Professor of Public Administration, Abia State University, Uturu [ABSU], Prof Gregory Nwizu, has said that the hallmark of any good administration is its ability to respond to the needs and aspirations of the people.
Speaking while delivering the 25th Annual Inaugural Lecture of the University with the topic, ‘What is Good Administration, Lessons for Nigeria’, at Uturu, Nwizu said every good administration is determined by the quality and quantity of services rendered to the people.
He said most of the time; the people entrusted with leadership positions merely talk of commitment to provision of good governance but do not match it with the quality and quantity of services they render, which account for why issue of good governance has remained a rhetoric statement not yet to be witnessed by the masses.
He identified corruption, paucity of welfare services, and undue privatisation of essential services, religious, ethnic and political conflicts, among others, as the major factors militating against good administration in Nigeria.
He then called for self discipline among political office holders, public and civil servants to ensure good governance and administration in Nigeria.
Nwizu said if Nigeria should overcome the challenges of these negative vices that have impeded good administration in the country; the masses would begin to enjoy good governance but however called on the people to rise to the challenges of demanding or holding the elected and appointed government functionaries accountable to provide good administration.
The ABSU 25th Inaugural lecturer said the country would experience greater development, peace and empowerment of the people when those in charge of the affairs of the people begin to see the need to live above board and implement policies and actions relating to good governance entrenched in the constitution.
Earlier, while declaring the inaugural lecture open, the Chairman of the occasion and Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof Uche Ikonne, commended the inaugural lecturer, Prof Nwizu, for proving himself worthy with his contributions.
Ikonne urged staff of ABSU to imbibe the lessons from the lecture by avoiding all forms of exploitation of students. He also charged the students to study hard and shun anti social activities that would take them away from the reasons of being in the university.
In a vote of thanks, the Dean Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Prof. Onwuka, commended the inaugural lecturer for making them proud as well as the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ikonne, for being an example of a good administrator with a pragmatic approach to leadership and transformation in all aspects of the university.