UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS

AKOKA-YABA, LAGOS STATE

INSTITUTE OF AFRICAN AND DIASPORA
STUDIES

RULE OF LAW AND GOVERNANCE IN AFRICA

(AFS 812)

TOPIC:
GOVERNANCE SYSTEM AND NATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT

BY
ADEYINKA TOBILOBA MICHAEL
AYODELE WURAOLUWA SOIBI 209019003
BABATUNDE OLUWADAMILOLA I 209019002

OCTOBER, 2021
Introduction

Governance structures are critical to managing any given society all over the globe. Government
establishes and executes policies, rules, values, law and justice systems to uphold the law,
orderliness, stability and equality for its citizens in every society. The implementation of all these
by a Government of any nation state can most comfortably be referred to as Governance.
Similarly, Governance refers to the exercise of power or authority by a Government to mobilize
resources to aid the social and economic development of a nation state.

CONCEPTUAL CLARIFICATION AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHOOL OF THOUGHT

Government, as an arm of the state, is constitutionally bound to formulate and implement
policies that will promote stability in the state. Government is the machinery and institutional
arrangement of exercising the sovereign power of serving the internal and external interest of the
political community (Prasad, 2002).

According to (Ogundiya 2010, p. 202), governance is “the process that is employed to achieve
the noble end of the state”. From the liberal conception of the state, it means that governance is
meant to actualize the purposes for which the state is instituted. Philosophers such as Aristotle,
Plato, Locke and Hobbes advanced various reasons for the existence of the state. But in all, one
can clearly infer from their theories that the essence of the state is to provide protection, order,
and justice for the citizens. It is in the light of this that (Oburola; 2003) says that “good
governance is absolutely imperative for social and economic progress”.

Development is a difficult word to define. However, attempts have been made by erudite
scholars to conceptualize development. Some of these definitions will be explored for the
purpose of this study. (Gboyega; 2003) captures development as an idea that embodies all
attempts to improve the conditions human existence in all ramifications. It implies improvement
in material wellbeing of all citizens, not the most powerful and rich alone, in a sustainable way
such that today’s consumption does not imperil the future, it also demands that poverty and
inequality of access to the good things of life be removed or drastically reduced. It seeks to
improve personal physical security and livelihoods and expansion of life chances.
(Naomi 1995) believes that development is usually taken to involve not only economic growth,
but also some notion of equitable distribution, provision of health care, education, housing and
other essential services all with a view to improving the individual and collective quality of life
(Naomi, 1995). Chrisman (1984) views development as a process of societal advancement,
where improvements in the well-being of people are generated through strong partnerships
between all sectors, corporate bodies and other groups in the society. It is reasonable to know
that development is not only an economic exercise, but also involves both socio-economic and
political issues and all aspects of societal life.
As a guide to understanding national development, it is germane to look at the view of
scholars on national development. The liberal and Marxist scholars have presented their
individual concepts of development. According to Obi and Obikeze (2004), these views are:
(1) Liberal View of Development
The sociological import of the French Revolution is that it gave rise to liberal ideology.
The main thrust of the revolution was to have a change that would usher in liberty,
equality and fraternity. Liberal perspective on development prefers to judge the extent of
social justice from the individual rather than that of society as a whole.
(2) Marxist Perspective on Development
This view is equally regarded as radical view, hence, its call for revolution to bring about
speedy development rather than mere reform. This view is credited to Karl Marx and V.I.
Lenin. This Marxist – Lenin philosophy is simultaneously the science of laws of
governing the development of nature, society and thought and the world outlook of the
working class, affirming communist ideals and moral principles. Since World War II,
Marxist theory has focused on unifying themes of international inequality and the
dependence of poor countries on the rich for their economic development. They opined
that development will only come when there is justice, and equality- a point of agreement
with the liberal scholars.

Origin of Governance and National Development

The word of Plato, man is a political animal connotes the fact that governance is as old as man
began to undergo evolutions. According to records, the first set of were nomadic in nature, that
is, they are wanderers who hunts for foods and gather fruits, they are just after the goal of
surviving and nothing else matters. Overtime, evolutions came in through acquisition of some
levels of intelligence and they started laying more emphasis on intelligence (homo sapien) over
ability (homo habilis) which also ushered in the stone and metal ages where they started
inventing and producing tools needed for their day to day living. Karl Marx in his historical
materialism stated that the agriculture revolution or discovery of agriculture eliminated the
nomadic nature of humans and man became settlers which also precipitated the need for an
organizational or administrative system or a machinery to control and keep under check the
affairs of the people.

