Abstract:
This paper set out to discuss issues of democracy, good governance and development in
Nigeria. The paper begins by conceptualizing the concepts of ‘democracy’, ‘good governance’ and
‘sustainable development’. It utilizes secondary source of data collection, while, the approach used
in the paper is descriptive and content analytical. The paper adopts the Marxist political economy
strand of conflict theory, and argues that there is the problematic of poor leadership and bad
governance as democratic practice and governance in Nigeria is not practiced in tandem with basic
democratic principles and values of good governance. This trend of governance, has no doubt
impedes development efforts of Nigeria as a nation. To evolve virile and viable democratic
governance, emphasis should be on strict adherence to democratic values and good governance
/leadership such as accountability, sound economy, virile and viable civil society, among others.
