DEMOCRACY AND THE CHALLENGES OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA, 2011-2023
Dalhatu Musa Yusha’u and Musa Yakubu
Volume 11 Issue 1
Abstract
Democracy as a system of government prioritized good governance that will enhance rural transformation and improved condition of living of the rural populace. The emergence of democracy in Nigeria in 1999 was on a crippled socio-economic base bequeathed by the protracted military regimes in the country. The practice of democracy could not substantially improve the situation either. This is attributed to a lot of draw-backs and challenges in the operation of the nascent democracy. This study is an attempt to x-ray through field survey the challenges inhibiting democracy in developing rural communities of Nasarawa State since its inception and particularly from 2011 to 2023. The study which is anchored on integrated rural development approach is based on documentary sources and personal observations with specified variables of development such as infrastructure, security, education, unemployment and poverty rates. The findings revealed that there exists a nexus between democracy and rural development, and in Nasarawa state within the period under review, rural areas witnessed a boost in the areas of road construction, electricity, education among others. Again, among the major challenges still working against effective rural development is poor or abysmal improvement in infrastructural index in the country (Nasarawa State inclusive) as shown in African Infrastructural Development Index reports. Others are illiteracy, poverty, insecurity, rivalry between traditional authorities and local officials; corruption and bad governance. Although there was improvement in rural development strive in Nasarawa state under the last two democratic governments (2011 to 2023), a lot more needs to be done in order to reach the desired level. Hence, curbing the situation requires that present democratic government must ensure huge investment in infrastructure and education, robust poverty reduction programme and empowerment, transparency and good governance. Keywords: Challenges, Democracy, Development, Rural Development
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