To emphasize Karl Marx historical materialism, the settlement of man birthed various eco-
political evolutions from the early ages to the modern age, that is, different governance systems
were put in place at these different stages of human lives which includes feudalism, aristocracy,
theocracy, oligarchy, monarchy etc. also, different political scholars and sages like Confucius,
Socrates, Aristotle, Plato in their words were able to contribute their quota of intelligentsia to
human governance in conjunction with medieval and modern scholars like Niccolo Machiavelli,
Thomas Hobbes, Jean Jacques Rousseau, John Locke, Voltaire, Hegel , Karl Marx were able to
contribute to the major governance culture practiced in the contemporary period which include
democracy, socialism, neo-liberalism, parliamentary system of governance, rule of law,
absolutism etc. however, school of thoughts on governance system keeps oozing from different
regions of the world. In essence, which ever mode of governance adopted is geared towards the
path of national cohesion and development, it is therefore safe to say, there is no development
without evolution.

The independence of Africa in the mid-20 th century, when Africa assumed the control of her
affairs began the post-colonial governance journey. Many of the governance system introduced
by western world and the scholars were adopted and some of these governance systems was
Africanized, talking from the angle of Julius Nyerere and few others African leaders. With all
these adoptions both domestic and external, in Africa, indexes of development are lacking. This
dearth is manifest in uncontrolled inflation, lack of portable water, inadequate food production,
shelter, inadequate social services and wide spread corruption. Others include declining
educational standards, election malpractices, increased industrial actions, increased foreign
debts, ethnic tension, terrorism, wars, unemployment, religious intolerance, armed robbery, riots,
assassination, political instability, high rate of illiteracy and conflicts. These vices have negated
development in these nations. Arising from these negative attributes, development is crucial
among the Third World countries to eradicate these anomalies and ameliorate their general
welfare which is at the lowest ebb. Development administration (good governance) is crucial in
developing countries as it will enhance their level of political, economic, social and cultural well-
being with the aid and instrumentality of public potential. National development remains a
critical mission Africa is engaged in, that is; Africa is still a developing continent.

GOVERNANCE AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA

National development can be described as the overall development or a collective socio-
economic, political as well as religious advancement of a country or nation. This is best achieved
through development planning, which can be described as the country’s collection of strategies
mapped out by the government.
Emerging trends point to good governance as a panacea towards accelerated development in
economic, political and social sectors of nations. As such, states willing to realize, promote or
maintain economic, political and social development, brace their energy on good governance. The
call for good governance has been the major aspiration of citizens of every country across the
globe. Its effect is widely understood to bring justice, equity and fair distribution of the wealth of
nations to all and sundry hence, every citizen takes to holding government accountable on the
mandate. Madhav (2007) argues that good governance can only be determined within the context
of the value system of the people in terms of the historical background, the culture, the
aspirations, and the nature of the political system, the religious and ideological predisposition,
and the declared political and economic objectives of the people. The logic in this is that for

good governance to be so-called, it must conform to certain values . According to Ogundiya

(2010, p. 202), governance is “the process that is employed to achieve the noble end of the
state”. From the liberal conception of the state, it means that governance is meant to actualize the
purposes for which the state is instituted. Such philosopher Kings as Aristotle, Plato, Locke and
Hobbes advanced various reasons for the existence of the state. But in all, one can clearly infer
from their theories that the essence of the state is to provide protection, order, and justice for the
citizens. It is in the light of this that Oburola (2003) says that “good governance is absolutely
imperative for social and economic progress”. For (Odunuga, 2003), governance is the manner in
which power is exercised in the management of a country’s economic and social resources for
development. The leaders and the led should embrace the good governance philosophy if
development is to meet the underlying rationale it stands for. Both the leaders and the led have
their (individual) roles to play to embrace good governance and strengthen development. Highly
developed nations can attest to promotion of national development through the application of
good governance in their development administration.
ELEMENTS OF GOOD GOVERNANCE AND IMPACT ON NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
(1) Political accountability
(2) Regular elections to legitimize the exercise of political power or democratic polity.
(3) Participation by various social, economic, cultural and professional groups, in the
process of governance and decentralization or power to local organizations
(4) Freedom of information
(5) Efficient and effective administrative system
(6) Transparency
(7) Rule of law
(8) Independence of the judiciary
(9) Cooperation by government and civil societies
(10) Bureaucratic accountability
As said earlier, good governance is a panacea towards accelerated national development in economic,
political and social sectors of nations. National development, according to Longman dictionary of
contemporary English, refers to a phenomenon that embraces a whole nation. National
development therefore can be described as the overall development or a collective socio-
economic, political as well as religious advancement of a country or nation. This is best achieved
through development planning, which can be described as the country’s collection of strategies

