Public administration occupies a central position in the pursuit of sustainable development, serving as the institutional mechanism through which government policies are designed, implemented, and evaluated. In Nigeria, despite abundant natural and human resources, sustainable development remains elusive due to persistent governance challenges, weak institutions, policy inconsistency, corruption, and limited administrative capacity. This study examines the role of public administration in promoting sustainable development in Nigeria, focusing on economic, social, and environmental dimensions of development, and anchored on insights from Elensi et al. and other scholars such as Igbokwe-Ibeto, Okolie and Ikenga, Adebayo, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The study adopts a qualitative and literature-based approach including secondary sources of information from the internet, books, journal articles, newspapers, government documents, and other pertinent sources. These works demonstrate how ineffective public administration undermines development outcomes, even where sound policies exist. The study argues that sustainable development in Nigeria is primarily constrained by weak public administration rather than policy absence. It concludes that strengthening institutional capacity, enhancing accountability, promoting ethical leadership, and institutionalizing participatory governance are essential for achieving sustainable development in Nigeria. The study recommended among others that Public Administration should be strengthened through clear mandates, professional autonomy, and legal frameworks enhancement to improve policy implementation, and administrative stability.