Evaluation of the Impact of Good Governance on Sustainable Rural Development in Nigeria: A Study of Kaduna State

This paper evaluates the impact of good governance on rural development in Kaduna State. The problem investigated is stimulated by the expectation of the people for good governance in this democratic era. The specific objective of the study include determining the extent to which the government achieved the tenets of good governance, finding out the impact of good governance on rural development and examining the constraints of good governance in achieving rural development. Data for the study were generated from both primary and secondary sources using the instrument of observation, questionnaire, published and unpublished material as well as the internet. Data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The descriptive tools used include tables and simple percentages while the inferential tool used is the spearman rank correlations. The study revealed that, good governance has not provided rural development. More specifically, there is low service delivery, low rate of adherence to rule of law, lack of transparency and accountability, existence of high rural poverty, decay in rural educational system, inadequate water and road infrastructure as well as inadequate health facilities. The study also revealed poverty, corruption, poor judicial system, as constraints for good governance. It was therefore recommended that, there should be institution of integrity, transparency and accountability in governance, there should be improvement in social services and there should be measures to check misgovernance and mismanagement.

of good governance in rural areas? To what extent does good governance ensure rural development? And what constitute the constraints for good governance in the drive for rural development?

Objectives of the Study
The central objective of this paper is to determine the impact of good governance on rural development. However, specifically, the study seeks to find out the extent to which government achieved the tenets of good governance in rural areas; determine the extent to which good governance ensures rural development and examine the constraints of good governance in ensuring rural development.

Hypothesis
The null hypothesis postulated for this study is "there is no significant relationship between good governance and rural development"

Significance of the Study
Significantly, many studies have been conducted on the impact of good governance such as Abdulkarim (2004), Idris (2006), Ibrahim (2007), Basil (2009), andUgwu (2010), but this study is unique for its focus on rural development. This will fill in the existing gap in these studies and new ideas will emerge from the present study on Kaduna State. This study is of tremendous importance to research, development policy makers and practitioners; international development agencies, the local governments and the general public. All these categories will benefit from the rich literature and data therein.

Scope and Limitations of the Study
This study spans between the period of (2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015) in Kaduna State. This can be justified on the ground that this is a democratic era in which the citizens expect benevolent performance on good governance. The period also coincided with the eight years of servant leadership experienced in Kaduna State. The study is also limited to three local governments; one from each senatorial zone. Thus, Igabi from Kaduna North, Kajuru from Kaduna South, as well as Soba from Kaduna Central were selected. The indices of good governance are emphasized including: citizens' participation, development oriented leadership, accountability, transparency and rule of law. As for rural development, emphasis is on infrastructural development in terms of water supply, roads, Health care, electricity and education. These indices also operationalize the concept of good governance and rural development.

LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK. 2.1 Introduction
This section consists of conceptual clarification; review of previous related studies, theoretical framework and experience of other countries.

Conceptual clarification
Three concepts were explored in this study. These are good governance, development and rural development.

2.2.1
Concept of Good Governance The Concept of good governance does not tend itself to a single definition. Ezeife (2002:36) sees good governance as the careful and guided application of government resources to the upliftment of standards of living of the society. Ademolekun (2002Ademolekun ( :3, 2006:31) sees governance as the exercise of political authority in managing the affairs of the state, he identified the indices of good governance as adherence to the rule of Law; freedom of expression and association; electoral legitimacy; accountability; transparency and development oriented leadership. Sharma (2011:64) sees good governance as the ability to deliver goods to various stakeholders by making the various agents of political system work for the betterment of the people especially the marginalized section of the society.

Concept of Development
Development as a concept defies precise definition. This is because scholars and practitioners advanced definitions based on their orientation and social milieu. Ngu, (2014:3) sees development as a positive process of comprehensive transformation of economic, political and socio-cultural values and institutions towards substantial amelioration of societal values. Gathaka and Wanjala (2012), cited in Idris (2009:30) see development as the process of planned mobilization and harnessing of a society's natural and human resources for the advancement of the social, economic and political wellbeing of a people.

Concept of Rural Development.
The term rural development has been variously defined. However, it is much more restricted conceptually and spatially to rural environment or areas (Shehu, 2015:5). The World Bank (1975:3) sees rural development as a strategy designed, to improve the economic and social life of a specific group of people the rural.
Also, Ijere (1992) sees it as agricultural development. As for Idode (1989) the term implies development limited to spatial occupational context. Drejomach in Ayichi (1995) defines rural development as a process of increasing per capital income and standard of living of rural population which is measured in terms of food and nutrition, health, education housing and security. Ndubusi (1992), cited in Mabel (2010:84) gave a more comprehensive definition of rural development as the development of moral, social, political, and economic potentialities of rural communities to enhance their self-reliance through the provision of appropriate infrastructures. They include pipe borne water, electricity, good roads, increase in people's political consciousness and participation to promote their moral and social wellbeing.

Review of Empirical Studies
The study by Abdulkarim (2004) entitled "Good governance at local government level and development in Nigeria" attempted to analyse the role of good governance in local government administration. The study assumed that the lack of accountability, transparency, qualified staff and independence are indicators of good governance. The study is similar to the present one in its usage of transparency and accountability as indices of good governance.
Another study by Idris (2006) entitled "Towards sustaining democracy for good governance in fourth republic Nigeria", it was revealed that adherence to rule of law, electoral legitimacy, as well as accountability and transparency were low and that the fourth Republic did not ensure good governance. It was therefore suggested that rule of law needs to be strengthened; public institutions need to be among other things.
Basil (2009) studied good governance and leadership in Africa, panacea for sustainable growth and development. To him, what is lacking is the proper leadership that could successfully harness the abundant, natural and human resources of Africa for sustainable growth and development.
Finally, Ugwu (2010) studies good governance accountability and development in Nigeria. The study revealed policy of clienlalism, poor judicial system and absence of procurement law as some of the constraints of good governance.

