scholarly journals Elite Collusion and African Governance System: A Critique of Democracy and Development in Nigeria

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Abdulhamid Ozohu-Suleiman ◽  
Shehu Mustapha Liberty

Following the commencement of the third wave democratization in Africa, scholarly preoccupation shifted, or at least began to shift away from the over flogged discourse on colonial antecedents and authoritarian rule among others, as explanations for governance failure in the continent. Thus, the prevailing liberal political conditions now offer a new perspective to articulate the development problematic in emergent democracies of Africa. This paper seeks to examine how the negative outcomes generated by this governance system have made development the casualty of the democratization process in Nigeria. It advances the thesis of elite collusion to provide insights into the causes of governance failure in Nigeria. The paper argues that the hegemonic interest of the ruling elite remains the predominant factor that narrowly defines public policy. By means of interpretative approach the paper reviewed secondary data from extant literature and development reports that are Germaine to the subject matter of the study. It established that much of the development deficit is the predictable consequence of the disconnect between the common good and state policy/institutional action. This disconnect is exacerbated by a political environment that is overwhelmed by self-seeking and unpatriotic ruling elite. The paper concludes that; democracy, though, a necessary condition for good governance and sustainable development, requires an ideologically driven party politics to reconstruct the prevalent governance system. A number of recommendations are made among which are; an urgent need to build strong governance institutions that are rule bound (re-bureaucratization) in order to neutralize elite collusion, and a realignment of the democratization process to embrace the variant of social democracy – an option that prioritizes the participation of the masses in the development process.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Ahmed Shukry Hussain

<p>In general, communities in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are socioeconomically and environmentally vulnerable due to their geographical and ecological conditions. Small archipelagic states are even more vulnerable in terms of natural and human-induced disasters because of their fragmentation, isolation and smallness. Good governance is a vital precondition to reduce the vulnerability of these states. This study examines these two correlated phenomena, governance and vulnerability, their inter-related implications and complications, and the role of governance in reducing vulnerability of SIDS and their island communities. It also proposes some practical remedies for the challenges of these communities. Qualitative research using multiple methods, secondary data collection, informal semi-structured interviews, open-ended  discussions, informal conversational interviews and direct observations, was carried out through case studies of two archipelagos, the republics of Maldives and Vanuatu. In addition, the New Zealand local government model with a focus on Bay of Plenty Region was also studied in order to seek policy models and best practices from a developed state. The field inquiry revealed that an effective local governance system is vitally important to address socio-economic and environmental vulnerability of these archipelagic communities. Neither a rigid centralised system, like the Maldives, nor a decentralised system, as in the case of Vanuatu, was found to be appropriate and effective unless certain functions are delegated and local authorities are made selfreliant, financially and functionally self-sufficient and aware of their responsibilities through education, while community members are empowered by providing more socio-economic opportunities. Based on the research findings, the thesis highlights four key causes of increasing vulnerability in these communities: absence of a reliable outreach mechanism for emergency management, lack of a strong local governance system, scarcity of socioeconomic resources and opportunities, and inadequate socio-economic infrastructures. The thesis suggests possible ways forward by proposing a four tier cluster approach with a decentralised emergency management system and local governance model. The transient vulnerability (natural or weather related disasters) of these archipelagic communities cannot be addressed unless their chronic vulnerability, lack of socio-economic opportunities, is addressed through sound local governance.</p>


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Ahmed Shukry Hussain

<p>In general, communities in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are socioeconomically and environmentally vulnerable due to their geographical and ecological conditions. Small archipelagic states are even more vulnerable in terms of natural and human-induced disasters because of their fragmentation, isolation and smallness. Good governance is a vital precondition to reduce the vulnerability of these states. This study examines these two correlated phenomena, governance and vulnerability, their inter-related implications and complications, and the role of governance in reducing vulnerability of SIDS and their island communities. It also proposes some practical remedies for the challenges of these communities. Qualitative research using multiple methods, secondary data collection, informal semi-structured interviews, open-ended  discussions, informal conversational interviews and direct observations, was carried out through case studies of two archipelagos, the republics of Maldives and Vanuatu. In addition, the New Zealand local government model with a focus on Bay of Plenty Region was also studied in order to seek policy models and best practices from a developed state. The field inquiry revealed that an effective local governance system is vitally important to address socio-economic and environmental vulnerability of these archipelagic communities. Neither a rigid centralised system, like the Maldives, nor a decentralised system, as in the case of Vanuatu, was found to be appropriate and effective unless certain functions are delegated and local authorities are made selfreliant, financially and functionally self-sufficient and aware of their responsibilities through education, while community members are empowered by providing more socio-economic opportunities. Based on the research findings, the thesis highlights four key causes of increasing vulnerability in these communities: absence of a reliable outreach mechanism for emergency management, lack of a strong local governance system, scarcity of socioeconomic resources and opportunities, and inadequate socio-economic infrastructures. The thesis suggests possible ways forward by proposing a four tier cluster approach with a decentralised emergency management system and local governance model. The transient vulnerability (natural or weather related disasters) of these archipelagic communities cannot be addressed unless their chronic vulnerability, lack of socio-economic opportunities, is addressed through sound local governance.</p>