mapped out by the government. Development is critical and essential to the sustenance and
growth of any nation. A country is classified as developed when is able to provide qualitative life
for her citizenry. Africa in the last sixty years has been battling with the problems of
development in spite of huge human, material and natural resources in her possession.
The prevalent rate of underdevelopment among the Third World countries seems unabated. The
level of their national development is still below expectation years after political independence.
Remarkably, national development remains a vital future of a nation, as such, its realization is
dependent on efficient application of good governance and development administration. This
will culminate into the improved economy and better standard of living among the citizens.
Government, as an arm of the state, is constitutionally bound to formulate and implement
policies that will promote stability in the state. The ability of the government to accommodate
public opinion in decision-making, implement such policies with intermittent evaluations to
ensure compliance is vital. It is equally ideal, to guarantee the principle of rule of law objectively
as this will, in no doubt, promote peace in the society.
Formulation and implementation of friendly policies will attract and encourage the citizens to
participate both in economic and political activities freely within the confines of the state‘s
policies. The smooth operation of economic and political activities will ensure social order.
Good governance equally accommodates aspects of a civil society inclusion as stated earlier.
Sharma, Sadana and Kaur (2013:64) observed that,
…Good governance establishes the rule of law, enforces contracts and agreement between
the individuals, maintains law and order, guarantees security to the people, economizes on
cost and resources, protects the government and properly delivers services to the society. It
also determines an optimal size of the government and makes best possible use of
government resources.

Thus, development is a complex phenomenon comprising many dimensions, political,

administrative etc. In all, development should aim at improving the living standards of greater
number of people in the society, before we can conclude that there is development in such
society as Okereke and Ekpe (2002:21) have outlined development indicators to include:
1. The growth rate of the Gross National Product (GNP)
2. Level at which income is equitably distributed
3. The rate of poverty reduction
4. The level of labour output per man
5. The extent of agricultural development
6. The level of industrialization
7. The rate of technological advancement
8. The rate of capital formation and
9. The extent to which the economy is diversified
Relationship between Governance and National Development: A case study of Nigeria
Good governance manifests itself in all facets of society and the economy. Development cannot
take place in an atmosphere of insecurity and unstable political system. It is in view of this that
the World Bank has said that lack of development is a direct consequence of bad governance,
emphasizing that bad governance inhibits the growth of the economy. According to the World
Bank (1992):
Bad governance has many features, among which are, failure to make a clear separation between
what is public and what is private gain; failure to establish a predictable framework for law and
government behavior in a manner that conducive to development; or arbitrariness in the
application of rules and law; excessive rules, regulations, licensing requirements, etc., which
impede the functioning of markets, and encourage rent-seeking; priorities that are inconsistent
with development, thus resulting in a misallocation of resources and excessive narrow base for,
or non-transparencies, decision-making.
As Obadan (1998) argues, where all these problems exist there is little or no room for
development. Thus, bad governance hinders socio-economic and political development
anywhere in the world. There is no doubt that national development can only be achieved where
there is good governance and stable polity. Thus, Todaro (1986) asserts that there is a positive
correlation between good governance and national economic development. Since governance in
much of Africa has been pathetically bad, it is not surprising that national development has been
correspondingly very slow, especially where there has been a long period of military interregnum
as was the case in Nigeria.
Ogbu (1998) argues that inept political leadership and lack of organization constitutes a
stumbling block to national development in Africa and the rest of the Third world. He says that
these two variables provide a useful framework for appreciating and analyzing the internal
dimension of the problem of national development in Nigeria and the rest of Africa. Ogbu argues
further that the task of defining and pursuing national goals is carried out only by a relatively few
political leaders who represent a small percentage of the total population of the country. The
active involvement of the intellectual class will go a long way in defining appropriate goals and
objectives and in also charting a clear course for development.
Poverty and unemployment rates are very high in Nigeria and the rest of Africa as a direct
consequence of bad governance. Statistics show that 70.8% of Nigerians live .below the poverty
line of $1 a day and up to 92.4% live below $2 a day (The United Nations International
Children’s Fund, 2003; World Bank, 2006). The high rate of youth unemployment of between 20
and 75% of Nigerian youths who graduate from tertiary institutions year by year contributes to
insecurity and high rate of crimes in the country. The springing up of the Boko Haram sect made
up of idle Muslim youths in Nigeria is not unconnected with the usual frustration arising from
unemployment. For all these problems to be achieved, good governance is indispensable. Part of
Nigeria’s problem is that the country’s development objectives and strategies have more often
than not been set externally, and therefore not capable of addressing the peculiar problems and
needs of the country. This problem has now been compounded by the phenomenon of
globalization. There is an urgent need to create a virile but flexible workforce that can initiate
development momentum in the new world economic order that is driven by globalization. This
underscores the need to create a congenial atmosphere for enduring good governance in Africa
and the rest of the Third World countries that are saddled with the problem of underdevelopment.
National development in Africa has been a critical issue for many African countries. This is
closely linked to the colonialism and the birth of the new independent nation states in Africa.
The ability for the political elites and new national leaders to effect good governance in the
individual nations of Africa has set the pace for national development across the continent. The
process of Governance brings about plans for nation building within a country. The challenges
facing Governance such as corruption, nepotism, economic instability, insecurity and religious
intolerance have left the state of nation building in chaos in many African states

