A SEMINAR TOPIC:

PROMOTING GOOD GOVERNANCE IN NIGERIA:

THE MASS MEDIA CHALLENGE

PRESENTED BY

OLUWAFERANMI, SAMUEL B. – 1913210070

ALANI, TAOFEEK A. – 1923210015

DEPARTMENT OF MULTIMEDIA TECHNOLOGY,

FACULTY OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY,
OSUN STATE COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY, ESA-OKE

SEPTEMBER 2021

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ABSTRACT

Good governance is an essential framework which serves as a means of achieving

wider goals such as social and political development, alleviation of poverty and
protection of the environment. It is about security of life and property, peace and
prosperity. Without good governance, social, economic and political progress is
difficult to attain and impossible to guarantee. In fact, it is the bedrock of any
modern democracy. Promoting good governance is not an easy task as it is much
more involving than organizing elections and appointing people into public
offices. A free and critical media is essential to the growth and development of
any democracy. As a watchdog of the society, the media owe it as a duty to
monitor governance closely and hold public office holders accountable to the
people who elected them as required by the constitution. Given the appropriate
situation, the media are key factors in the overall strategy to promote good
governance, rule of law, ensure probity and accountability, wipe out illiteracy and
eradicate poverty. It is against this backdrop that this paper examines these and
other challenges facing the media and how to meet them.

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1.0 INTRODUCTION
A former Anglican Church dean of St. Paul's Cathedral, London, William Ralph
Inge, once wrote: "A good government remains the greatest of human blessings,
and no nation has ever enjoyed It". Inge's many years long statement still holds true
till date as most nations of the world continue to experience bad governance due to
lack of leadership. Recognizing this problem, American essayist Brooks Atkinson
concluded in 1951, "we need supermen to rule us - the job is so vast and the need
for wise judgment is so urgent. But, alas," he said, "there are no supermen"
(Awake! December 22, 1990).

The search for good government has led humans to repeatedly devise new forms of
government to meet the needs of the times. Brogan of the University of Essex
alluded to this fact when he said" "If man, the political animal, is to save himself
and his civilizations, he cannot yet rest from seeking new forms of government to
meet the ever-new needs of his times" (Op. cit.).

In Nigeria, the absence of good leadership over the years has plunged the country
into a pitiable situation, culminating in the institutionalization of corruption and
notorious governmental inefficiency in the polity. The last four decades have borne
witness to a steady decline in values, quality of governance, commitment and the
integrity of our environment. As the renowned professor Akinkugbe, put it, "our
society has become negatively permissive and much passes for norm today that
would have caused a raising of eyebrows in yonder years" (Daily Independent,
November 5, 2004:B10).

Our eight years of democratic experience have engendered a renew call for a true
regeneration of the nation. This true re-generation, many believed, could be
attained if our leaders are prepared to purge themselves of negative tendencies and
imbibe ethics in their daily activities. According to Oputa, retired Justice of the
Supreme Court, "We have failed in our quest for nation-building because of lack of
leadership. A committed leader is what we want. With good leadership, things will
change" (Oputa, 2004:9).

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Today "more than ever betoreTTlieTe'is a consensus of opinion among Nigerians
that the country needs good leaders at all levels of government to drive the
democratic change and enthrone good governance. As agents of social mobilization
and national development, the mass media can help to stimulate the effective and
efficient management of society through the provision of topical ideas and
information.

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2.0 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

This paper is based on the social responsibility and agenda setting theories of the
mass media. The Social Responsibility Theory as enunciated by Siebert et al
(1956:76), explains the main pre- occupation of the press (mass media) as
servicing the political system by providing information, discussion and debate in
public affairs. Enlightening the public so as to make it capable of self-government
and safeguarding the rights of the individual by serving as a watchdog against
government....

The Agenda Setting Theory, according to Severin and Tankard Jr. (2001:219),
refers to the media's capability through repeated news coverage of raising the
importance of an issue in the public's mind. Most of the time the agenda setting
function is carried out through the process of gatekeeping. McQuail (2005:512)
describes gatekeeping as a phenomenon which had long been noticed and studied
in the context of election campaigns and the main issues of the day, are reflected
in what the public perceives as the main issues. As gatekeepers, reporters, editors
and journalists are interested in the dynamics of giving expressions to issues by
display, prominence, constancy, editorials, news commentaries, analysis, cartoons
and events, the tucking in of stones inside pages or outright spiking of stories and
even photographs (Ekeli, 2007).

