Impact of Democratic Governance on Social Amenities in Nigeria: A Case of Bode-Saadu, Kwara State

Abstract

Governance is a movement towards political cooperation among transnational actors such as the United Nations World Bank, International Criminal Court aimed at negotiating responses to challenges that affect more than one state or region. The local level is much more meaningful in Nigeria given the fact that citizens do not expect so much from the government at the centre. This study assessed the impact and challenges of democratic governance on social amenities in Bode-Saadu. The paper relied on both primary and secondary data. A total of 120 copies of a questionnaire were distributed while 112 were received and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science software. The study adopted the elite theory. Finding from the study shows that democratic governance has not adequately enthroned social development in Bode-Saadu as a result of the myopic developmental dream, poor commitment and absence of political will that is capable of translating the dream or vision into realizable policies and programs. Majority of the respondents agreed that failure of leadership at the local level affects development and that community development is not adequate owing to corrupt practices among local government officials in the area. The paper recommends that the leaders should generate the political will to invest in infrastructure to aid the development of Bode-Saadu, and appointment should not be based on political or religious affiliation, but merit.