RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOOD GOVERNANCE AND THE POOR STATE OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA 2010-2020

This paper investigates the relationship between good governance and the poor state of sustainable development in Nigeria using regression analysis. The research design used in this study is Ex post facto. This study uses secondary data from reputable sources such as the World Bank, the United Nations, and the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics. The dataset includes governance indicators and sustainable development metrics for Nigeria from 2010 to 2020. By examining various governance indicators and their impact on sustainable development metrics, this study provides insights into the areas that require policy intervention for enhancing sustainable development in Nigeria. Good governance as a concept has been in existence since the end of the cold war and its meaning has been changing in response to issues of dire importance. One of the objectives of good governance is sustainable development hence in a global village at present; it is in everyone’s interest the society meets the conditions for good governance and sustainable development. This may further generate economy-wide misallocation of resources and slower economic growth and make governance quality a major key factor for stable economic development which also prompted many international aid initiatives and domestic policies of developing countries to focus on improving public sector governance. This informs the need to carry out a study of this nature by examining the impact of governance quality on economic development in Nigeria. The study used the Autoregressive Distribution Lag (ARDL) method of analysis and granger causality test on secondary data collected from World Bank data base and CBN statistical bulletin. The results from the analysis showed all the variables of good governance and the poor state of sustainable development in Nigeria 2010-2020. Consequently, this study concludes that good governance mechanisms depend on good legal framework which is the bedrock for entrenching good governance measures in any country. Therefore, the study recommends among others, the need to put in place some measures of good governance quality which form the basis for promoting sound macroeconomic plans However, Nigeria has difficulties achieving those conditions, despite her best efforts to actively seek and work towards these goals. The way out is to seek help and learn from the societies that have the capability and means to assist others because of their experience, working knowledge and available resources.