Taking Nigeria as a study, there have been series of development plans in Nigeria. Nigeria is
permanently hunted by the spectre of development. Its sixty-one years of independence actually
are rolling by daily in search of development. The myth of growth and development is so
entrenched that the country’s history passes for the history of development strategies and growth
models from colonial times up to date. No term has been in constant flux as development. This
seems the only country where virtually all notions and models of development have been
experimented (Aremu, 2003). Two years after independence, the first National Development
Plan policy was formulated between 1962 and 1968 with the objectives of development
opportunities in health, education and employment and improving access to these opportunities,
etc. This plan failed because fifty percent of resources needed to finance the plan was to come
from external sources, and only fourteen percent of the external finance was received
(Ogunwumike, 1995). Collapse of the first Republic and the commencement of civil war also
disrupted the plan. After the civil war in 1970, the second national development plan 1970 to
1974 was launched, the plan priorities were in agriculture, industry, transport, manpower,
defence, electricity, communication and water supply and provision of social services
(Ogunwumike, 1995). The third plan, covering the period of 1975 to 1980 was considered more
ambitious than the second plan. Emphasis was placed on rural development and efforts to
revamp agricultural sector. The fourth plan 1981 to 1985 recognized the role of social services,
health services, etc. The plan was aimed at bringing about improvement in the living conditions
of the people. The specific objectives were: an increase in the real income of the average citizen,
more even distribution of income among individuals and socio-economic groups, increased
dependence on the country’s material and human resources, a reduction in the level of
unemployment and underemployment (Ogunwumike, 1995). During these periods, Nigeria’s
enormous oil wealth was not invested to build a viable industrial base for the country and for
launching an agrarian revolution to liquidate mass poverty. For instance, the Green Revolution
Programme that replaced Operation Feed the Nation failed to generate enough food for the
masses. In the recent past, various strategies for development have also been tried with little or
no result; among these were the structural adjustment programme (SAP), Vision 2010, national
economic empowerment and development strategy (NEEDS), creation of development centers,
etc. currently, seven point agenda of the present administration with vision 2020 without any
clear methodological approach towards achieving them. It is obvious that the current results so
far are not what development connotes. The problems of national development in Nigeria in spite
of series of development strategies put in place by successive governments, and sometimes with
good intentions, all attempts to generate meaningful development proved futile. Based on this,
one is now confronted with these puzzles: “Were those previous development plans or strategies
bad in their context, or wrongly projected?” If nothing was wrong with the plans, then why is it
still difficult to generate meaningful development in spite of the huge resources at our disposal?
The solutions to these puzzles are not far-fetched. A lot of factors have combined together to
fetter nation’s development. One, there are in most cases, no executive capacity responsible for
the formulation and implementation of the plan. What we usually see are officials entrusted to
such a position but without any meaningful executive authority. Some of the previous
development plans failed because; there was little or no consultation of the general public.
Planning is supposed to involve even the peasants in the villages.
 CHALLENGES OF GOVERNANCE AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA AND POSSIBLE
STRATEGIES TO TACKLE THEM
Based on foregoing issues raised on strategic national planning for development, one is now
confronted with these puzzles: “Were those previous development plans or strategies bad in their
context, or wrongly projected?” If nothing was wrong with the plans, then why is it still difficult
to generate meaningful development in spite of the huge resources at our disposal? The solutions
to these puzzles are not far-fetched. The solutions to this puzzle have been largely answered in
line with the state of governance in the country. A lot of factors have combined together to fetter
nation’s development. One, there are in most cases, no executive capacity responsible for the
formulation and implementation of the plan. What we usually see are officials entrusted to such a
position but without any meaningful executive authority. Governance usually involves
consultation of the general public for a decision to be made.
Some of the previous development plans failed because; there was little or no consultation of the
general public. Planning is supposed to involve even the peasants in the villages. To this end,
Governance in developing African countries has faced severe challenges and continue to struggle
to stay afloat today.
The challenges facing Governance such as corruption, nepotism, economic instability,
insecurity and religious intolerance have left the state of nation building in chaos in many
African states. Hence, rather than make significant progress, many African states look worse off
when compared to their colonial days. While only a few have made some level of progress,
others have retrogressed significantly, raising questions over justification for their independence,
when actually they cannot take charge of their affairs and people. The continent seems to have
been placed under a curse of governance failure and irresponsible governance. It is no doubt that
governance rules the affairs of the state and set the pace for human and capital development
which in turn become the core of national development. The circumstance, therefore, that Africa
is significantly lagging behind in terms of quality governance explains the resultant lack of
human and capital development so visibly rampant on the continent. Challenges like corruption,
democratic erosion, insecurity, electoral violence, conflicts and manipulation, and state capture
of institutions, among others, continue to ravage the prospects of quality and good governance in
Africa. Africans have continued to be governments for themselves, striving to provide for
themselves services and public goods which are ordinarily the sole responsibilities of the state.
 These challenges which continue to negatively affect national development are highlighted
below.
1. Corruption- Arguably, corruption remains the greatest bane of governance and
development in Africa. Corruption spans through every aspects and facets of society in
Africa. From followers to the leadership, including public officers, corruption permeates
the continent. The gross diversion of public funds by those who have been saddled with
the responsibility to govern has left Africa largely underdeveloped. The menace of
corruption runs through most government institutions that it has become practically
impossible to transact in any public space without having to give bribes in Africa.
Politicians who are privileged to get into public offices steal money and export them to
be stashed in bank accounts abroad. This has occurred in wantonly and frightening levels,
so much so that the natural resources which the continent is so blessed with now amounts
to naught. For instance, 22 years after the rule and death of the military dictator General
Sani Abacha of Nigeria, the country keeps receiving repatriated billions of US dollars and
Euros stashed in bank accounts abroad by the one-time Head of State. This speaks
volume of the rate of mass looting of state treasury going on in Africa. Money and
resources that could have been deployed for socioeconomic, infrastructural, and human
capital development have been siphoned into private individual pockets. This has left
public roads, hospitals, schools, and other public services in a devastating state in Africa.
Corruption has affected every facets of life in Africa – economic, political, and social –
causing a major drawback in these aspects of life. It is with no doubt one of the biggest
governance challenges on the continent, as its adverse effect on governance inadvertently
impacts on other aspects of society and more specifically national development for
African states. It has impacted on the well-being of societies, families, and individuals,
causing many households to be plunged into hunger and poverty.

