JOURNAL OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND LEADERSHIP RESEARCH (JPSLR )

E-ISSN 2504-883X
P-ISSN 2695 2432
VOL. 11 NO. 4 2025
DOI: 10.56201/jpslr.vol.11.no4.2025.pg121.135


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:


Achebe, C. (1983). The Trouble with Nigeria. Enugu: Fourth Dimension Publishers.
Adeleye, A. (2012). Critical observations on Nigeria’s economic and political stability. Available
online
at:
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/06/critical-observations-on-nigerias-
economic-and-political-stability/ (accessed 2 August 2015).
Adetiba, T. C. and Rahim, A. (2007). Good governance and sustainable socio-political
development. Research in humanities and social sciences, 2(10): 132-143
Africare, P. (2008). The Challenge of Environmentally Sustainable Development in Africa.
Available
online
at:
https://www.africare.org/the-challenge-of-environmentally-
sustainable-development-in-africa/ (accessed 4 September, 2016).
Alesina, A., Ozler, S., Roubini, N. and Swagel, P., (1996). Political Instability and Economic
Growth. Journal of Economic Growth, 2(1): 189-211.
Amuwo, K. (2005). The Peripheral State: Critical Perspectives on the Structure and Role of the
Public Bureaucracy. J. Dev. Altern. Area Stud., 24(3-4): 119-130.
Anyiwe, M. A. (2006). Democracy and Economic Growth: Statistical Evidence from Nigeria
1960-2002. Journal of Applied Sciences, 6(2): 257-265.
Babawale, T. (2007). Good Governance, Democracy and Democratic Best Practices: Prescriptions
for Nigeria. Lagos: Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization Publications
Monograph Series: 7-16.
Barro, R. (1991). Economic Growth in a Cross Section of Countries. Quarterly Journal of
Economics, 3(2): 12-21.
Brown, L. D. and Marcus, L. C. (2006). Corporate Governance and Firm Vauation. Journal of
Accounting and Public Policy, 6(4): 409-434.
Bruntland Commission, (1987). Our Common Future. Oxford University Press, Oxfor. Center for
Economic and Environmental Development, Cambridge.
Campos, N. and Nugent, J. (2002). “Who is afraid of Political Stability?” Journal of Development
Economics, 67(3): 157-172.
Carvalho, G.O. (2014). Sustainable development: Is it achievable in existing international political
economy context? Journal of Sustainable Development, 9(2): 61-73
Chandrasekhar, C.P. (2010). From Dirgisme to Neoliberalism: Aspects of the Political Economy
of the Transition in India. Journal of Development and Society, 39(1): 30-59.
Demmers, J.; Jilberto, F. and Hogenbom, B. (2004). Good governance in the era of global
neoliberalism: Conflict and depolitisation in Latin America, Eastern Europe, Asia and
Africa. Routledge
Didia, P. O. (2007). Theoretical Perspective to Understanding Corruption in Nigerian Economy.
In A. D. Aina (Ed.) Corruption and the Challenge of Human Development. Ilesa-Remo:
Babcock University Press.
Dike, V. E. (2014). Leadership and the Nigerian Economy. Sage Open Journal, 3(2): 1-10
Doidge, C., Karolyi, A. and Stulz, M. (2007). Why do Countries matter so much for Corporate
Governance? Journal of Financial Economics, 72(4): 1-15.
Ejumudo, K.B. (2013). Problems of development planning in Nigeria: a critical discovery.
Development Country Studies, 3(4): 12-30.
Elliott, J. (1994). An Introduction to Sustainable Development: The Developing World. s.l. London
and New York, Routledge.
ESCAP.
(2000).
Human
Settlement,
a
Society’s
Wellbeing,
available
online
at:
http://www.unescap.org/husel/gg/governance.htm (accessed 2 August 2015).
Eyong, C. T. and Foy, I. I. (2006). Towards Alternative Strategies for Sustainable Development in
Africa.
Int.
J.
Sus.
Plann.
1(2))
133-156.
Available
online
at:
http://www.zef.de/module/register/media/3baf_SDP_03.pdf (accessed August 28, 2016)
Ezenyili, O. K. (2012). Democracy and Good Governance in Nigeria: A Survey of Indices of
Transparency and Accountability. s.l.:AuthorHouse.
Fagbadebo, O. (2007). Corruption, Governance and Political Instability in Nigeria. African
Journal of Political Science and International Relations, 1(2): 28-37.
