GOOD GOVERNANCE: A PANACEA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Since the 1999 transition to civil rule in Nigeria has been on the search for sustainable democracy which appears to
elude the country because of series of undemocratic behaviours mainly perpetuated by the leadership. Part of the
major reasons for these undemocratic behaviours has been traceable to lack of good governance which has become a
common practice even during the military regimes. But what appears interesting in the country's democratic
government is that core values of democracy can only be fully realised if not pursued under the foundation of
principles of good governance.This paper,therefore, examines the relevance of Good Governance in the sustainability
of Democracy in Nigeria. To this end, data were collected through secondary sources and was content analysed. It is
the position of the paper that good governance and democracy are interwoven and that the sustainability of
democracy can be achieved through the application of good governance principles as the basis for sustainable
democracy in Nigeria. The paper found out that failure of leadership is the bane of good governance and suggested
among others for leadership to cultivate the right attitude to governance by adopting the principles of good
governance and core democratic values for sustainable democracy.