2.1 CONCEPT OF GOOD GOVERNANCE

Good governance is a controversial concept, especially to the ruling class in
developing countries, which is often reluctant to be held accountable. Yet, it is at
the heart of the process of sustainable development. In fact, major donors and
international financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund or World
Bank now insist on reforms ensuring good governance as a condition for granting
aid and loans.

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The terms "governance" and "good governance" have of late been featuring
regularly in development literature. Governance refers to the process of decision-
making and the process by which decisions are implemented or not implemented.
Public institutions are under obligation to conduct public affairs, manage public
resources, and guarantee the realization of human rights. Good governance
provides the framework for this to be accomplished in a manner free of abuse and
corruption, and with due regard for the rule of law.

Best (2007), defines good governance as, the running of the affairs of government
in positive and progressive manners beneficial to the governed, and which delivers
the public goods'. Good governance, according to Wikipedia (2007), is
characterized by participation, rule of law, transparency, responsiveness,
consensus orientation, equity and inclusiveness, effectiveness and efficiency, and
accountability.

It is also characterized by democratization, maintenance of law and order,

accountability and transparency, competence, due process, separation and
devolution of power, a free press and a virile civil society arena, competition for
power and the existence of a credible opposition. All these characteristics assure
that corruption is minimized, the views of minorities are taken into account and
that the voices of the most vulnerable in society are heard in decision-making.
Good governance helps to diffuse tensions and remove problems as they evolve.
Decision makers take the right decisions as and when due.

However, in today's Nigeria, political office holders have a wrong and misplaced
concept of governance. It is obvious that what drives most people to seek elective
post is the "spoils" of the office. Elective office holders are interested more in how
much money or state wealth they can amass for themselves at the expense of the
people. The real concept of governance which is service and improvement of the
standard of living of the governed is completely alien to them. The pillar of good
governance is probity, transparency and accountability. Sadly, these three are
largely absent in the nation's life. This explains why an average Nigerian is so
skeptical of public functionaries. The situation is so pathetic at the third tier of
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government. It is common knowledge that governance at the local government
level in many states of the federation has been non-existent. There are reports of
council chairmen and councilors who only show up at the office at the end of the
month when revenue allocations are being shared. As soon as everybody takes his
share, they disappear for the rest of the month. The thinking among these elected
public officers is that nobody would ask questions. To check this ugly trend,
Ibrahim Tahir, ex-internal affairs minister in the defunct Second Republic posits:
"we must get our concept of governance right. We must allow our democracy to
endure and develop its systems. We must establish safeguards against the factor
that make it possible for corruption such as we have it today to flourish. We must
also fashion out a proper system of sanction against culprits. 2007:16).

All these are necessary if not, we would be chasing shadows" (Tahi

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3.0 MASS MEDIA AND PUBLIC ENLIGHTENMENT
The media are the instruments of information dissemination in any modern
society. Without the mass media, the input-output functions of any system would
have been difficult if not impossible to achieve. It facilitates the implementation of
policies, decisions and programmes of the government to the people.

Akinfeleye et al (1995), as -eked by Nwekeaku (2007), describe the mass media as

tools for the creation of linkages between the society and the type of socio-
political ideology whether democracy, autocracy or meritocracy.

Corroborating these facts, Buckalew and Wulfemayer (2005), listed the role of the
mass media,
among others, to include:

-- »* To-inform

** To educate

** To help bring about social change, and

** To help establish public policies

There is a relation between the creation of public awareness and the mass media.
On the one hand, through coverage and presentation of news, information, facts,
figures, editorials, and other analytical pieces about an issue, the media have
considerable influence over the creation of public awareness of that issue. One the
other hand, the media serve as channels for the expression of public opinion which
is a manifestation of public awareness. Public awareness and its overt
manifestation (public opinion) require information for their creation and proper
functioning. Information dissemination is a necessary precondition for the
existence of public awareness. Without knowledge of an issue, there cannot be
awareness about that issue.

Given the appropriate mix of factors, newspapers, magazines, posters, radio,

television, film and other communication paraphernalia offer the channels for
disseminating development-oriented information, including information relating to
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good governance. Although communication channels (mass and traditional media
alike) per se are not the panaceas for the problems posed by bad governance, the
efforts to generate a shift in attitude towards such problems are information-
related or information-dependent in one way or another. Therefore, the provision
of information and education through the media of communication is essential to
efforts to create awareness of issues relating to good governance and its relation to
political and socio-economic development.