Author(s):  
Jeremy Youde

China possesses the world’s largest economy, but that economic clout has not necessarily translated into taking leading roles within existing global health governance institutions and processes. It is a country that both contributes to and receives financial assistance from global health institutions. It has incorporated health into some of its foreign policy activities, but it has largely avoided proactively engaging with the values and norms embodied within the global health governance system. This ambivalent relationship reflects larger questions about how and whether China fits within international society and what its engagement or lack thereof might portend for international society’s future. This chapter examines China’s place within global health governance by examining its interactions with international society on global health issues, its use of health as a foreign policy tool, and its relationships with global health governance organizations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Inge Stupak ◽  
Maha Mansoor ◽  
C. Tattersall Smith

AbstractWhile the quantity of sustainability governance initiatives and systems has increased dramatically, crises persist over whether specific governance systems can be trusted as legitimate regulators of the sustainability of economic activities. This paper focuses on conceptual tools to improve our understanding of these crises as well as the facilitating factors and barriers for sustainability governance to play a role in transitioning to profoundly more sustainable societies than those that currently exist. Bioenergy is used throughout the paper as an example to aid contextually in understanding the theoretical and abstract arguments. We first define eight premises upon which our argumentation is developed. We then define sustainability, sustainability transition, legitimacy, and trust as a premise for obtaining effectiveness in communication and minimising risks associated with misunderstanding key terms. We proceed to examine the literature on “good governance” in order to reflect upon what defines "good sustainability governance" and what makes governance systems successful in achieving their goals. We propose input, output, and throughput legitimacy as three principles constituting “good” sustainability governance and propose associated open-ended criteria as a basis for developing operational standards for assessing the quality of a sustainability governance system or complex. As sustainability governance systems must develop to remain relevant, we also suggest an adaptive governance model, where continuous re-evaluation of the sustainability governance system design supports the system in remaining “good” in conditions that are complex and dynamic. Finally, we pull from the literature in a broad range of sciences to propose a conceptual “governance research framework” that aims to facilitate an integrated understanding of how the design of sustainability governance systems influences the legitimacy and trust granted to them by relevant actors. The framework is intended to enhance the adaptive features of sustainability governance systems so as to allow the identification of the causes of existing and emerging sustainability governance crises and finding solutions to them. Knowledge generated from its use may form a basis for providing policy recommendations on how to practically solve complex legitimacy and trust crises related to sustainability governance.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-18
Author(s):  
Riki Ismail Barokah

This study aims to explore village authority in village financial management to realize village governance in accordance with the principles of Good Governance. One of the financing for the Village Government program is the Village Fund Budget (ADD). The research method used is descriptive analysis to get a clear picture by examining secondary data. Secondary data is obtained through literature studies from primary legal materials and secondary legal materials related to regional autonomy in villages in the management of Village Government, particularly with regard to the performance of Village-Owned Enterprises based on Law Number 6 of 2014 concerning Villages. The data obtained from this study were analyzed juridically normative with a statutory approach. The results showed the accountability of the village head in managing village finances. In exercising the power of village financial management, the village head authorizes part of his power to the Village apparatus. (2) The village head as the holder of the village financial management power as referred to in paragraph (1), has the authority to: a. establish policies regarding the implementation of APBDesa; b. determine PTPKD; c. determine the officer who collects village revenue; d. approve expenditures for activities stipulated in APBDesa; and e. take actions that result in spending at the expense of the Village Budget. The factors that become obstacles in Talagasari, namely the lack of information and lack of direction in the distribution of ADD, so that it contributes low to community empowerment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 520-538
Author(s):  
Fayzul Huq ◽  
Arshad Islam ◽  
Kazi Afifa Khatun

The Muslims of Bangladesh are separated into diverse religious, political, and social groups. Several scholars tried to unite Muslims. One of the most significant Islamic intellectuals of Bangladesh, Sheikh Azizur Rahman Nesarabadi, proposed a paradigm of religious harmony to unite the Bangladeshi people and global nations. According to him, religious harmony with the doctrine of Ittihad Ma’al al-Ikhtelaf (Unity in Diversity) is the only key answer to the current disunity at the national, international, and global levels. This study examines his concept and his role in the society and politics of Bangladesh by textual analysis of primary and secondary data. After analyzing religious harmony itself, we deliver a brief biography of Sheikh Azizur Rahman, presenting his contribution to both Sharia and Sufi education, and their effects on his vision. The study then emphasizes his thoughts on four steps of religious harmony and analyses in light of current social realities in Bangladesh and the Muslim world. This paper concludes that Sheikh Nesarabadi’s thought and theory on religious harmony depend upon three foundations: common good interest, moderation, mutual respect, and the Tawhidic model. These contain the structure for religious harmony of Muslim unity whose implementation by Muslims can achieve the command of Allah to empower the Ummah to continue a leading role in the world as a Khalifah of Allah SWT almighty.