This is correct to the extent that resources which could have been directed toward socio-
capital, development of citizens and families end up in the pockets of those in whose
hands such resources have been entrusted. For instance, the COVID-19 pandemic has
further unraveled the awful state of public health facilities in Africa. Many years of
corruption and embezzlements of public funds have resulted in the diversion of funds
meant for health research institutes and upgrading medical facilities in Africa. The
adverse effect of this has been brought to the open by the covid-19 pandemic, which is
now revealing more glaringly the devastating state of healthcare system in most parts of
the continent. With respect to corruption in public institutions, most Africans think that
corruption is rising fast on the continent, with more than one in four Africans having to
give a bribe to access public services like healthcare, Police, and education services
(Transparency International; 2019). This corruption in government institutions ensures
that the poor is continuously deprived unlimited access to public services and are made to
spend their meager savings on bribes to access these essential services where available.
Corruption has crept into every government institutions –from the Police to other
institutions. The Police has been found to be the most corrupt government institution
across Africa (Transparency International 2019). In fact, the Nigerian Police now gives
smaller denomination of the naira (change) to citizens who give them higher
denominations as bribes because they have no smaller denominations. They confidently
practice this on Nigerian highways in the glare eyes of the public and none has been
convicted or dismissed for such act. A show of some confidence that those at the top of
the hierarchy are in support of their sharp practices. Given the spate of corruption in
Africa, including its ravaging effects, it has been correctly captioned as the AIDS of
democracy on the continent which has continued to destroy the hope and future of many
societies (Hope and Chikulo 2000). The greatest contribution and enhancement to
corruption in Africa could be explained in the politicization of bureaucracy on the
continent. This has allowed a sort of agreement between politicians and bureaucrats to
loot the treasury dry. This has continued to advance corruption in Africa. Until
bureaucracy is depoliticized in Africa, corruption may continue unabated and consume
the continent. In African Parliaments, parliamentarians receive kickbacks to sponsor and
pass bills in favor of certain big firms and corporate bodies, including the executive.
While they do this, they continue to receive bogus pay from public treasury for which
they deliver no significant development to the respective constituencies which they claim
to represent. Where and when they ever execute projects in their constituencies, contracts
are awarded in the most corrupt manner to the highest bidder of contractors who can give
the highest kickback and not necessarily those who can do the job better. At citizen level,
 while Africans continue to complain about corrupt politicians and those in public offices
(elected or appointed), citizens themselves involve in corrupt practices, cheating one
another. In the market places, business owners simply increase prices to catch in on any
situation, without any increase in production cost. Quite undeniably, African politicians
and elites who are involved in governance sit at the very core of these corrupt practices
and have been involved in massive corruption and looting of state treasury, nevertheless,
citizens themselves are not spared of the corruption pandemic going on in Africa. This
has posed and continues to pose serious challenge to the governance and national
development in nation states on the continent.
2. Leadership Challenge: Leadership and governance are intrinsically intertwined. One
cannot talk of governance without the mention of those at the very helms of governance
structure – leaders. Leadership demands high level of charisma and discipline, including
intelligence and a foresight. Where the leadership of any country is lacking of these,
governance will most certainly encounter some challenges. Most of Africa’s leaders lack
the leadership charisma capable to provoke good policies which are necessary for good
governance. While some of them have claimed all sorts of qualifications to enable them
to be eligible to stand for elections, some have simply been “packaged” and presented to
the people by those who want to benefit from their leadership. In actual terms, most of
them lack the requisite training and experience to provide quality leadership. Hence, most
African leaders continue to face the critical question of fitness for leadership. To a very
large extent, Africa seems to lack the type of decisive and charismatic leadership needed
to propel good governance and socioeconomic and political development currently
eluding the continent. The bulk of Africa’s governance challenges have been of
leadership failure. Most political leaders on the continent are not innovative to think or
work out the solutions to the numerous challenges bequeathing the continent; rather they
are much interested in taking control over state resources. This underscores the
willingness of African political leaders to do just about anything to get to power and
remain there. No clear-cut ideologies among leaders, they are mainly driven by power; as
such, African leaders align wherever they can fetch themselves political power and not
to any specific ideology. This has resulted in “visionless” African leaders. In the midst of
lack of vision and ideology to make the right policies and take the right decisions to drive
 good governance, the prospects of development become bleak in Africa. Political power
and rule has been largely personalized by African leaders, thus having significant
consequences and adverse impacts on robust public policymaking capable to drive good
governance and development (Hyden 1992: 23). The African continent continues to lack,
to a very large extent, truly patriotic leaders with genuine intentions for the people and
the state. The leaders have mostly sought personal gains to the detriment of the people
and the state. While the people remain in abject poverty and are denied access to quality
life and public services, African political leaders loot the state treasury to make
themselves comfortable. They seem to be least concerned about the future of their
countries and people, provided they can get luxury life for themselves and their families.
This points clearly the lack of patriotism on the part of these leaders. The political will to
do good both to the state and the people is grossly inadequate and, in some cases, is out
rightly missing among African political leaders. Leadership has simply been personalized
and deployed for self and personal aggrandizement, rather than for national development.
There is indeed, outright poverty of leadership on the continent; hence everyone tends to
behave the way they like. This has been a major governance challenge in Africa. Indeed,
Africa needs more leaders like Nelson Mandela, Kwame Nkrumah, Obafemi Awolowo
and Julius Nyerere with the right leadership insight to drive good governance and the
much desired development.
3. Insecurity, Terrorism and Banditry: The spike in acts of insecurity in Africa
constitutes yet another governance challenge on the continent. Over the years, Africa has