Social scientists and communication scholars have observed that the

communication media can be used to effectively inform broad masses of people
about a problem of public interest; they can inspire ideas and public awareness.
Such scholars as Mansurov (1988), have identified several factors which
determine the creation through the media of public awareness and the stimulation
of public interest in certain issues. These include: f i) how the issue is presented in
the media, especially the use of clear and accurate information and facts; (ii)
periodic repetition and frequent reference; (iii) the amount of time and space
devoted to the issue in the media; and (iv) presentation of adequate analytical
pieces on the issue and information and its effect on the society.

On both a long and short term basis, the mass media can make substantial
contributions to the process of creating public awareness, whether the aim of such
efforts is to:

*> Bring about an increase in the information or knowledge level of the public or
target group about a specific issue;

'I* Generate a change in their opinions or attitudes; or

<* Motivate them to action; that is to change their behaviour and habits.

Regardless of the purpose, the creation of public awareness and the generation of
public action involve and require a purposive-use of the mass media.

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3.1 THE CHALLENGES OF MASS MEDIA
One of the major challenges facing the media in the efforts to promote good
governance in the country is corruption which has eaten very deep into the psyche
of Nigerians, especially those in positions of public responsibility. It is the bane of
Nigeria's socio-economic development.

The country's biggest minus is its corruption reputation. Nigeria as rated in

Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index (CPI), was the world's
most corrupt country in 2000, second most corrupt country in 2001, 2002 and
2003, third most corrupt country in 2004, and sixth most corrupt country in 2005.
Corruption is the greatest albatross and the most virulent cog militating against
good governance and national development in Nigeria. It has remained an all-
pervading evil, afflicting all tiers of government (Sanni, 2007:39).

Osoba (2000:372), defines corruption as, a form of anti-social behaviour by an

individual and social group which confers unjust or fraudulent benefits on its
perpetrators, is inconsistent with the established legal norm and prevailing moral
ethos of the land and is likely to subvert or diminish the capacity of the legitimate
authorities to provide fully for the material and spiritual wellbeing of all members
of society in a just and equitable manner. To Oghale (2005:14), corruption is a
generic term used to designate all activities through which unfair advantages are
gained.

In view of the many adverse effects corruption has on our economy, it is the
responsibility of the media to constantly expose corrupt practices and collaborate
with the anti-graft agencies to fight corruption so as to achieve a zero tolerance
level in our society. For the media to fight corruption, journalists must first of all
clean up their house and shun corruption by not taking gifts from people they
report on so that their reports would not be distorted. It is time for journalists to
rise up and fight for their right to adequate pay and fair treatment by their
employers in order for them to be effectively positioned to publish news without
bias.

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The media are also under obligation to re-orientate Nigerians to change their
attitude towards material wealth and put into practice those indigenous cultural
values that promote honesty, integrity and respect for good name. One of the
causes of corruption is the dominant material social character and orientation of
our society. In any given society, the dominant value orientation plays a crucial
role in the attitudes, behaviours and values of its individual members. At the
moment, the Nigerian society is dominated by the desire to get rich as quickly as
possible.

Commenting on the shift in our value orientation, Anele (2007:18), observed time-
honoured values such as honesty, integrity, and respect for good name no longer
have the kind of strong influence on people's behaviour as before. Parents want
their children to be materially successful in a hurry, and society honours big men
and thick madams, irrespective of the morality or immorality of the sources of
their wealth. The change in societal values has a number of consequences.
According to Anele, it encourages greed, avarice and rapaciousness in individuals.
It promotes disrespect for truly hardworking people who earn an honest living
without being rich, which in turn, degrades the dignity of labour,

Senate President, David Mark, alluded to this fact while blaming Nigerians for the
corrupt tendencies of some public office holders. Speaking when he inaugurated
the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions
on Tuesday, September 11, 2007, Senator Mark accused Nigerians of coercing
public officials into corrupt practices by their incessant demands. "Immediately a
man is appointed or elected into office, a lot of pressure is brought on him by the
people who do not only want him to bring development to their area, but want him
to put money in their pockets", he noted, stressing that there was need for a change
of attitude (The Pointer, September 13,2007:24).