Theoretical Framework
The theoretical framework adopted far this study is the rural modernization theory. One of the proponents of this theory is Neil Smelser (1963). Rural modernization theory is often operationalised in infrastructure development policy. The theory posits that rural development can be attained through provisions of modern facilities in rural areas, so that they will also share features of modern urban areas.
Applying rural modernization theory to the study on the impact of good governance on rural development in Kaduna State, government is expected to be responsive, accountable and transparent in the provisions of schools and colleges in the rural areas. Establishment of health care centres and maternities, extensive rural water supply and electrification projects, provisions of rural feeder roads and so on. By this, the citizens will have trust in government and thus participate in decision making and improve the commercial interactions and overall well being in the rural populace.

Methodology
This section provides information on the research design adopted; sources and methods of data collection utilized; population and sample size of the study; sampling technique as well as methods of data analysis employed.
In terms of research design, this study adopted the survey research design. The use of survey design can be justified on the bases of economy, reliability, and rapid turnaround in data collection. This study was designed to investigate the impact of good governance on rural development. Variables relating to good governance and that of rural development were examined. The responses of the respondents were measured in the five point likert scale of Strongly Agree (SA), Agree (A), Undecided (U), Disagree (D) and Strongly Disagreed (SD).
In terms of sources and methods of data collection, the study utilized both primary and secondary sources of data. The primary sources used include observation, and questionnaire methods. This is justified on the bases of reliability, convenience, and preserving anonymity. The secondary source consists of books, magazines, newspapers; internet and unpublished materials. The secondary source compliments the primary sources.
The target population of the study consists of rural inhabitants in the selected local governments namely Igabi, Kajuru and Soba. It consists of 750 rural populace, 300 politicians, 410 staff of local governments, 200 members each of youth organizations and women group, 30 traditional rulers; 70 members of non-governmental organizations, as well as 120 community leaders totalling 2,081. The table below shows the distribution.  The sampling technique adopted for the study in drawing the sample size is the simple random sampling technique. Also questionnaires were administered personally by the researcher with the aid of research assistants. Observation was carried out on state of infrastructure in the selected areas.
Finally, in terms of methods of data analysis both descriptive and inferential statistical tools of analysis were employed in the study. The descriptive tools included the use of frequency tables, simple percentages and mean scores for analysing and interpreting data. The inferential statistical tool used was the spearman's Rank correlation, being one of the non-parametic tools for measuring the degree of relationship between two variables "X" Research on Humanities and Social Sciences www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-5766 (Paper) ISSN 2225-0484 (Online) Vol.10, No.22, 2020 (Independent) and "Y" (dependent). The spearman's Rank correlation formula given as = ( ) Where d = the difference between the ranks of Corresponding values of X and Y N = The number of pairs of values (X,Y) in the data. The R value obtained from the formula are subjected to t -test to check significance as thus Where N= number of values of X and Y Source: Spiegel and Stephens (1999). The t value obtained is then compared with the critic value of t distribution at 95% (0.05) level of significance and given degree of freedom (v). The degree of freedom is equal to the number of the pairs of values of X and Y where X is the independent variable and Y, the depended variable.
The decision rule in using R for testing hypothesis is as follows: accept null hypothesis Ho if R calculated value is less than the critical value, if otherwise reject.

Discussion, Results and Findings 4.1 Introduction
This section provides discussions on data presented, analysed and interpreted. It consists of rate of returns of questionnaires, socio-demographic characteristics of respondents, and measuring of variables for rural development, presentation on constraints, statistical testing of hypothesis as well as major findings.

Rate of Returns and Response of Questionnaires
Three hundred and thirty six (336) questionnaires equivalent to the sample size were administered to the sample respondents. Out of 336 questionnaires administered, 316 were returned given a rate of returns of 94.04%. Also, out of the 316 questionnaires returned, 300 questionnaires were duly completed, given a rate of response of 89.3%. The table below shows the rate of questionnaire returns and response.  Vol.10, No.22, 2020 101 Based on the above; analysis of data in this study is on the basis of 300 respondents.

Socio-Demographic Characteristic of Respondents
Here, variables such as Gender; marital status, Age, Educational qualification and occupation were used to elicit information from the respondents and presented on table 5.2 below. From the above table, it is clear that majority of the respondents are male farmers and rural populace. It also shows that the opinions were expressed by those in their active ages and those with reasonable educational qualification. Similarly, except for about 30 respondents, in addition to farming.
Research on Humanities and Social Sciences www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-5766 (Paper) ISSN 2225-0484 (Online) Vol.10, No.22, 2020    From table 4.6 above, respondents revealed that poverty is high in the rural areas under study. 200 respondents representing 66.6% attested to this. It was further claimed that water and roads infrastructure were not fully developed in the rural areas. As high as 280 respondents representing 93.2% attested to this. Also, the table further revealed that there is total decay and collapse of the rural educational system and there are inadequate healthcare facilities for rural health services. 250 respondents representing 82.9% claimed the former while 260 respondents representing 86.6% attest to the latter.

Constraints Of Good Governance
Respondents' opinions on the factors or constraints to good governance to enhance rural development were presented to table 4.7 below. The table above shows poverty, corruption, test for excess wealth, poor judicial system and personalization of public offices as constraints of good governance that can hinder rural development.
From the spearman's Rank correlation and test of hypothesis, the calculated value is less than the critical value and going by the decision rule, the null hypothesis which states that there is no significant relationship between good governance and rural development was upheld.