Federal Republic of

Nigeria

Presented By: Monica Murchison I Sharon Speaks I Christy Shaw I Sunny Holobaugh

Section 1Making of the Modern State

Geographic Setting

Location: Western Africa

Capital City: Abuja

Population: (2015) 185 million

Size: 923, 768 sq. km. (more than twice the size of California)

Ujaw; 8.00%

Kanuri; 4.00%Ibibio; 3.50%

Tiv; 2.50%Other ; 14.00%

Hausa and Fulani ; 29.00%

Yourba ; 21.00%

Igbi (Ibo); 18.00%

Ethnic Groups Nigeria has more than

250 ethnic groups

Muslim50%

Other1%

Christian48%

Religious Groups

Nigerian Diversity

The green stripes represent the agriculture industry and lush vegetation.

The white stripe represents the desire for peace and unity within the country.

Exchange Rate

Nigerian Nira  US Dollar

1.00 NGN = 0.00501882 USD

$1.00 USD = 199.250 NGN

The Nigerian Flag and Currency

o Precolonial Period (1800-1900)

o Colonial Rule (1860-1945)

o Ethnic Politics under Colonialism (1945-1960)

Critical Junctures

o The First Republic (1960-1966)

o Civil War and Military Rule (1966-1979)

o The Second and Third Republics, and Predatory Military Rule

(1979-1999)

o The Fourth Republic (1999 to the present)

Republics

President Term Party

Olusegun Obasanjo May 29, 1999 – May 29, 2007 PDP

Umaru Yar'Adua May 29, 2007 – May 05, 2010 PDP

Goodluck Jonathan May 06, 2010 – May 29, 2015 PDP

Muhammadu Buhari May 29, 2015 – Current APC

Politics in Action

States and Capitals

o Historical Junctures and Political Themes

o Democratic Ideas amid Colonialism and Military Rule

o Nigeria’s Fragile Collective Identity

o Implications for Comparative Politics

Themes and Implications

Section 2Political Economy &

Development

The state became the main fixture in the Nigerian economy,

stunting the private sector of individuals and companies and

encumbering industry and commerce.

o Origins of Economic Decline

There were three factors that affected the Nigerian

agricultural sector. The Biafran War from 1967-1970;

severe drought and the development of the

petroleum industry. Agricultural export went from

80% in 1960 to 2% by 1980. Nigerians were saved by

the increased revenues in oil in the 1970’s.

State and Economy

o From 1985 to the Present: Deepening Economic Crisis and

the Search for Solutions

Structural Adjustment – 1985 marked a turning point

for the Nigerian state and economy due to economic

planning.

Social Welfare – Widespread suffering as social welfare

has continued to decline in Nigeria’s economic process

since early 1980’s.

State and Economy

o Nigeria is known for its wide array of natural resources but gains

special recognition for its contribution to the oil industry.

o Nigeria has the largest fuel reserve in the Sub Saharan Africa area.

o Fuel Sources Include:

Petroleum CoalNatural Gas

Oil and Fuel Resources

Because of the governmental control on economic opportunities, the state is the major focus of competition of ethnic, religious and class groups.

o Ethnic and Religious Cleavages

o Gender Differences

o Nigeria in the Global Economy

o Nigeria in the Regional Political Economy

o Nigeria and the Political Economy of the West

Society and Economy

o Business Freedom - Through measures of capital requirement have been

eliminated the procedure to get licensing is still drawn out.

o Labor Freedom - Much of the labor is split between the public and energy

sectors.

o Monetary Freedom - They government is directly responsible for the prices

on fuel and electricity.

Employment

Agriculture in Nigeria

o Since the fuel sector is the major contributor of the GDP, it is important to

analyze their role in setting import prices.

o Learning also that labor is divided among energy and fuel primarily, one

has to consider the effect this has. With import prices being set by the

government and these being the major contributors of GDP, the

government can appear to set the limits for their spending.

o As a result, it can appear that they fall on the spectrum of overspending

because they control the prices as to not reflect a deficit since it is their

main source of income.

Government Involvement

Section 3Governance and Policy-

Making

o The National Question and Constitutional Governance

o Federalism and State Structure

36 States 774 Local Government Units

Organization of the State

o Who and how they will rule

o How is the country to be governed given its great diversity?

o How can all sections of country work in harmony?

o Since Independence- Oct 1, 1960

o Struggled with Democracy Constitutionalism Military Rule

o Drafted 9 constitutions

o 4 Republics

Formation of a Nation

Federalism and State Structure

o Feral republic comprised of 36 states

o Legal system based of English common law

o National Assembly

109 Senate Seats

360 House of representatives

Universal suffrage

o National Elections

o Elected President head of state (universal suffrage)

President and Commander in chief of the armed forces

Political Structure

o Cause and Effect

o Ethnic Rotation

o Federal Character

Skewed Federalism

o Evolution of the Executive Function

o The Executive under Military Rule

o Under Democracy and Constitutionalism

o Military Rule

Patrimonialism

Parastatals

Loyalty Pyramid

• Big Man

• Prebendalism

The Executive

o The Fourth Republic: The Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, and Jonathan

Administrations The Bureaucracy Semipublic Institutions Prebendalism

The Executive

Formation of a Nation

o Judiciary Local and Appellate State Level Courts

o State and Local Government

Other State Institutions

o Top Down Directive

o Loyalty Pyramid

o Changes to government since decade of democratic

government

The Policy-Making Process

Section 5Nigerian Politics in Transition

Changing Agendas

Signaling a critical juncture in the transition to democracy, Nigeria had two new experiences in their March 2015 elections.

