Democracy, Democratic Institutions and Good Governance in Nigeria

Abstract

Scholars such as Badru (2005), Im (2005), Babawale (2006), Mimiko (2007), and Oddih (2007) have argued that democracy is required in a society because it enhances good governance and development. With the analysis of secondary data, the paper examines democracy, democratic institutions and good governance in Nigeria. It identified the problems that have militated against Nigeria’s democratic sustainability in the past to include lack of proper democratic institutions. The paper concludes that for democracy to achieve its goals there is the need for the government to put in place measures to strengthen the nation’s democratic institutions and intensify political education amongst politicians and citizens as precursor to good governance and development in Nigeria.

Keywords: Democracy, democratic institutions, good governance, Nigeria