Democratic governance and sustainable peace and stability in nigeria elo amucheazi directorgeneral, national orientation agency, nigeria abstract nigeria, like many other african countries, has been in the firm grip of military dictatorship for many years. The democratic system in nigeria is riddled with corruption, bribery, human rights abuses, electoral frauds, godfatherism, violence, economic injustice and the rise in ethnic militia movements that tend to make mockery of nigeria claim to democratic governance. This historic system had found its way back into the nigerian polity after numerous interruptions by the men in khaki and horrendous coup detats. May 31, 2015 despite the fact that nigeria has experienced about sixteen years of uninterrupted democracy practice the are various challenges confronting democratic consolidation and good governance in the nigeria. Nigerias democracy, its electoral process and the journey so far. Their needs are starkly material, so are their expectations from democracy. Democracy in nigeria has three unique features which include. The return of multiparty democracy raised hope as to the arrival of the solution of nigerias crisis of governance good governance, the rule of law.
Nigeria has recorded remarkable success in democracy ndomaegba. Nigeria has recorded remarkable success in democracy ndoma. Democracy, good governance and development in nigeria. It is, perhaps, another example of a long journey with a small miracle. Unfortunately, the growth of democracy in nigeria has remained stunted ajayi, 1998. As we move into the 21st century, in this age of globalization, this should be a matter of concern to all of us. Abstract it is a big surprise that the president, dr. The military and democratic governance in nigeria dr. Nigerias present democratization, which culminated in the countrys fourth republic on may 29, 1999, started amidst great hope and expectations. The third analyzed efforts so far made to align the civil service with the core values of democratic governance, theoretically and practically. Democratic governance in nigeria does not promise to make us perfect, but at least, the process of striving will make us a better people. Democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people. Goodluck jonathan, says he is prepared to prune the.
Good democratic governance can therefore be acknowledged as the term that symbolizes. Pdf democratic transformation in nigeria and the role of. It occupies a very important position in the maintenance of internal security in democratic society, hence they are given powers by an enabling statute to disharge their. Conformity to the latter manifests in good governance, infrastructural development and consequently national development. The main arguments in this paper therefore are that democratic governance, rather than military or unelected government as engendered and supported by csos in a country, enhances political development, and that the lack of enhanced political development in nigeria so far is. Abstract this paper assesses democratic governance in the nigerian fourth republic. Anazodo and others published civil service reforms in nigeria.
The jonathan government did not manage our growth into. Democracy and the future of the nigerian state daniel eseme. Global journal of political science and administration. Geohistorical trajectories of democratic transition. See the problems and prospects of democracy in nigeria. Nigeria, having gone through 18 years of uninterrupted. Some of the issues that will be discussed in this article are the concept of rule of law, democracy and development, shortcomings of democracy and development in nigeria. Democracy, political participation and good governance in nigeria.
Nigerias democratic process can be described as nascent when compared to other countries based on our achievements on the key features of democracy. But how far these can go to prove their case against him is a different. The resultant co nsequence is that t he democratic governance in. It identified the problems that have militated against nigeria s democratic sustainability in the past to include lack of proper democratic institutions.
We need to reflect on our journey so far, so we can do better in the future and leave a better legacy for posterity. The journey so far analysis 31082015 04092015 time nigeria after 16 years of uninterrupted democratic governance in nigeria, africas largest black nation carries out a peaceful transition. The writer and the quest for democratic governance in nigeria. This study, democracy and good governance in nigeria. Perspective of nigeria s democratic system by yusuf o. Ali esq with this exposition on the doctrine of rule of law, it could be seen that the rule of law and democracy go hand in hand. Corruption constitutes one of the greatest challenges and threats to the democrat consolidation in nigeria fourth republic. A contest of text and context african writers nostalgia for purposeful and democratic governance has been unwavering and unalloyed. The institute for democratic governance ideg has released a statement as part of its civic forum initiative warning that ghana. Future prospects hilal ahmad wani research fellow at the centre for civilizational dialogue, university of malaya, kuala lumpur, malaysia abstract african continent is under transition. Be that as it may, democracy has been accepted as a model of governance, particularly, in developing societies including nigeria. Democracy got characterised by high political tension both within and between the parties.
After 16 years of uninterrupted democratic governance in nigeria, africas largest black nation carries out a peaceful transition. The fourth discussed the normative constraints to the civil service role in democratic governance. And by virtue of section 214 of 1999 constitution, nigeria police force was established. Analysing the democracy and democratic practise in nigeria.
Prospects and challenges by pastor tunde bakare protocols. In simple terms, the objective of the paper is to identify and discuss the challenges to democracy and good governance in the country and proffer suggestions for a better democratic nigeria. Pdf the sailing of nigeria ship in politics from colonial era have been in conjunction with. Buhari says his role in that developmentas the threetime losing. Nigeria since its return to civilian rule in 1999 was accompanied by the sweet aroma of a system called democracy.
