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| THE NIGERIA STATE, URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND THE DILEMMA OF GOOD GOVERNANCE. |
 PRINTABLE VERSION |
Some of the challenges faced by the construction industry are listed below.
• Placelessness of towns and cities in the country
• Incessant collapse of buildings.
• Fire in buildings.
• Environmental abuse and other disasters.
• Dearth of referenced design standards for professionals.
• Use of non=professionals.
• Use of untested products and materials.
• Lack of adequate regulations and sanctions.
• Lack of maintenance culture.
GOOD GOVERNANCE
Governance can be defined as the science of government behavior and performance, including the exercise of economic, political and administrative authority to manage a country’s affairs at all levels (UNDP, 1997; Detheir, 1999). It provides the framework through which citizens and groups exercise their rights, meet their obligations and articulate their interests.
Governance is about people and the environment in which they live. It is about people as citizens of their respective states. It is about the relationship between the state and its citizens of their respective states. It is about the relationship between the state and its citizens. It is about the relationship between the state and its citizens, either in their individual capacity or as a group.
It is a process by which governments and people together identify shared values, needs and challenges and jointly manage the implementation of those programs and the available resources, through a transparent and accountable process with shared responsibility for outcomes that are responsive, gender-sensitive and broad-based. This requires a climate of respect for human rights, with the expressed objectives of maximizing benefits to men and women for the common good (Bardhan 1997).
A government encompasses
I. An effective state i.e. one that possesses an enabling political and legal environment for economic growth and equitable distribution of wealth and social welfare
II. Civil societies and communities that are represented in the policy making process, with the state facilitating political and social interaction, and fostering societal cohesion and stability.
III. A private sector that is allowed to pay an independent and productive e role in the economy (Hamdol, 2000).
All three elements singularly and in combination, together with sound economic management are essential for sustained development as emphasized in recent assessments by the African Development Bank (ADB, 1998 and 1999), to achieve many of the precepts of good governance, such as increased public sector efficiency or reduced poverty, necessarily implies a loss to some groups. For example, increased efficiency in public service delivery implies that the activities of rent seekers have to be minimized. On the other hand, reducing poverty might call for income redistribution measures, which could hurt the interests of richer groups.
UNDP identifies nine core characteristics covering eight key urban issues, which measure good governance.
a) Participation-all men and women should have a voice decision-making either directly or through legitimate intermediate institutions that represent their interest. Such broad participation is built on freedom of association and speech, as well as capacities to participate constructively
b) Rule of law – legal frameworks should be fair and enforced impartially, particularly the laws on human rights.
c) Transparency – this is built on the free flow of information. Processes, institution and information is provided to understand and monitor them.
d) Responsiveness –institutions and process try to serve all stakeholders.
e) Consensus orientation – good governance mediates differing interests to reach a broad consensus on what is in the best interest of the group and where possible, on policies and procedures.
f) Equity – all men and women have opportunities to improve or maintain their well-bring.
g) Effectiveness and efficiency – processes and institutions produce results that meet needs while making the best use of resources.
h) Accountability Decision – makers in government, the private sector and civil society organizations are accountable to the public, as well.
i) Strategic vision – leaders and public have a broad and long-term perspective on good governance and human development, along with a sense of what is needed for such development. There is also an understanding of the historical, cultural and social complexities in which that perspective is grounded (UNDP, 1997).
THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT
According to Davey (1993), the role of government in urban management and development can be summarized as follows:
i) Is concerned with the policies, plans programs and practices that seek to ensure that population growth is matched by access to basic infrastructure, shelter and employment. While such access will depend as much, if not more, on private initiatives and enterprise, they are critically affected by public sector policies and functions that only government can perform.
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Writer Profile
akinbo a. a. cornerstone
A prolific Nigerian writer with a gift for words. Wrote under the pen name of Fad and Quad during the Military Era. Currently uses the "pscornerstone" signature.
An activist with religious inclination and respect for cultural heritage, he grew up streetwise and with great love for his country, Nigeria.
He believes that he who holds the word holds the world.
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Spend a few minutes reading the other students' blogs and adding your comments NLfS-team5 | Sep 1st, 2007
Spend a few minutes reading the other students' blogs and adding your comments
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