PILLARS OF GOOD GOVERNANCE

By: Godday O. Aghedo

Governance is the process of making decisions and implementing same for the common good of the populace and general society. However, good governance is an indeterminate term used to describe how public institutions manage both human and natural resources, conduct public affairs,  and control internal or external disputes. 

At every level of human endeavours, leadership is a necessary component of the processes leading to the achievement of set targets. Governance is a form of leadership and its impacts on the people and public is always far reaching, therefore, it should be given adequate attention if the current developmental challenges must be truly surmounted. In Nigeria and many parts of Africa, more works have to be done to arrest the problems surrounding effective and public oriented leadership. This is paramount on the ground that, governance encompasses: the establishment of policies, execution of the policies, continuous monitoring of the implementation drivers, meeting the most vital and basic public needs and answering the questions about issues of public interest. It is also implicated in balancing the powers (be it political, social, cultural, religious or academic powers) of the members of the governing council/board and their fundamental functions of enhancing the living conditions of the populace, bringing prosperity and progress to the organisation. Good governance is neither a title nor a position; it is rather a system and process. It is the primary responsibility of every leader at every cadre to allow the system work and the process run.

SEVEN PILLARS OF EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE

Every acclaimed good governance must touch on the following basic necessities of the people. This may not be an  exhaustive list, but these pillars are enough to judge how effective or good a particular set regime of government has performed.

1. Devolution of powers - Power should be decentralized and given to the people rather than a selected or an elected few in government. 

2. Education - On yearly basis, there should be workable strategies in place for ensuring the the improvement of the literacy level of the members of the society, access to quality education at affordable costs must be established.

3. Housing and Infrastructure - The masses should be able to afford decent and healthy accommodations, public and private work-places should be modern enough to guarantee the safety of the employees. Massive road constructions and networks are needed. This in turn will positively impact the economy and productivity of the nation.

4. Health Care - Access to quality and affordable health care and social services will not only enhance the life span of the people, it will directly affect the productivity, vitality, savings and resourceful of the masses.

5. Environmental Management - Environmental degradation is one of the major threat to man on earth. A good government should be able to enact and implement policies that will protect our environment and make it healthier for man's habitation. Such as elimination or minimizing gas-flaring, embarking on reforestation activities, beautification of roads and dwellings with selected flowers or tress, regulating the mining of natural resources as well as ensuring effective system for waste control and management.

6. Economy - It should a key interest of any good government to boos the economy of the nation and not just that of individual members of the cabinet. Empowerment programmes have to be initiated and rolled-out, and incentives given to indigenous entrepreneurs who are also major players in driving up the economy. Partnership with private and public investors and corporations, both local and international, for massive economic operations should top the government's agenda. 

Bye and large, good governance must involve the participation of all and sundry, both the leaders and the led have distinct roles to play. When the leader is a good leader but the follower is a BAD follower, we will still run into crises. Therefore, all hands must be on deck to bring to bare, good governance; beginning from the so called low estates to the political government houses.