Democracy and Good Governance in Nigeria 1999-2012

Abstract

Democracy is a system of government through which the people choose their leaders and hold their leaders accountable for their policies and their conduct in office. The people decide who will represent them in parliament, and who will head the government at the national and local levels.  They do so by choosing between competing parties in regular, free and fair elections. It is also designed to allow all citizen irrespective of their social status, religion, ethnic or gender status to have a voice in decision making, thereby promoting good governance and enhance socio-economic development of the country. The question is, to what extent has this principle been achieved in contemporary Nigeria? The paper argues that issues such as corruption, ethnic militancy, pipe line vandalization, kidnapping, thuggery, child trafficking, corruption, lack of observance of rule of law, honesty, transparency and violent ethno-religious crisis are the bane of good governance and accelerated socio-economic development in Nigeria. The paper therefore suggests that for democracy and good governance to thrive in Nigeria as a parameter for achieving rapid socio-economic development, the system must observe the rule of law, transparency and accountability.  Systematic and logical opinions, that can accelerate socio-political and economic development especially that of the opposition party, should be accommodated in Nigeria political system.

Keywords: Democracy, Good Governance, Decision Making, Corruption, Rule of law