Democracy is a system of government in which the citizens exercise power directly or elect representatives from among themselves to form a governing body, such as a parliament. It identified the problems that have militated against nigerias democratic sustainability in the past to include lack of proper democratic institutions. It specifically focuses on the nigerian experiencesituation. International journal of advanced legal studies and governance vol. The above highlighted characteristics of good democratic governance were glaringly deficient in governance during the military interregnum, thus making good governance as an element of constitutional government to be in its infancy in nigeria.
The study makes recommendations for norways strategic approach to governance in nigeria based on a political economy analysis. This paper examines the issue of democratic governance and participatory budgeting in the context of their relevance, challenges and implications for the masses in nigeria in the context of the public sector finances and spending. It is unrealistic to expect that in a developmentallychallenged country where poverty is an inescapable companion, citizens would perceive democratic governance from a nonmaterialist perspective. E, okpala in the process of nigeria s political development, the role of the military cannot be ignored.
Eme, okechukwu innocent department of public administration and local government university of nigeria, nsukka. Africa, democracy, good governance, nigeria, welfare. Abstract this paper examines the issue of democratic governance and participatory budgeting in the context of their relevance, challenges and implications for the public sector finances andor public spending and, the masses in nigeria. In kaduna state, more than one year after civilian takeover, the prp governor was yet to form a cabinet.
Democracy was ushered back on may 29th, 1999 by the then. This is what darl 1989 describes as ovirtual democracy o, democracy that shares resemblance with true democracy but lacks basic tenets of democracy. International journal of public administration and management. An assessment of democratic governance in the nigerian fourth republic fatoki oladeji olatubosun and ajayi olubusayo ayooluwa phd research students, department of public administration, obafemi awolowo university, ileife, nigeria. Thus where there is true democratic governance, governance must be tailored in its operation in accordance with the rule of law. Jan 03, 2015 nigeria government under president goodluck jonathan administration commitment to democracy has recorded far reaching landmark electoral reforms and to a large extent, overcome the growing electoral process deficit that had marred the previous elections in the country.
Democracy, good governance and development in nigeria abdulhamid ozohusuleiman department of public administration, faculty of management sciences, university of abuja, nigeria. Problems and prospects of democracy in nigeria infoguideng. As julius nyerere has pointed out, in every form of government, as far as the masses are concerned. The country is beset with excessive corruption, acute unemployment, poverty, ethnoreligious conflicts and lack of infrastructural facilities. Western democracy, as distinct from that which existed in pre modern societies. Most of the countries in africa are conflict ridden societies and most of them are facing bad. Of the fortythree 43 years of existence as a sovereign state, the military ruled for thirty 30 years. Nigeria, as a major democracy in african continent, has to respect every.
Archived from the original pdf on 18 february 2018. It is enthusiastically recommended for those who wish to know more about contemporary nigerian history. The basic purpose of this study is to xray the relationship between good governance and democracy and to identify those factors that militate against good. Democratic governance and political participation in nigeria. May 29, 20 home news nigeria has recorded remarkable success in democracy ndomaegba. The journey so far in service delivery find, read and cite all the research you need on. We reiterate that democracy and development cohabit and inactivity of the former destroys the later. Based on the above, it is concluded that the present democratic process in nigeria is yet to produce good governance. This paper is a contribution to the debate on democratization and development in nigeria. Nigerias democratic journey so far, abuja, february 2002. Nigeria government, process of democratisation, rule of law, happy. Since then, the nature of the democratic project has been the subject of debate in various circles. Accepted 25 october, 2016 contemporary debates on democracy, good governance and development are greatly inspired by the. Democratic governance and sustainable peace and stability in.
Democratic governance and political participation in nigeria 19992014 is a detailed, exhaustive, deep, stimulating and captivating narrative of the nigerian situation. The sailing of nigeria ship in politics from colonial era have been in conjunction with some people who can be described as the nation builder because of the role they have played in nigeria political development among whom is the press1. Nigerias fourth republic and the challenge of a faltering. It was abraham lincoln that gave the world the simplest and the most concise definition of democracy. Democracy is a form of government in which the people exercise the authority of government. Civil society, democratic governance and development in. In fact at the heart of disillusionment enactment is the yearning for the political elite to tow the path of rectitude and institute popular government. Norad was requested to undertake the study by the norwegian embassy in nigeria. By making it work, i mean, we should consistently audit the system of democratic governance we claim to practice in nigeria and ask how well it is working out for wethepeople. Global journal of political science and administration vol. Democratic transformation in nigeria and the role of the judiciary.
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