continued to deploy huge resources that could have been directed toward socioeconomic
development on addressing security challenges. African budgets have seen an increasing
rise in security allocations, far higher than what have been allocated to other critical
sectors like health, education, and infrastructural development. Boko Haram in the Lake
Chad Basin, activities of the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA), kidnappings, and
farmer/herder clashes in Sudan and Nigeria, proliferation of local wings of Al Qaeda and
ISIS, banditry in most parts of the continent, small arms proliferation across Africa,
among others, are serious challenges to governance. Besides, as the resources insecurity
is currently gulping in Africa, the needed attention that government should give to other
critical governance issues is being diverted to address serious security issues capable of
tearing the continent apart. Where insecurity thrives, as in Africa currently, development,
peace, and stability are jeopardized (Afolabi and Idowu; 2019). This explains the lack of
significant development, the chaos, and instability ravaging most parts of the continent.
For example, the destructive activities of Boko Haram terrorist sect in the Lake Chad
Basin have resulted in retarded and distorted economic, social, and political
developments, especially in North Eastern region of Nigeria.
The farmer/herder crises ravaging most parts of Sudan, Nigeria, and other parts of Africa
constitutes a serious drawback for governance and development. The series of intrastate
conflicts going on in Africa is another source of concern for the prospects of good
governance on the continent. The ravaging effects of wars and ethnic conflicts in Nigeria,
Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Burundi, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),
Sudan, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Rwanda have ensured stunted socioeconomic and
political growth in the countries. While years of civil and ethnic wars may sometimes
pass, the devastating effects they leave behind continue to pose threat to good
governance. Years of resource commitment are required to rebuild the effect of such wars
and insecurity. For economic, social, and political development to be achieved in such
society, states must deploy huge and expensive resources to rehabilitate the society. This
is often at the expense of resources that could be utilized to provide better life for citizens
and improve public services to midwife societal development. It suffices to add that while
the world is currently directing all its resources toward containing the Covid-19
pandemic, some African countries are faced with insecurity challenges to deal with
alongside the pandemic. This is as terrorist groups and bandits have continued their
deadly terror attacks on towns and villages. This diverts both attention and resources
from the Covid-19 pandemic which currently demands full scale global attention.
The point must, however, be made that while insecurity negatively impacts governance
in Africa, often times, insecurity is a product of governance failure. Whereas most
governments have failed to carter for citizen’s welfare – education, jobs, and healthcare,
among others –, citizens give the excuse of poverty, neglect, and marginalization to get
involved in acts that threaten state security. For instance, the Niger Delta militant groups
in Nigeria took up arms against the Nigerian state, citing years of government’s total
neglect as reason for their actions. While the Niger Delta region produces the main stay
of the Nigeria’s economy – oil –, the region has suffered years of neglect and
marginalization over the years. Although politicians steal money accrued from oil
exploration from the region, they stash these money abroad and build luxury houses at
the nation’s capital, leaving the region in abject poverty, gross infrastructural decay, and
environmental degradation. To attract government’s attention, therefore, several militant
groups have emerged in the region, causing serious security challenge to date. The Boko
Haram, ISWA, and other terrorist groups in Africa have also enjoyed broad and easily
enticed membership recruitment, thanks to governance failure on the continent. With so
many impoverished and out of school children in Africa, these terror groups find it quite
very easy to recruit men against the state that has abandoned them and caused their
predicaments. The autocratic and greedy nature of African leaders has led to conflicts and
ethnic crises on the continent. The major conflicts in Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau,
Liberia, and Cote d’Ivoire over the past decade are traceable to leadership autocracy and
greed (Adebajo and Rashid; 2004). The anti-democratic practices and ethnic favoritism of
African leaders which often alienates and threaten certain groups and pitch them against
one another or to take up arms against the state, constitute a major trigger of insecurity in
Africa. Lopsided and highly politicized appointments into public positions, ethnic and
tribal favoritism, nepotism, complacency, and strategic marginalization of certain groups
have instigated dissatisfied groups to take up arms against the state. Such marginalized
groups see it justifiable, therefore, to instigate violence and conflicts against the state.
The secessionist groups that such acts of leadership produce often threaten peace,
stability, and development. In the end, serious resources are directed toward quailing
these crises and putting an end to the destructive actions of such groups. Resources could
be deployed more reasonably to other aspects of governance. The point must be made,
therefore, that while good governance is critical for peaceful and stable society, so is a
stable and peaceful society crucial for good governance. All the insecurity challenges,
whether naturally created or those that arise from governance failure, obviously mitigate
sustainable and all-round development in Africa.
Other challenges facing national development are unemployment, ethnicity and religious
pluralism, high crime rate, incomplete infrastructural developments and projects as a
result of change in governance, amongst others.
 Problems of the Third World countries like social stagnation, under-developed economies,
parochial loyalties to caste, illiteracy, poor health, tribal or ethnic groups, lack of managerial and
technical skills, weak or under-developed political administrative institutions etc attracted the
main tasks that were geared towards accelerated economies, social political development and
national consolidation. Development became the focus of the Third World nations in the
beginning of 1960s. This prompted the western countries responses to their development
challenges. The proponents of development administration are of the opinion that the best
developmental channel for emerging new states is the strengthening of the administrative
capabilities of the public bureaucracy and later turning it into an instrument for development
through strategies, actions and approaches that are reflective and adjustable to the situational
circumstances. The fact remains that, African leaders have made their various efforts in
achieving the goal of national development through different means known to them; this section
will be discussing the efforts made in achieving national development.