Gathii, J.T. (2010). Representation of Africa in Good Governance Discourse: Policing and
Containing Dissidence to Neo-Liberalism. (18) Third World Legal Studies. Loyola
University Chicago
Girdner, E. J. and Siddiqui, K. (2008). Neoliberal Globalization, Poverty Creation &
Environmental Degradation in Developing Countries. International Journal of
Environment & Development, 5(1): 1-12.
Guga, A. (2014). Good Governance, Key Driver to Sustainable Development in Nigeria.
International Journal of Education and Research, 2(1): 1-21
https://yeyeolade.wordpress.com/tag/fuelsubsidy/ (accessed 2 September, 2016).
Ibrahim, A. A. (2013). Issues in Security, Good Governance and Its Challenges to Economic
Growth and Development. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 3(16):
219-223.
Ihiokwu, P. A. and Okpanem, P. E. (2007). Corruption and Governance in the Nigerian State: The
Way Forward, in A. S. Akpotoretal, (Ed.) Cost of Governance in Nigeria: An Evaluative
Analysis Ekpoma: Ambrose Ali University Publishers Co.
Iyayi, F. (2003). Before and After the 2003 Elections, s.l.: The Guardian.
Kadenyi, M., George, K., Marcella, M. and Wambua, B. (2013). Competent governance for
sustainable development in Africa: A Philosophical Reflection. Global Journal of
Education Research, 1(1): 127-132.
Kaufmann, D. (2006). Human Rights, Governance, and Development: An Empirical Perspective.
Development Outreach, World Bank Institute,: 15–20.
Kemp, R., Saeed, P. and Robert, B. G. (2005). Governance for sustainable development: moving
from theory to practice. International Journal of Sustainable Development, 8(1/2): 12-30.
King, R. G. (1993). Will the New Keynesian Macroeconomics Resurrect the IS-LM Model?
Journal of Economics Perspectives, 7(1): 67-82.
Kjaer, A. M. (2004). Governance. s.l.: Cambridge.
Leftwich, A. (1994). ‘Governance, the State and the Politics of Development’, Development and
Change. s.l.:s.n.
Mebratu, D. (1998). Sustainability and sustainable development: historical and conceptual review.
Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 18(2): 493–520.
Menocal, A. and Sharma, B. (2008). ‘Joint Evaluation of Citizens’ Voice and Accountability:
Synthesis Report.’ London: DFID.
Millennium Challenge Corporation, (2014). Government Effectiveness Indicator, available online
at:
http://www.mcc.gov/pages/selection/indicator/government-effectiveness-indicator
(Accessed 5 September 2015).
Norad, (2010). Good Governance in Nigeria: A Study in Political Economy and Donor Support,
s.l.: Norad.
Norris, P. (2005). Stable democracy and good governance in divided societies: Do power-sharing
institutions
work?
Harvard
University,
available
online
at:
http://www.hks.harvard.edu/fs/pnorris/Acrobat/Powersharing%20solutions.pdf (Accessed
5 September 2015).
Ogujiuba, K., Ehigiamusoe, U. K. And Udefuna, P. (2013). The Challenges and Implications of
Sustainable Development in Africa: Policy Options for Nigeria, Journal of Economic
Cooperation and Development, 34(4): 77-112.
Ogundiya, I. S. (2010). Democracy and good governance: Nigeria’s dilemma. African Journal of
Political Science and International Relations, 4(6): 201-208.
Olu-Adeyemi, L. (2012). The Challenges Of Democratic Governance In Nigeria. International
Journal of Business and Social Science, 3(5): 167-171.
Onigbinde, A. (2007). Governance and Leadership in Nigeria. Ibadan, Hope Publications Ltd.
Rosenau, J. N. (2003). Globalization and governance: bleak prospects for sustainability, available
online
at
http://fesportal.fes.de/pls/portal30/docs/FOLDER/IPG/IPG3_2003/ARTROSENAU.HT
M (accessed 5 August, 2015).
Schnurr, J. and Holtz, S. (1998). The Cornerstone of Development: Integrating Environmental,
Social and Economic Policies. International Development Research Centre. Boca Raton:
Lewis Publishers.
Shleifer, A. and Vishny, R. (1997). A Survey of Governance. Journal of Applied Corporate
Finance, 12(6): 8-25.
Siddiqui


DOWNLOAD PDF

Back


Google Scholar logo
Crossref logo
ResearchGate logo
Open Access logo
Google logo