Nigeria

coup d’etat

a sudden, violent, and unlawful seizure of power from a government; a coup

democratization

The process of developing democratic states

dual mandate

the notion that colonial powers had to rule on their own and through local leaders at the same time

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

The organization established in 1975 among the 16 governments in West Africa. Its goals are to strengthen and broaden the economies in the region through the removal of trade barriers among its members (such as import quotas and domestic content laws), freedom of movement for citizens, and monetary cooperation

Federal Executive Council (FEC)

Leadership of the first Nigerian republic

federal character

Principle that seeks to ensure that appointments to public service institutions fairly reflect the linguistic, ethnic, religious, and geographic diversity of the country

federalism (in Nigeria)

government power divided between the federal government and states

Hausa-Fulani

Two predominantly Muslim ethnic groups concentrated in northern Nigeria

Igbo

Predominantly Christian ethnic group concentrated in southeast Nigeria.

Import substitution

a development strategy where a country focuses on producing goods domestically instead of importing them from other countries. This is done to reduce dependence on foreign imports and promote domestic industries

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

Set up in 1998, is the electoral body which was set up to oversee elections in Nigeria

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

organization of 191 countries, working to secure financial stability, facilitate international trade,  and reduce poverty around the world

middle belt

Ethnically mixed region of central Nigeria where the capital, Abuja, was built

military rule

type of government that is controlled by military officials who have seized power through force

parastatal

having some political authority and serving the state indirectly

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)

a state-owned oil company in Nigeria; responsible for harnessing Nigeria's oil and gas reserves for sustainable national development

patron-client politics (prebendalism)

relations in which "patrons" gain the support of "clients" through the mutual exchange of benefits and obligations in the government

People’s Democratic Party (PDP)

Nigeria's dominant political party

Supreme Military Council (SMC)

The body that ruled Nigeria after the 1966 coup d'état until it was dissolved following the 1979 parliamentary election and the Second Nigerian Republic.

World Bank

an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of poorer countries for the purpose of pursuing development projects.

Yoruba

Ethnic group largely confined to southwest Nigeria whose members are divided among Christian, Muslim and local animist faiths.

kleptocracy

 a form of government corruption where political leaders use their power to enrich themselves and those close to them, often at the expense of the public, by embezzlement or misappropriation of government funds