According to Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Nigeria’s governance issues are caused by a lack of public accountability, shoddy institutions, and unresponsive citizens and Civil Society groups. During his speech at SWAAYA Limited’s 6th Yearly Lecture in Lagos, he underlined the vital connection between followership and leadership, saying that accountable citizens are necessary for Good Governance to flourish and that leaders are born out of society. Former Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru represented Fubara, who contended that tribal politics, electoral fraud, and voter apathy impede the nation’s democratic development.
He emphasised that corruption, unemployment, and economic stagnation have long plagued Nigeria and are made worse by inadequate Infrastructure and weak institutions. Fubara warned that this practice promotes poor governance and denounced voters who back politicians more on the basis of party affiliation or ethnicity than ability. He called on the media and civic society to actively support policy reforms and expose corruption. He also urged political parties to provide preference to qualified candidates, maintain electoral integrity, and exercise moral leadership.
Recent elections in Nigeria have seen a startlingly low voter turnout.
Similar views were expressed by other speakers, such as Chief Gani Adams, Professor Akinyemi Onigbinde, and Senator Gbenga Daniel, who emphasised that Nigeria’s progress has been halted by ineffective leadership and docile followership. Adams also underlined that in order to guarantee sound government, there must be a robust opposition. Chief Olabode George commended the lecture’s theme while talking about Nigeria’s past political conflicts. Gabriel Akinadewo, the publisher of Freedom Online, urged for immediate judicial and political reforms and emphasised the need to distinguish between political scheming and true governance.
Significant obstacles to Nigerian government include widespread corruption, poor voter turnout, and financial barriers. The advancement of the country is hampered by these interconnected problems, each of which exacerbates the others. Recent elections in Nigeria have seen a startlingly low voter turnout. Only 26.71% of voters cast ballots in the 2023 presidential election, down from 34.75% in 2019. Growing popular scepticism over the significance of individual votes and disenchantment with the election process are reflected in this declining trend.
It is crucial to set up independent anti-corruption organisations.
Electoral violence, ballot tampering, and a lack of trust in the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) openness are some of the factors behind this indifference. For example, allegations of vote-trading and ballot box snatching during the 2019 elections damaged public confidence in democratic institutions. Nigeria faces a conundrum in its economy. Although it is the biggest oil producer in Africa, the country faces economic instability. The services sector was a major contributor to the economy’s strongest growth in three years, which was 3.84% in the fourth quarter of 2024. But this growth was less than the government’s 6% goal, and issues like unemployment, inflation, and a strong reliance on oil earnings still exist.
Although ongoing, efforts to enact reforms and diversify the Economy have not yet produced the expected results. It is essential to put thorough election changes into place in order to guarantee openness, lessen violence, and foster public confidence. This entails implementing stringent sanctions for election infractions and utilising Technology for voter registration and result compilation. It is crucial to set up independent anti-corruption organisations with the power to look into and bring charges against violators. Nigeria may improve its anti-corruption framework by taking inspiration from nations like Rwanda, which has achieved notable progress in combating Corruption by enforcing strict Legislation and a zero-tolerance approach.
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Investing in industries like manufacturing, technology, and Agriculture can help reduce reliance on oil while stabilising the economy and generating jobs. Despite its difficulties, projects like the Dangote Petroleum Refinery seek to increase domestic output and lessen dependency on imports, which will support economic expansion. Participation by citizens is essential to long-term transformation. Participating in politics, holding elected officials responsible, and cultivating an open Culture can all increase demand for effective government. In order to educate the public and promote reforms, civil society organisations and the media are essential.