Across many democracies, including Nigeria, declining trust in public institutions is becoming a critical challenge. When citizens no longer believe that governments act in their interest, it signals a broken social contract—a disconnect between the state and the people it serves. Without trust, even the best policies struggle to gain legitimacy, and social cohesion weakens.
Leaders can address this crisis by prioritizing performance legitimacy. This means focusing on tangible service delivery, ethical leadership, and transparent governance. Citizens are more likely to trust institutions that consistently meet their basic needs, enforce the law fairly, and act with integrity. Performance, in this sense, becomes the foundation of political legitimacy, replacing empty promises or symbolic gestures.
Non-governmental institutions play a complementary role in rebuilding trust. By facilitating citizen–state dialogue, promoting participatory governance, and creating spaces for community engagement, NGOs, advocacy groups, and civil society organizations help close the gap between government actions and public expectations. Participatory budgeting, policy consultations, and local development forums are practical examples of how these interventions can strengthen accountability and trust.
Renewing the social contract is not a one-time effort; it is a continuous process of demonstrating competence, fairness, and responsiveness. When both leaders and civil society work together to rebuild trust, governance becomes more inclusive, resilient, and capable of driving sustainable development
In sum, the eroding public trust on their political leaders signals a broken social contract. Leaders must prioritize performance legitimacy through service delivery and ethical leadership. Non-government institutions can facilitate citizen–state dialogue, rebuilding trust through participatory governance models.
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