Thread by @MoghaluKingsley

#BIGVision #MoghaluSeries

VISION #3: GOVERNANCE - A NEW PARADIGM

Good political leadership must be backed up by good governance — the process by which govts and public institutions conduct public life and manage public resources.The ability to govern is the test of leadership.

Governance is basically how decisions are made and implemented. “Leaders” who think they have earned that description because they’re good at vote-winning (or rigging) tricks of partisan politics but have no clue how to govern effectively, have kept Nigeria poor.

It’s time for Nigeria to be governed in a fundamentally better manner. How a leader governs is determined by his or her worldview, what kind of worldview, the absence of one, or how well developed such a worldview is. If it is narrow and sectarian, “governance”, for example,

what passes for “governance” will simply be the exercise of political authority in the service of a sectarian agenda, instead of real governance. This will provoke destabilizing chain reactions that make peace and stability - fundamental conditions for good governance— difficult.

The elements of good governance include:
A) Effectiveness
B) Transparency
C) Inclusiveness
D) Accountability
E) Efficiency
F) Respect for the rule of law.

Effectiveness. This is the most important criterion. A government must deliver on its promises or the basic expectations of its citizens such as security, healthcare and education,and inclusive economic growth. It’s pathetic to hear excuses like: “the President means well, but..”

The blank can be filled in by anything from the activities of “cabals”, a domineering presidential or gubernatorial spouse, incompetent ministers and aides (all appointed by the Prez or Governor). The buck stops with the leader, whether President, Governor or LGA Chairperson.

Effective governance requires more than good intentions.Meritocracy matters. Merit shouldn’t be sacrificed on the alter of”Federal Character” because we know we have competent and skilled Nigerians from all parts of our country.

Transparency: Governance processes, especially decision making ones, should be easily visible, trackable, verifiable, and should be able to be monitored by other arms of govt, citizens, civil society , and private sector. Transparency builds trust because it lets citizens know

there is no “hidden agenda”. Transparency in governance also helps check corruption. It’s absence is one of the main reasons massive corruption is rife in both federal and state governments.

Accountability: Governments must be accountable. Citizens must be able to ask questions

and demand answers and, if necessary, vote out non-accountable governments. Governments in Nigeria are overwhelmingly not accountable. This is because citizens are poor, docile, and still largely asleep to their power as citizens. At the federal level, ethnic solidarity also

takes priority over accountability. We must wake up to our power in what is supposed to be a democracy and turn that power into a culture of accountability.

Rule of Law:good governance is impossible without respect for the rule of law, which separates a democracy from despotism.

Inclusion & Participation: There are two aspects of this requirement. One, all relevant stakeholders, and citizens more broadly, should be included and participate in governance. This means a process of consultation before major public decisions are taken.

Secondly, in a diverse population like Nigeria’s. citizens from all ethnic nationalities and religions must be part of decision-making and governance processes. Where particular groups are favored in appointments to public offices and other opportunities, this is the worst kind

of governance because it breaks the trust between government and the excluded groups, and disrupts or prevents the achievement of national unity and cohesion. In extreme cases it can breed armed conflict. The contemporary political history of Nigeria perfectly illustrates this.

Efficiency:Federal and state governments in Nigeria don’t execute mandates efficiently. Efficiency has two dimensions. One is efficiency of processes. The other is resources consumed by the government itself relative to the results achieved. This is the “cost of governance”.

On both counts, governance in Nigeria is a monument to waste and inefficiency. See, for example, the approval of N37 billion to “renovate” @nassnigeria . Unless and until we have the political will to cut waste in the public sector, Nigeria’s politicians will have nothing much

to offer our citizens despite all the rhetoric about “good governance”.