Good governance means different things to different people. To the citizens of a state, it is a government that is able to fulfill their legitimate aspirations. The government that is able to guarantee the basic necessities of life, e.g. food, jobs, security of life and properties, quality education, quality healthcare and generally create an environment where they can aspire and achieve whatever set goals they set for themselves in life.
International stake holders see good governance as exercising political authority and the use of institutional resources to manage the society problems and affairs
Most citizens of the country have reasons to be disgusted by the state of the country. There is poverty, corruption, kidnapping, strikes, religious and ethnic violence hence makes it hard for the people to stake their life for the country
Many of the political appointees either rigged into power or came in through electoral violence hence they do not have project and policies that will create employment for the populace. Accountability of our politicians to the people is zero because they did not get their vote legitimately. Most were not called to serve if our politician and leaders got their votes legitimately and directly from people they will be accountable to them, state official have served their own interest without fear of being called to account for their actions.
Jumbo salaries, perks, allowance constituency packages makes political office more desirable than the call to service. Politics has become personalized and patronage becomes essential to maintain power.
The main element of governance on which there is broad agreement in the literature are rule of law, freedom of expression and association, electoral legitimacy, accountability, and transparency and development oriented leadership. Traditionally the function of government is maintenance of law and order, that was in the past, however a modern government is saddled with the responsibility of providing public utilities that is social service, economic formulation, execution of developmental programmes and seeing the general development in the country.
