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Good Governance and Sustainable Development in Africa: A Study of Governance in Nigeria

Agada, Fakumo Timikoru, PhD, Okorie, Nkemakolam, PhD, Abdullahi, Shehu Halidu

Abstract

This research seeks to understand how good governance can contribute to sustainable development of a country, and how the absence of it could impact in the negative way. The case study of governance mechanism and set up in Nigeria has been considered for discussion. The democracy of Nigeria has been subjected to the misfortunes of poor governance ever since the time of its independence from the British rule. The country’s governance and political rule until now has been bereft of ideas, innovation, progress and overall accountability. In the absence of all the essential factors of a good governance mechanism, little can be expected from the country to protect the civil rights of its people and ensure their development. This research presents an exhaustive literature on issues associated with good governance, International Political Economy (IPE), neoliberalism, as well as the indicators of good governance like voice and accountability, absence of terrorism, government effectiveness, control of corruption and rule of law. Descriptive method was adopted as the issues to be studied in-depth exists in reality and available in the public domain. Findings revealed that Nigeria has failed to climb high up the ladder in all the governance indicators, as specified by the World Bank. The country lags behind and ranked low (in a percentage of 100) in terms of all the governance indicators. It is therefore recommended among others the need for an institutional framework that would help lessen the economic and non-economic risks in the state e.g., to facilitate revenue management, setting up parliamentary committees, ombudsman, creation of institutions of oversight and treasury management.

Keywords

Good Governance and Sustainable Development

References

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