Good Governance: Leadership and development administration remains the first major criteria
every nation must possess to attain the needed level of national development, that is, a
development administration that is efficient and committed towards socio-economic and political
development of the nation state. The whole question of good governance revolves around the
nature and style of leadership. It is the manner in which the political leadership of a country
conducts itself that determines whether or not there is good or bad governance. It has been
established that the character and style of leadership goes long way in determining the level of
national development. A good leader is known by the extent to which he provides social and
economic welfare for the people, his judicious use of the resources of the nation, and the extent
to which he is able to transform the nation. It remains a common phenomenon in Africa that
leadership and development association is the basic factor lacking, which has greatly contributed
to the plight African states have at hand since they got independent. Thus, in Africa, national
development can be measured by the extent to which the political leadership succeeds.
Generally, it is when governance is geared towards ensuring justice and equity in the distribution
of the nation’s resources that good governance can be seen to exist in the country. It is important
to note that good governance must be carried to all sections of society, such as the three arms of
government (the Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary), the private sector, the media, the
corporate sector, trade unions, and even Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). In all of this,
public accountability and transparency are critical elements. It is when all sections of society and
organs of government conduct their affairs in a socially responsible manner towards achieving
common good that good governance can be achieved (Madhav, 2007).

Inter-Relations among African States: No country is an island as said, for every country to
secure some levels of development, there is a germane need to inter-relate with other countries
especially when it comes to belonging to an international organization, regional or sub-regional
organization. Collectivity overtime has been a modus on which the world is been operated
because of the socio-economic benefit that is aligned to it. In contemporary Africa, regional and
sub-regional is driven by the will or goal to achieve high level of national development of its
member states in all facets and to give African states a major voice in the global scene.
Objectives ranging from cultural and exchange programmes, economic aids and trading favours,
conflict resolutions and territorial integrity other developmental objectives. African states has a
lot to gain belonging to a committed international organization whose objectives are driven with
honesty and willingness to achieve its objectives
Exchange Programmes: Emphasizing more on exchange programmes among African states,
which is part of the African studies which involves the socio-economic understanding of African
culture. There have been series of exchange programmes especially in the areas of academy
among African educational organisations to foster research in various disciplines. In essence,
exchange of culture in areas of languages and ideas which is paramount towards understanding
each other the society. Not only in the areas of academy, there have been exchange programmes
on skills like engineering , contruction, artisanship, arts and so on. The festival of art and culture
held in Dakar, Senegal in 1966, hosted by President Leopold Senghor brought the culture of all
African under an umbrella, which also gave the avenue for cultural exchange among African
states.