Former military vice president, Admiral Augustus Aikhomu agrees with Senator
David Mark when he said the citizens themselves have a role to play. They should
not expect too much from public office holders. It is the desire to meet up to the
expectation of the families and the society that makes some office holders to
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tamper with state resources. We should stop glorifying wealth. We can set
standards for those who govern us by measuring them not by how much they have
amassed but how well they have run our lives (Aikhomu, 2007:16).

To consolidate on the practice of democratic governance, the media should also

sensitize Nigerians to rise to the challenge of leading the rest of Africa in
strengthening the position and role of the civil society. The civil society
constitutes an important instrument through which democracy could be deepened
to enable it endure. With a responsive, virile and dynamic civil society, the
practice of democracy becomes easier to monitor and evaluate. The people
themselves, to whom power belongs, continuously subject its practice to scrutiny
to enable them check excesses and abuse. Elected leaders become more alive to
their responsibilities in such a circumstance. Institutions also become stronger and
better able to defend the philosophy and principles upon which the system of
government is anchored. In the final analysis, the voters matter more and the votes
could even become more important.

Another major challenge for the media is for it to partner with government to
reduce illiteracy and poverty. Poverty slows down growth and retards progress. It
is personified in those we see in our cities and villages who show evidence 'of
hunger, disease-malnutrition but who appear lost in our statistics yet, must be part
of our touted 140 million population. Regarding the threats of illiteracy and
poverty to society, former Director General of UNESCO, Mr. M'Bow in a 14th
International Literacy Day speech published in Montreal Gazette (1979), observed
that, illiteracy is closely tied to poverty. Throughout the world, the illiterates are
the poor, or make up poor societies but illiteracy is not only an effect of misery, it
is also one of the causes.

Lending credence to M'Bow's submission, Nigeria's former Power and Steel

Minister, now Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke said illiteracy
and poverty are two major factors inhibiting growth and development in Sub-
Saharan Africa. Imoke, who spoke while addressing participants at the opening
ceremony of the 2005 Global Education for All (EFA) emphasized that of the 1.3
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billion people in the world who live below one US dollar per day, over 70 million
are Nigerians. According to him, as the figure rises, it is saddening to note that
barely a year to the end of the decade of poverty eradication, there is very little to
show for all the efforts made by nation states particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa
(Vanguard, April 29, 2005:6).

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4.0 CONCLUSION

From the foregoing, it is crystal clear that the media can play a vital role in the
efforts to promote good governance in the country. For the media to perform this
role creditably, it must be allowed access to public records and documents. The
National Assembly therefore owes it a duty to ensure that the Freedom of
Information Bill is passed into law in order to provide the foundation for an open
system of governance that will benefit all sectors of the society, including
government. The Freedom of Information Act would among other things create an
enabling environment for obtaining information and monitoring the activities of
various departments of Government, ensure that government institutions, work
better and more efficiently, promote transparency and accountability in
governance as government policies and activities will become more open and
available to the public, and improve the quality of decisions and policies of
government as it will be possible for citizens and stakeholders to participate in the
decision-making process.

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Aikhomu, A. (2007). How to stop graft in government. Vanguard, September 30,

P. 16.

Anele, D. (2007). A phenomenology of corruption. Vanguard, September 16, P.

18.

Assay, B.E. (2007). The Media and sustainable democracy: Challenges of the
21*' century. A paper presented at the 6th Annual National Conference of
National Association of Research Development Held at Alvan Ikoku College
of Education Owerri Between 10th and 14th September.

Awake! December 22, 1990 Pp. 20-22.

Best, S.G. (2007). The methods ofcConflict resolution and transformation in Best
S.G. (ed.) Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies in West African. Ibadan:
Spectrum Books.

Ekeli, E.G. (2007). Political communication and the sustenance of

democracy in Nigeria. A paper presented at the Ebenezer Soola Conference
on Communication Held at the University of Ibadan, Ibadan Between 18
and 19in October.

Mansurov, V.A. (1988). Mass media and public opinion: Problems of interaction,
mass media and public opinion. Tampere University, Department of Journalism
and Mass communication Publication Series B.
(24).

Siebert, Peterson and Schramm (1956). Four theories of the press. London:
Illinois Press.

Tahir, I. (2007) Bad concept of governance responsible for Graft, Vanguard,

September 30, P. 16.

The Pointer, September 13, 2007.

Vanguard, April 29, 2005.

Wikipedia (2007). Good Governance, Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.

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