CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Good governance plays an important role in the advancement of sustainable development. It promotes accountability, transparency, efficiency and rule of law. Besides, it allows for sound and efficient management of human resources for equitable and sustainable development.

According to the former united nation Secretary General, Kofi (2008) “Good governance is perhaps the single most important factor in eradicating poverty and promoting development is the pivot around which other developmental activities revolve.  Human development is the channel through which other forms of development are achieved. Similarly, Kayode and Soyode (2004), contend that successful development effort requires good governance, managed by an enlightened political leadership operating in a stable political system that creates an enabling environment in which capable people have the incentive to work effectively.

In the same vein, Diamond (2004), contends that the same root cause of development failure is not a lack of resource of international isolation. Rather, it is lack of good governance promotes development by generating and defending broad commitment to the public welfare.

Public administration lies at the heart of modern state it is a recognized fact that it plays crucial role in all societies, developed or developing. In modern state, public administration has become so important that our development upliftment and progress depend mainly upon the efficient functioning of it Evans (2006). It serves as the basis of government. A government can without other arms of government such as legislature and judiciary. But no government can exist without administrative machinery. All countries irrespective of their system of government need some sort of administrative machinery for implementing public policies.

Public administration is also responsible for implementing the law and policies of government. By implementing laws, it regulates the behavior of the people in the society by executing policies and programmes, it delivers the promised goods and services to the intended beneficiaries. The important of efficient Public administration is underscored by the fact that policies and programmes of government may not be realized without an effective Public administration. Put differently, the best policies and laws of government may remain as mere paper declaration of intent, if the administrative machinery does not function efficiently.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

As it is today in Nigeria, good governance toward effective stability is facing some challenges. These obstacles are examined critically in the segment. One of the obstacle standing in the way of good governance is corruption. Government has not fared in its aspect of good governance, which is one of the essential instruments in the achievement of their stated objectives. As a matter of fact, corruption of government leaders has been the major hindrance militating against good governance leaders in Nigeria.

In the same vein, corruption has been hampering the development of the leaders. Most government leaders in Nigeria do not know the objectives or the impact, good governance has in mind of the people, as a result of this, many official when elected take it as an opportunity to defraud the state in saving money in different state instead of investing in the state and focusing on the main reason why he/she was elected. Such local government through unexecuted, incomplete and inflated contracts (Onoja, 1986:3) he further noted that the system of employment is localized and most suitable qualified applicant are sacrificed for unqualified ones.

The problems of facing good governance are diverse, but the crucial one is corruption. It is this end that this study seeks to examine the role of good governance toward effective stability in Nigeria using Akwa Ibom State as a case study.