ACCOUNTABILITY, ETHICAL ORIENTATION AND DEMOCRACY AS PILLARS OF GOOD GOVERNANCE IN NIGERIA’S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Austin A. Mbacchu 1
Johnson U. Ofoegbu 2
Kenechukwu K. Makwudo 3
Department of Philosophy, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria 1
Department of Educational Foundations/Administration, Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, Nigeria 2
Philosophy Department, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Nigeria 3
Corresponding Email: audraustin@gmail.com 1
Abstract
In the history of Nigeria, there have not been a real and a clear demonstration of accountability, ethical orientation and democracy in Nigeria’s to embrace sustainable development. If Nigeria is experienced governance, why should they strongly to survive for development. It is essential to achieving social sustainable development if and only if these three pillars are properly guarded. Accountability, ethical orientation and good governance are ensuring that leaders are responsible for their actions and decisions. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the needs of accountability; ethical orientation and democracy are properly effective to guides decisions-making, promoting integrity and fairness. The three pillars are its principles of participation and transparency that allows citizens to hold their leaders responsible. The paper adopts analytic method and stress the need of a prospective relevance for Nigeria’s sustainable development. The paper, argues that the three are inseparable; and where they are divorced, the consequences can be catastrophic. It further argues that democracy constitutes more than just voting. This is possible if citizens exercise their rights as well as impose principles that promote and strengthen democracy. The findings of this paper reveal that it is obvious that accountability, ethical orientation, and democracy occupy a pride of place in the reconstruction of the Nigeria’s public sectors. In this light, it is recommended that for Nigeria to function properly, trustworthy leaders who have robust education and have risen above corruption and selfishness are needed to achieve good governance in Nigeria. For this articulated reasons, the paper concluded that, it is reasonable for citizens to expect professional behaviour from public officials, especially the President and his cabinet ministers. For this to happen there is need to establish an ethical foundation or moral framework in government, which goes beyond ethical codes of conduct.
Keywords: Accountability, Ethics Orientation, Democracy, Good Governance, Sustainable Development
