LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITY, JUSTICE AND INTEGRITY IN PUBLIC LIFE:A PANACEA FOR SUSTAINABLE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

The study examines leadership responsibility, justice and integrity in public life as panacea for sustainable national development. Nigeria is a complex society and has been confronted with leadership problem. The problem of leadership in Nigeria, be it political, academic, transitional etc, has continued to be a cankerworm in the nation’s wheel of progress. Leadership means the responsibility of service to others. Nigeria has been overtaken by waves of reform programs but the country lacks leadership commitment to the implementation of those reforms. When leadership of any government, organization or institution carries out its duties in justice and integrity, the manifestations are felt throughout the land. Integrity builds valuable trust between people and the supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Factors that militate against justice and ways of restoring justice among leaders in Nigeria are emphasized. Bad and inept leadership works like corruption in breeding mediocrity, create evil, inflates corruption, manufactures excuses and kill ideas for progress. Good and purposeful leadership is evident in the concept of governance which comprises the mechanisms and processes for citizens and groups to articulate their interest; to work together, manage their differences, exercise their legal rights and obligations and work for the common good. The study adopts descriptive survey approach hence Nigerians need leaders who are just, who have respect for justice, leaders with capacity and integrity to get things done and make things happen.