NEW PARTNERSHIP FOR AFRICA'S DEVELOPMENT (NEPAD) AND GOOD GOVERNANCE IN AFRICA: THE NIGERIAN EXPERIENCE (2002-2010)

Abstract

New Partnership for Africa Development is a unique opportunity to improve governance and lure investment in Nigeria and Africa at large. NEPAD has been a pledge by African leaders with common vision to eradicate poverty and place African on the path of sustainable development and equally participate in the world economy and body politic. The blueprint will address socio-economic, environmental and political priorities. The fountain stone of NEPAD is anchored on global standards of democracy and good governance for sustainable development. Democracy and good governance will only thrive on the altar of participation, transparency, equity, inclusiveness, effectiveness, efficiency and accountability to enhance development. The Nigerian state has transit from authoritarian to civilian regimes, yet the prospect of democracy and good governance for sustainable development is still gloomy. However, the failure of good governance and insecurity has multiply and increase terrorism across Nigeria and Africa at large. The data will be generated from focus group discussion, historical and documentary sources from African Union journals, internets of content analysis will constitute our data analysis. The findings of the paper reveal that for NEPAD programme to achieve its objectives depend largely on what Nigerian governments primarily do at the national level to implement the comprehensive plan for the success of NEPAD. The New Partnership for Africa's Development believes that Nigerian development programmes takes place in the context of good governance. The paper therefore recommends the need for effective and efficient public sector management with stable macroeconomic policy, effective resource mobilization and efficient use of public resources; increased government responsiveness for citizens to create conditions for economic prosperity.