previously embarked on similar schemes. We adopted the theory of dualism for analysis and generated the data mainly through documented evidence. We conclude that since the federal government in Nigeria initiates economic reforms and involves both state and local governments in the implementation of social service for the welfare of the populace as their statutory responsibilities, harmonious blending of these reforms and policies across tiers and levels of government is inevitable to attain the much needed good governance and national development in Nigeria.