CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1    BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY:

The socio-economic and political development of any country depends largely on the ability of its leadership to facilitate, entrench and sustain good governance (Afigbo, 2007). The extent of development of any nation globally is often been determined by the quality and selfless nature of its leaders(Onigbide, 2007). However, when there is a culture of impunity in any society and there is a wide spread of lack of leadership by example to enthrone transparent and qualitative public bureaucracy, a degenerated symptoms of underdevelopment continues to manifest as exemplified in Nigeria public administration.

Now, the manifestation of symptoms of underdevelopment does not imply that Nigeria lacks quality and competent human resources to engender development, but the process of enthroning leaders is bedeviled with crisis and it does not provide room for morally upright, competent, visionary leaders to emerge. Imhonopi and Ugochukwu, (2013) vehemently assert that Nigeria is richly endowed by providence with human and material resources critical for national development and advancement. However, since gaining political independence, Nigeria has continued to meander the path befitting failed, weak and “juvenile” states.

According to the Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI), “Good governance is the process and institutions by which authority in a country is exercised; the process by which governments are selected, held accountable, monitored and replaced; the capacity of governments to manage resources efficiently, and to formulate, implement and enforce sound policies and regulations; and, the respect for the institutions that govern economic and social interactions among them” (Onigbide, 2007). It also includes both a broad strategy and a particular set of initiatives to strengthen the institutions of civil society with the objective of making government more accountable, more open and transparent and more democratic (Minogue, 1997 cited in Abe, 2010).

A state that had very great prospects at independence and was touted to lead Africa out of the backwoods of underdevelopment and economic dependency, Nigeria is still stuck in the league of very poor, corrupt, underdeveloped, infrastructurally decaying, crisis riven, morally bankrupt and leadership-deficient countries of the South. Rather than become an exemplar for transformational leadership, modern bureaucracy, national development, national integration and innovation, Nigeria seems to be infamous for whatever is mediocre, corrupt, insanely violent and morally untoward.

History has shown that no nation in the wide world grew and enjoyed steady development in almost all spheres of its national life without experiencing good and selfless political leadership (Ogbeidi, 2012). This is mainly because qualitative growth and development has constantly been a product of good governance.

Therefore, the undertaking of this study will investigate the effect of Leadership and Development Crisis in Nigeria with a special reference to Ojo Local  Government Area of Lagos State.

1.2   STATEMENT OF PROBLEM:

The problem of leadership and its pervasive bearing on social cum economic development in Nigeria is multifaceted. Now, the root cause of the Nigerian problem is attributed to bad leadership. There is nothing basically wrong with the Nigerian character. There is nothing wrong with the Nigerian land, climate, water, air, or anything else. The Nigerian problem is the unwillingness or inability of its leaders to rise to their responsibility, to the challenge of personal example, which is the hallmark of true leadership.

Developmental research indicates that Nigeria is fraught of poor leadership, corruption and weak bureaucratic institutions. It is an axiom that since attainment of political independent, Nigeria has never been governed by selfless, truly transformational and intellectually endowed leaders. That is, Nigeria has never selected its best sons to positions of leadership and mediocre leadership can only lead to mediocre government without any serious achievement.

Moreover what has been common over the years in Nigeria governance is the enthronement of clueless, parochial, attitudinal debauchery and uninspiring leaders, with attendant formulation of series of ill-informed and poorly implemented policies leading to the exit of dedicated, competent bureaucrats and provided incentives for corruption. Competent and morally upright leadership engenders strong bureaucratic institutions. The success or failure of any society depends largely on the attitude and competency of its leadership. Nigerian leadership suffers from extreme moral depravity and attitudinal debauchery. Hence, the need to investigate the effect of Leadership and Development Crisis in Nigeria becomes sacrosanct.

1.3   OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

The major objective of this study is to examine the effect of Leadership and Development Crisis in Nigeria. While other specific objectives are:

1.To examine the effect of leadership and development crisis in Nigeria.

2.To investigate the effect of leadership on socio-economic development  in Nigeria.

3.To determine the effect of leadership style on development in Nigeria.      

1.4    RESEARCH QUESTIONS:

This research work shall be guided by the following research questions:

1.Is there any significant relationship between leadership and development crisis in Nigeria?

2.Is there any significant relationship between leadership and socio-economic development  in Nigeria?

3.Does leadership style have effect on development in Nigeria?

1.5    RESEARCH HYPOTHESES:

Hypothesis 1:

Ho:      There is no significant relationship between leadership and development crisis   in Nigeria.

Hi:       There is a significant relationship between leadership and development    crisis   in Nigeria.

Hypothesis 2:

Ho:      There is no significant relationship between leadership and socio-   economic      development in Nigeria.

Hi:       There is a significant relationship between leadership and socio-      economic      development in Nigeria.

Hypothesis 3:

Ho:      leadership style has no significant effect on development in Nigeria.

Hi:       leadership style has significant effect on development in Nigeria