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Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at https://pen2print.org/index.php/jsmap/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 04 Issue 10
October 2018
Available online: https://pen2print.org/index.php/jsmap/ P a g e | 36
Strategies to Fast-Tracking Good Governance in A Growing Economy Like
Nigeria: From A Science and Technology Perspective
DUKE, Otu O. (Ph.D)
Department of Public Administration
University of Calabar, Nigeria.
otuduke76@yahoo.com
*ETIM, Emmanuel Eyo, (M.Sc in View)
Department of Peace Studies & Conflict Resolution
National Open University of Nigeria, Lagos
*Corresponding Author: emmaetim1@gmail.com
Abstract
Good governance has been seen as the promotion of accountability, efficiency, rule of law, and
the fight against corruption. It also involves participation, transparency, and equitability during
the exercise of authority in a country. The focus of this study was to examine the strategies for
fast-tracking good governance in Nigeria, using the science and technology approach. The study
relied heavily on secondary data. This study concludes that in order to achieve good governance
in Nigeria, government must pay adequate attention to security, rural development, education,
health, rule of law, press freedom, and the fight against corruption. It recommends that S&T is
needed to actualize this goal. This is because knowledge is fundamental to human development,
and plays a key role in economic growth, social development, cultural enrichment and political
empowerment.
Key Words: Fast-tracking, Good governance, Nigerian economy, Science and Technology.
1. INTRODUCTION
The past decades saw governance as one of the most popular buzzwords which lacked a
uniformly accepted definition (Kersbergen & Waarden, 2004; Young, 2005; Jordan, 2008;
Toikka, 2011; Tiihonen, 2004; Aubut, 2004; Gill, 2015; Horvath, 2017; Khawaja, 2011). As a
concept, governance originated from an ancient Greek work “Kubernan”, which means cart
Page 2 of 22
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at https://pen2print.org/index.php/jsmap/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 04 Issue 10
October 2018
Available online: https://pen2print.org/index.php/jsmap/ P a g e | 37
control. It was later metaphorically used by Plato to refer to the control of humans (Oliveira,
2002; Preti, 2004). According to Ratner (2003), governance may be referred to as the efficient
functioning of government as well as the roles and activities of civil society. It denotes
humanity’s choice of affairs management in terms of systemic political, economic, social and
legal frameworks (World Humanity Action Trust, 2000; IMF, 2016). Governance is the exercise
of control in resources (both human and material) management for rapid and sustainable
economic, political and social development (OECD, 2003).
The thrust of this study is an examination of the strategies for fast-tracking good governance in a
growing economy like Nigeria. The paper departed from a science and technology (S&T)
perspective. This is because, in the words of UNESCO (2001), “Knowledge is fundamental to
human development, and plays a key role in economic growth, social development, cultural
enrichment and political empowerment...” Good governance is concerned with sustainable
development, and achieving sustainable development is a function of active participation in the
global knowledge-based society (UNESCO, 2007). The study further highlights some basic
indicators and promoters of good governance like rule of law, rural development, freedom of the
press, free and fair elections, job creation, among others. It also examines the role of S&T in
improving agriculture, security, education, etc.
2. CONCEPTUAL AND THEORETICAL UNDERPINNINGS
2.1 Good Governance
Before conceptualizing “good governance”, it is pertinent to examine what governance entails.
There are several conflicting positions as to what governance means. Governance means
different thing to politicians, the citizens, the media, academics, etc. (Bene & Neiland, 2006).
Asian Development Bank (1999) and Akindele (2002) see governance as the legitimate power to
manage the human and material resources of a country for development. Governance is a two- way thing. It involves the government as well as the people. According to Bene & Neiland;
“governance is the exercise of legitimate authority in transacting affairs, and is
broadly understood to refer to the maintenance of social order through
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Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at https://pen2print.org/index.php/jsmap/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 04 Issue 10
October 2018
Available online: https://pen2print.org/index.php/jsmap/ P a g e | 38
endogenously evolved and externally imposed rules sets, (while) government by
contrast can be defined as the exercise of influence and control, through law and
coercion, over a political community, constituted into a state within a defined
territory”.
In the words of Bradway & Shah (2009), “governance connotes the formation and execution of
collective action at the local level. Thus, it encompasses the direct and indirect roles of formal
institutions of local government and government hierarchies, as well as the roles of informal
norms, networks, community organizations, and neighbourhood associations in pursuing
collective actions”. “governance refers to the interaction between civil society and government in
determining governmental actions” (Wilson, 2000). Strategic leadership is provided and
direction is given through governance to the organization or people. Here, governance differs
significantly from management. Governance explains how the society handles its problems
through decision making. It is a purposeful activity which focuses on societal management, using
authorized traditions and institutions to promote economic, social and political stability (Vo,
Bauknecht & Kemp, 2006; Evans Joas, Sundback & Theobald, 2005; Kemp, Parto & Gibson,
2005; World Bank, 2005; World Bank, 2006; Irabarnegaray & Seghezzo, 2012). Governance
explains how resources are allocated with good intentions to the public (Parto, 2005), and the
creating of authoritative rule for collective actions (Al-Habil, 2011). Bracking (2010) believes
that good governance will most often than not make reference to rationality as regards the
maximization of social welfare and common good. According to Bracking, good governance is
an antithesis of clientalism, nepotism, patrimonialism and patronage. Good governance stands
opposed to particularism.
Historically, good governance has an old idea, but its conceptualization is a recent one, which
emerged in the early 70s (Grindle, 2010) and gained popularity in the late 80s (Hardt, 2012).
Good governance involves the promotion of accountability, efficiency, rule of law, and the fight
against corruption. It also involves participation, transparency, and equitability during the
exercise of authority in a country (UNDP, 1997; European Commission, 2001; IMF, 2005;
Kaufmann, Kraay & Mastruzzi, 2009). Good governance is “infrastructural” not “despotic”