Youth Empowerment: The youth are germane members of every society, determinants of the
success of major sector of the economy of the state. However, for African state, the youths are
sidelined from major economic section of the state which is a major stampede on the national
development of the African states. This remains oppression on the part of the youth as they are
depended on by the very young and the very old in terms of welfarism. However, the potentials
of the youth remained unexplored and at same time, the potentials of the youths are decaying
which also birthed the fact that the youth engage in immoral and illegal acts for the sake of
wealth acquisition. The case of unemployment among youth is a common phenomenon in
African states which has led to suicide, brain drain and mass migration of skills out of Africa to a
more engaging west, in sum, this leads to loss of human wealth to the western world. The case is,
the youths of Africa need to be empowered, because in the youth lies the huge potentials that will
take Africa forward.

Industrialization and Infrastructural development: This is a major theme when it comes to

measurement of development in the global scene. Industrialization and infrastructure over the
years has been a major mainstay of measuring national development as it has a whole lot to
contribute to the economic development of the state. Good road connection, provision of
standard electricity and infrastructures and other basic amenities. These are major traits that
contribute to the national development of the state as it allows for the growth of domestic and
external investment in the state; it attracts influx of investors across the globe.

Stability and Continuity of Policies: Stability and continuity of policies encourage investment
and propel development. Africa leadership must learn to build on policies rather than to jettison
them for new ones for the sake of party politics and personal aggrandizement. It can’t be argued
that this is a common phenomenal Africa, as there have been long histories of half completed
project, as a result of change government. This has contributed to the stagnancy of national
development of Africa states
Agricultural re-engagement: There is the need for Africa to revamp the agricultural sector; this
sector was instrumental in the development of Africa right after the independence of Africa
states until it lost it grip o Africa due to the discovery of other natural resources. Agriculture used
to be the mainstay of Nigeria economy but the discovery of crude oil succeeded in putting
agriculture into state of oblivion, agriculture was sidelined in the space of crude oil. However, oil
is losing its value in the international market.
Education and skills acquisition: Human resources development is also a sine qua non to
Nigeria national development; this was demonstrated in Japan and Korea (Lawal et al., 1976).
Development depends very much on human knowledge and skills. This must be such that a high
quality of education and training is achieved for a large majority at a reasonable price and the
context and quality of such education and training should be relevant and adequate to the
country’s development needs. Literature on development stresses the axiom that it is the people
who develop and that unless there are large numbers of suitably qualified people, development
cannot take place.
Attitudinal Change: There is a need for attitudinal change. Taking Nigeria as a case study,
Nigerians must as a matter of fact change their pessimistic attitude towards development. The
idea or belief that “things cannot work in Nigeria or Nigerian factor” should be discouraged.
Real development is achieved through internal activities rather than from external influences.
Development is seen as a process generated within a society by forces propagated and
invigorated by the actual members of that society. It is believed that true development can
neither be started nor sustained by outsiders. Although, no country can develop in isolation, but
heavy emphasis should not be placed on foreign resources for the country’s development. The
models of development of Japan and China show how these countries utilize their internal
resources both human and material for rapid economic development. It is reasonable that
Nigerians should inculcate a high sense of patriotism as demonstrated by the Japanese and
Chinese.
Citizenship over Ethnicity: Citizenship should be promoted over indignity in order to achieve
cooperation and participation of all communities in the development process. Leadership in
Nigeria must behave in a way to inculcate the spirit of patriotism in the minds of the people, so
that they will be ready to stand with the government in her development efforts. When ethnic
groups in Africa see themselves as one and not as belonging to one section of the country as
portrayed presently, the urge to develop Africa states will be germinated and sustained.

Conclusion

This paper has carefully discussed governance and national development in Africa. It examined
the problems of governance and how it affects national development negatively amongst African
countries, and carefully outlined the driving forces of development in some of the Asia countries
as models for Nigeria’s development. The paper also suggested some viable recommendations
and strategies needed to engender good governance and sustainable development in Africa. It is
the belief of this paper that if these options and models are faithfully and judiciously pursued and
imbibed, Africa as a continent will be well positioned in the global economy for good
governance and national development across African States.

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