2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 36
Author(s):  
Hans Nibshan Seesaghur

Since the 1990s, scholars around the world have focused on the complexities of governance reforms. The vicissitudes of the 21st century witnessed global waves for public administration reforms. China, a fast developing socialist country, has been building a strong, robust and modern public governance system. The Socialist Governance of China with Chinese characteristics brought considerable changes in the political, economic and social spheres, transforming the lives of people for betterment. By bringing about economic development through state intervention, introducing rule of law upholding the significance of its people, fostering new ideas, and ushering the ideology of nationalism through “China Dream”, President Xi Jinping and his socialist governance policies have created an excellent example in the world, particularly the capitalist society, demonstrating how society can be developed through socialist ways. Yet, the dynamics of Chinese governance has always been part science and part mystery to other governments that have earned legitimacy through elections, while China’s leaders earned its legitimacy through selection of the most able and their performance in delivering sustained improvements in the quality of life of the Chinese citizens and China's international standing. This paper deals with assessing the relevance of China’s Socialist governance evolution into a science of managing public affairs and the pursuit to optimizing its impact on the state’s economic, political and social spheres.


2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 656 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anuoluwapo A. Durokifa ◽  
Babatunde Moshood Abdul-Wasi

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) was implemented in 2000 ostensibly to accelerate development within its 15 years plan of action. In the credence of this notion, Nigeria was one of the early countries that adopted the rational policy. Prior to the introduction of MDG, the country had implemented diverse developmental policies which are said not to have delivered the expected dividend. Hence, no sooner, the MDGs came to an end; the impulse of another developmental goal became necessary. Sustainable development Goals (SDGs) succeeding MDGs reiterates questions such as, how well did MDGs perform in developing countries? Where the aims of the MDGs met? If MDGs struggle to achieve 8 goals, how possible will SDGs 17 goals be realized? It is in this light, that the study using secondary data evaluate the MDG era in Nigeria, how far and how well they achieved their set target. The study suggests that although MDGs era in Nigeria recorded slight progress with regards to targeted goals, it did not meet the required plausible targets. Hence, as a very effective way of achieving sustainable development, the study recommends good governance and prioritizing of goals according to the country needs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 97
Author(s):  
Suranto Suranto ◽  
Awang Darumurti ◽  
Dwian Hartomi Akta Padma Eldo ◽  
Akhmad Habibullah

Public service innovation is the primary key to good governance development launched in most countries in the world, including Indonesia. There have been many innovative programs carried out by several Ministries, Institutions, and Local Governments in practice. Still, there is no comprehensive portrait related to the tradition of public service innovation. The study aims to obtain a complete description of the public service innovation practices in 2020 using indicators of innovators, types of innovation, goals and achievements of innovation, policy sector and geographical aspects. This descriptive-explorative research type applies an archival method that focuses on secondary data usage, and the results are then analyzed using both Nvivo 12 and SPSS. The result shows that: (1) Innovators are dominated by local governments because the scope of service issues is more varied and specific. (2) The type of policy innovation that is oriented to the process aspect dominates the proposed proposal because of the ease and implementation factor. (3) Most innovation outcomes are in problem-solving, which shows the orientation to problem-solving that is more practical and real impact. (4) The health sector is getting more attention in policy innovation because of the trend of actual needs in the field, making it the primary sector. (5) The institution participants in Java island are much higher than outside Java, showing the imbalance in the quality of human resources


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 9-15
Author(s):  
Iryna Svyatovets

The problem is considered for constructing a minimax control for a linear stationary controlled dynamical almost conservative system (a conservative system with a weakly perturbed coefficient matrix) on which an unknown perturbation with bounded energy acts. To find the solution of the Riccati equation, an approach is proposed according to which the matrix-solution is represented as a series expansion in a small parameter and the unknown components of this matrix are determined from an infinite system of matrix equations. A necessary condition for the existence of a solution of the Riccati equation is formulated, as well as theorems on additive operations on definite parametric matrices. A condition is derived for estimating the parameter appearing in the Riccati equation. An example of a solution of the minimax control problem for a gyroscopic system is given. The system of differential equations, which describes the motion of a rotor rotating at a constant angular velocity, is chosen as the basis.


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