1. Fair Conduct of Elections, Representation, and Participation
Elections are conducted freely and fairly, according to international standards and national legislation, and without any fraud.
Citizens are at the center of public activity and they are involved in clearly defined ways in public life at the local level.
All men and women can have a voice in decision-making, either directly or through legitimate intermediate bodies that represent their interests. Such broad participation is built on the freedoms of expression, assembly, and association.
All voices, including those of the less privileged and most vulnerable, are heard and taken into account in decision-making, including over the allocation of resources.
There is always an honest attempt to mediate between various legitimate interests and to reach a broad consensus on what is in the best interest of the whole community and on how this can be achieved
Decisions are taken according to the will of the many, while the rights and legitimate interests of the few are respected.
2. Responsiveness
Objectives, rules, structures, and procedures are adapted to the legitimate expectations and needs of citizens.
Public services are delivered, and requests and complaints are responded to within a reasonable timeframe.
3. Efficiency and Effectiveness
Results meet the agreed objectives.
The best possible use is made of the resources available.
Performance management systems make it possible to evaluate and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of services.
Audits are carried out at regular intervals to assess and improve performance.
4. Openness and Transparency
Decisions are taken and enforced in accordance with rules and regulations.
There is public access to all information that is not classified for well-specified reasons as provided for by law (such as the protection of privacy or ensuring the fairness of procurement procedures).
Information on decisions, implementation of policies, and results are made available to the public in such a way as to enable it to effectively follow and contribute to the work of the local authority.
5. Rule of Law
The authorities abide by the law and judicial decisions.
Rules and regulations are adopted in accordance with procedures provided for by law and are enforced impartially.
6. Ethical conduct
The public good is placed before individual interests.
There are effective measures to prevent and combat all forms of corruption.
Conflicts of interest are declared in a timely manner and persons involved must abstain from taking part in relevant decisions.
7. Competence and Capacity
The professional skills of those who deliver governance are continuously maintained and strengthened in order to improve their output and impact.
Public officials are motivated to continuously improve their performance.
Practical methods and procedures are created and used in order to transform skills into capacity and to produce better results.
8. Innovation and Openness to Change
New and efficient solutions to problems are sought and advantage is taken of modern methods of service provision.
There is a readiness to pilot and experiment with new programs and to learn from the experience of others.
A climate favorable to change is created in the interest of achieving better results.
9. Sustainability and Long-term Orientation
The needs of future generations are taken into account in current policies.
The sustainability of the community is constantly taken into account.
Decisions strive to internalize all costs and not to transfer problems and tensions, be they environmental, structural, financial, economic, or social, to future generations.
There is a broad and long-term perspective on the future of the local community along with a sense of what is needed for such development.
There is an understanding of the historical, cultural, and social complexities in which this perspective is grounded.
10. Sound Financial Management
Charges do not exceed the cost of services provided and do not reduce demand excessively, particularly in the case of important public services.
Prudence is observed in financial management, including in the contracting and use of loans, in the estimation of resources, revenues, and reserves, and in the use of exceptional revenue.
Multi-annual budget plans are prepared, with the consultation of the public.
Risks are properly estimated and managed, including by the publication of consolidated accounts and, in the case of public-private partnerships, by sharing the risks realistically.
The local authority takes part in arrangements for inter-municipal solidarity, fair sharing of burdens and benefits, and reduction of risks (equalization systems, inter-municipal co-operation, mutualization of risks…).
11. Human rights, Cultural Diversity and Social Cohesion
Within the local authority’s sphere of influence, human rights are respected, protected, and implemented, and discrimination on any grounds is combated.
Cultural diversity is treated as an asset, and continuous efforts are made to ensure that all have a stake in the local community, identify with it, and do not feel excluded.
Social cohesion and the integration of disadvantaged areas are promoted.
Access to essential services is preserved, in particular for the most disadvantaged sections of the population.
12. Accountability
All decision-makers, collective and individual, take responsibility for their decisions.
Decisions are reported on, explained, and can be sanctioned.
There are effective remedies against maladministration and against actions of local authorities which infringe civil rights.
Sadly though, most of the features afore stated about good governance are presently not being provided by our political leadership in Nigeria. This provides the imperative for the establishment of non-governmental organizations like BETTER NIGERIA to provide support, advice and to serve as a watchdog on the activities of the political leadership in Nigeria in a bid to ensure that the citizens not only enjoy good governance but BETTER governance
BETTER NIGERIA organization will be based in the United States of America but will need to speak truth to power in Nigeria, the management of the organization has rightly decided to develop a website to be able to realize their objectives effectively.
References
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