PROBLEMS FACED BY MASS MEDIA IN PROMOTING GOOD GOVERNANCE IN NIGERIA
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
The concept of good governance remains contentious, particularly among the ruling class in developing nations, which often resists accountability. Nevertheless, it stands as a pivotal element in the pursuit of sustainable development. Notably, major donors and international financial institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, now require reforms aimed at ensuring good governance as a prerequisite for providing aid and loans.
The terms “governance” and “good governance” have become prevalent in development literature, with governance denoting the decision-making process and its implementation or non-implementation. Public institutions bear the responsibility of managing public affairs, overseeing public resources, and safeguarding human rights. Good governance establishes the framework for accomplishing these tasks free from abuse and corruption, while upholding the rule of law.
According to Best (2017), good governance involves the positive and progressive management of government affairs for the benefit of the governed, delivering public goods. Wikipedia (2017) characterizes good governance by elements such as participation, the rule of law, transparency, responsiveness, consensus orientation, equity and inclusiveness, effectiveness and efficiency, and accountability.
Key features also include democratization, maintaining law and order, accountability and transparency, competence, due process, separation and devolution of power, a free press, a vibrant civil society, competition for power, and the existence of a credible opposition. These characteristics aim to minimize corruption, consider minority views, and ensure the voices of the vulnerable are heard in decision-making, ultimately diffusing tensions and addressing issues as they arise.
However, in present-day Nigeria, political office holders often possess a distorted view of governance. Many seek elective positions primarily for personal gain, focusing on accumulating wealth at the expense of the people. The genuine concept of governance, centered on service and improving the standard of living for the governed, is alien to them. The pillars of good governance—probity, transparency, and accountability—are regrettably lacking in the nation’s life, contributing to public skepticism toward officials.
This situation is particularly dire at the local government level, with reports of absentee council chairmen and councilors who only appear during revenue allocation distributions. To counter this trend, there is a need to redefine the concept of governance, allowing democracy to endure and develop its systems. Safeguards against corruption must be established, accompanied by a proper system of sanctions for offenders. In this context, the mass media plays a crucial role as the primary means of information dissemination in modern society, facilitating the implementation of government policies, decisions, and programs to the people.
kinfeleye et al. (2005), as cited by Nwekeaku (2017), characterize the mass media as tools that establish connections between society and various socio-political ideologies, be it democracy, autocracy, or meritocracy. Supporting these assertions, Buckalew and Wulfemayer (2015) outline the roles of mass media, including informing, educating, contributing to social change, and influencing the establishment of public policies.
The relationship between the mass media and the creation of public awareness is evident. Through the coverage and presentation of news, information, facts, figures, editorials, and analytical pieces on an issue, mass media wield significant influence in shaping public awareness. Additionally, mass media act as conduits for the expression of public opinion, which is a tangible manifestation of public awareness. Both public awareness and its outward expression, public opinion, necessitate information for their genesis and proper functioning. Without knowledge of an issue, awareness about that issue cannot exist.
In the right blend of circumstances, newspapers, magazines, posters, radio, television, film, and other communication tools serve as channels for disseminating development-oriented information, including content related to good governance. While communication channels, whether mass or traditional media, are not cure-alls for the challenges posed by bad governance, endeavors to shift attitudes toward these issues invariably rely on information. Therefore, the provision of information and education through mass media is crucial to fostering awareness of matters pertaining to good governance and its connection to political and socio-economic development.
Social scientists and communication scholars note that communication media can effectively inform large audiences about public interest issues, inspiring ideas and raising public awareness. Scholars like Mansurov (1988) identify several factors influencing the creation of public awareness and the stimulation of public interest through mass media, including: i) how the issue is presented, emphasizing clear and accurate information; ii) periodic repetition and frequent references; iii) the amount of time and space devoted to the issue in mass media; and iv) the presentation of sufficient analytical pieces on the issue and its societal impact.
