The Pillars of Good Governance

The Pillars of Good Governance

We have heard much of the word 'good governance' recently, which seems like a fad in governance.

In its most effective form, governance is the core of a country's prosperity and stability. It's not just about passing laws or setting policies; how a country or State is ruled defines its success. Good governance is a check system on how institutions is run to promote fairness, accountability, and inclusivity.

Outlined are some key pillars of good governance are:

Transparency: Open and Honest Governance

Transparency means that government actions, decisions, and policies are open to scrutiny. This pillar ensures that the public is informed about how decisions are made and executed and how resources are allocated, fostering trust between leaders and citizens and ensuring no one is left behind. Digitising governance systems is the first and most crucial step towards creating transparency and open governance.

Between 2010 and 2014, Ekiti State was Nigeria's First State to put its whole budget online in the public domain, and documents and reports were also accessible online. The then Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, considered running an open and transparent government essential.

When transparent, governments reduce the risk of corruption and encourage active citizen participation. In contrast, opaque systems foster mistrust and often breed corruption and inefficiency.

Accountability: Holding Power to Account

Accountability goes hand in hand with transparency. It ensures those in power are held accountable for their actions and decisions. Without accountability, leaders and officials can act without consequence, often leading to misuse of public resources.

Effective accountability mechanisms allow for corrective action and ensure leaders act in the public's best interests rather than for personal or political gain.

Participation: Inclusive Decision-Making

Good governance thrives on participation, where all citizens can voice their opinions and influence decisions. This pillar promotes inclusivity, allowing marginalised groups and minority voices to be heard.

Also, the yearly State budget in Ekiti State is about listening to the people and inputting their requests. The Governor tours all the local governments and towns to ask what they want to input in the year's budget. Their responses are input, and when it's time for execution, the cheques are then given the job to a local contractor in their midst while they monitor the project each step of the way.

The secret to execution at this level is that you can't steal community money. If one tries it, the entire generations of that family are outcasts.

Rule of Law: Upholding Justice and Fairness

The rule of law ensures that all individuals, institutions, and leaders are accountable to the same laws, which are fairly applied and enforced. This pillar is the foundation of justice, preventing the abuse of power and protecting citizens' rights.

A key example is Singapore, where strict adherence to the rule of law has built a fair, efficient judicial system, contributing to the country's rapid development and low crime rates.

Without the rule of law, societies risk descending into chaos, where the powerful manipulate systems to their advantage. Good governance ensures that justice is done and seen to be done, providing a stable environment for economic and social development.

Effectiveness and Efficiency: Delivering Results

Effective governance is about setting goals and achieving them promptly and efficiently. Governments must use public resources wisely to ensure their actions produce positive, tangible outcomes. The citizens must monitor and get involved in how the different constituency projects are executed in their local government and states.

You can access this list and the Nigerian States budget here: https://budgit.org/our_programs/tracka/ courtesy of BudgIT Nigeria

Effectiveness and efficiency prevent resource waste and ensure that policies are theoretical and produce real-world benefits for people.

Responsiveness: Attentive to Public Needs

A responsive government listens to its citizens' needs and acts swiftly to address them. It adapts to changing circumstances, such as economic or public health emergencies, and ensures its policies evolve to meet current challenges.

The responsiveness of various countries and States during the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated how a responsive government can protect its people in times of crisis and minimise the impact of global challenges at home.

Responsiveness is crucial for building public trust, as citizens need to feel that their concerns are acknowledged and addressed promptly.

Good governance is built on transparency, accountability, participation, rule of law, equity, effectiveness, and responsiveness. When these pillars are strong, they create a governance structure that supports economic growth and promotes social harmony and justice. These principles aren't just ideals and practical building blocks that shape effective leadership and governance models worldwide.

Written by Oluwafunmilayo Ajala, ANIPR

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