1. The first time an incumbent president has been voted out of office.

2. The first peaceful transfer of power between two political parties as the power transferred from the PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) to the APC (All Progressives Congress).

President Muhammadu Buhari

o Despite the slow progress of the Fourth Republic, Nigerians overwhelmingly favor democratic government over military rule.

o 70% of Nigerians prefer democracy over any other alternative.

o Nigerians are sowing seeds of change:

o Attitudes towards the military in government have changed dramatically

o Military attitudes themselves have changed as evidenced by their restraint to take control in Yar’Adua’s absence.

o Many now recognize that the military contribution is national security.

o Nigerians recognize that the next critical step towards democracy is the creation of a viable, multiethnic opposition party that is also loyal and plays by the rules of the system. Opposition parties help to reduce corruption because they have an interest in exposing misconduct of the ruling party.

Changing Agendas

The newly elected APC Party faces many challenges in their progress towards democracy.

o Building a coherent nation-state out of competing

nationalities

o Further decentralization of power structures

o Building civil society groups which connect the state to the

people

o Boko Haram (National Security)

o Economic Challenges & Corruption

o Humanity/Social Issues

Political Challenges

Boko Haram – a national security threat – is Nigeria's militant Islamist group which has caused havoc in Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, through a wave of bombings, assassinations and abductions in an effort to overthrow the government and create an Islamic state.

Political Challenges – National Security / Boko Haram

o 15,000 people killed since 2009

o 2000 women and children abducted since 2014

o 2.1 million displaced in northern Nigeria

o 276 girls abducted on April 14, 2014 from a boarding school

Political Challenges – Economic Challenges

Nigeria is Africa's most populous nation and also the largest economy on the continent. The country is the world's eighth-largest oil exporter, and almost 90% of its export earnings are tied to oil. Sixty percent of the population lives in extreme poverty, youth unemployment is close to 80 percent.   There are chronic power shortages, which can increase the cost of doing business in the country by up to 40 percent. And for a country with great oil wealth, there is the mysterious issue of falling oil revenues.

Corruption is one of Nigeria’s largest economic challenges. o Stolen Oil - 300,000 barrels of oil stolen a day estimated theft

at $12bn a yearo Government salaries are some of the highest in the world with

senators earning 240 million naira (about 1.7 million US dollars) in salaries and allowances annually. US Senator’s earn $174,000 annually.

Humanity/Social issues:

o Poverty – 80% of Nigerians live below poverty level with 70% of Nigerians living on less than $1.25 per day.

o Life expectancy is less than 53 years while US life expectancy is 79 years.

Political Challenges – Humanity/Social Issues

Date Life expectancy

Life expectancy

- Men

Life expectancy - Women

2013 52.50 52.19 52.82

2012 52.11 51.81 52.42

2011 51.71 51.42 52.02

2010 51.29 51.01 51.59

2009 50.83 50.55 51.13

2008 50.33 50.05 50.63

2007 49.79 49.50 50.10

2006 49.23 48.91 49.56

2005 48.66 48.32 49.02

2004 48.13 47.75 48.52

2003 47.64 47.23 48.07

2002 47.22 46.77 47.69

2001 46.88 46.39 47.40

2000 46.62 46.08 47.19

Nigeria - Life expectancy at birth

Political Challenges – Humanity/Social Issues

Nigeria’s largest city, Lagos has a population of 9 million people where electricity is rarely functioning and the streets often flood. Unless you work for the government.

Poverty level homes Middle income homes Upper income home

The study of Nigerian politics has important implications for the African Politics and comparative politics.

o We can learn about how democratic regimes are established and consolidated by understanding Nigeria’s pitfalls and travails.

o Analysis of Nigeria’s ethnic conflicts helps to identify institutional mechanisms that may be effective with reducing ethnic conflicts in other states.

o We can learn about necessary and sufficient conditions for economic development, and liabilities of oil-dependent states.

A world of states o Despite Nigeria’s resources, the country’s economy has grown weaker. o The country has an international reputation for corruption, human

rights abuses, and failed governance. o Nigeria’s economic vulnerability and persistent corruption has kept the

country as a secondary player in the world of states.

Comparative Perspective

Comparative Perspective

Governing the Economy

In 1960, at independence, Nigeria was a strong country. However, today the country is among the poorest countries in the world. Rich endowment of resources is not enough to ensure economic development. Democratic stability, a capable developmental state, and a sound economic policy are critical to grow an economy.

The Democratic Idea

Decades of authoritarian, single-party, and military rule in Africa resulted in political repression, human rights abuses, inequality, deteriorating governance, and failed economies. Nigeria exemplifies the harsh reality of authoritarian and unaccountable governance as their once prospering economy has been reduced to near shambles. Today, democracy has become a greater imperative because only democracy provides the mechanisms to limit the abuses of power and hold governments accountable.

Comparative Perspective

Despite 30 years of military rule followed by over a decade of corrupt civilian government, the Nigerian people strongly desire a democratic government.