Statement of Problem
Throughout Nigeria’s history, the mass media has consistently taken a leading role in the struggle to establish and sustain democracy in the country. Supporting this view, Obilade (2009:235) asserts that the “press in Nigeria actively contributes to achieving the goal of sustainable democracy in the continent of Africa.” This significant contribution by the Nigerian media spans the first, second, third, and fourth republics. Even during periods of military rule, the Nigerian media valiantly fought for the restoration of democracy, ultimately leading to the advent of the fourth republic in May 2009. In line with their constitutional role, the mass media are expected to mobilize the public to actively participate in the democratic process, a duty they fulfilled during the reviewed period. For example, following the transition program instituted by the Abdulsalami Abubakar-led government, the mass media promptly created awareness about the electoral process.
Regarding the protection of fundamental human rights, the Nigerian media vigorously advocated for the legal consequences faced by those violating rights. Furthermore, the mass media serve as the epicenter of all democratic activities, operating as the marketplace of ideas for political thought in a democratic society.
However, the performance of the Nigerian mass media, from the first Republic to the present, is a combination of both successes and failures. While the media played a crucial role in preserving and consolidating the hard-earned democracy, it faces numerous challenges that hinder the stabilization of Nigerian democracy. Pressures from the public, political parties, interest groups, and the government itself constantly impede the media’s ability to report national events impartially, often forcing them to align with specific parties or interest groups.
It is against this backdrop that this study examines the challenges of mass media in promoting good governace in Nigeria
Research Questions
This study is guided by the following research questions:
- What are the roles of the mass media in the consolidation of democratic governance in Nigeria?
- What is the nexus between mass media and democratic governance in Nigeria?
- What are the likely Challenges of mass media promoting good governance in Nigeria
Objectives of the Study
The broad objective of this study is to analyze the Challenges of mass media promoting good governance in Nigeria. Other specific objectives include:
- To examine the roles that the Nigerian media has been playing in consolidating democracy in the country.
- To explore the relationship between mass media and democratic governance in Nigeria.
- To also examine the Challenges of mass media promoting good governance in Nigeria
Assumptions
The study is guided by the following assumptions:
- Access to broad range of information enables citizens to participate fully in the governance of society.
- Access to broad range of information does not enable citizens to participate fully in the governance of society.
Significance of the Study:
The realm of media and its impact on democratic governance in Nigeria has been a relatively neglected area in academic and development discourse until recently. The existing literature on the role of mass media in democratic governance is sparse, with a focus on general media roles in democracy and associated challenges. Therefore, the paramount significance of this study lies in its contribution to the expanding body of knowledge on the relationship between media and democracy. The study is both timely and consequential, aiming to provide a comprehensive analysis that addresses the current gap in understanding. This work is expected to be valuable to scholars and students seeking to delve further into research on the role of mass media and the challenges of democratic governance in Nigeria.
Scope and Limitations of the Study:
This study concentrates on exploring the challenges faced by mass media in promoting good governance in Nigeria. However, the scope is specifically limited to the fourth republic, encompassing the period from 2009 to 2015. A significant limitation of this study is its inability to cover all facets of mass media and its role in democratic governance due to the broad and complex nature of the topic. Mass media and its involvement in democratic governance constitute a vast and intricate subject that cannot be comprehensively addressed in a single study.
Methods of Data Collection and Analysis:
The study employs the secondary analysis method for data collection, involving the extraction of information from various relevant academic works. This methodology is chosen when the research problem cannot be effectively measured through personal interviews or direct observation. The study relies on relevant literature, sourced from written records categorized into episodic and running records. Episodic records are produced and preserved in a casual, personal, and accidental manner, while running records are systematically stored by organizations and are easily accessible for an extended period. The study utilizes running records, collecting secondary data from scholarly books, journals, articles, newspapers, magazines, and reputable online sources such as search engines (e.g., Google, search.com) and e-journals (e.g., JSTOR). The information is then internalized, evaluated, and synthesized to contribute to the research findings.
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