Good Governance and Accountability in Nigeria’s Developmental Dilemma

Abstract

This paper examines good governance and accountability as a sine qua non for ensuring effective development and social order, with special reference to the Nigerian nation state. Development, which has to do with both quantitative and qualitative changes in the structure and performance of forces of production through eradication of poverty, disease, hunger, inequality, unemployment among other social problems can not meaningfully take place without good governance in place. The concept of good governance encompasses general values and basic freedoms that include accountability, competence, the reign of the rule of law and absence of human right abuse. The paper gives an overview of governance with focus on the democratic dispensation with a view to determining how it has, over the years, contributed to the current level of development of the nation and it also reviews the failures of the national developmental efforts as a result of some deficits in the national leadership either from the intellectual, moral, or ideological point of view as well as the attempt to run a democratic polity without genuine commitment to the principles of accountability. The paper ends by showing the responsibility of governance in ensuring political stability, provision of sound institutions, sound macro economic policies, conducive investment climate, good management of natural resources, accountability, welfare schemes, and a climate free of corruption all of which are essential ingredients for development.