Nigeria Test

Parliamentary System + example

A system of government in which the executive and legislative branches are fused together (UK)

Presidential System + examples

When separate election processes are used in the selection of the president and national legislature (Nigeria, Mexico, US)

Semi-Presidential System + example

System of government in which a president and a prime minister are both active participants in the day-to-day administration of the state (Russia)

Characteristics of Nigeria (The Federal Republic of Nigeria)

Democratizing, rentier state (oil), Africa’s largest economy, presidential system, federal system (subunits are states and territory divided into 36 federal states and the federal capital of Abuja), young population with a high population growth, life expectancy of around 63, West Africa, diverse, corruption (struggle with legitimacy), Nollywood

Coinciding cleavages + examples

Cleavages that deepen the divide (religion, region, language, ethnicity)

Cross cutting cleavages + examples

Cleavages that don’t deepen the divide (religion, language, ethnicity)

From who and when did Nigeria become independent?

Newly independent from Britain in 1960

What is the sole stable national institution and what does it lead to?

Military and it leads to its right to rule

Most leaders were what before going into politics?

Military generals

North vs South Nigeria

Indirect rule in the north (Muslim leaders) vs direct rule in the south, Islam in the north vs Christianity in the south (Christian missionaries that also created western style education)

What was the first type of democracy set up by Nigeria after their independence and what was the problem with it?

There was a British parliamentary style democracy but ethnic divisions made it difficult to identify a majority party or allow a PM to have necessary authority

What happened after Nigeria’s failed parliament?

The Western Region led a coup stopped by the Eastern Region and a shift to democracy occured in 1999

What is the physical geography like and what problems does it cause?

Very diverse, arid in the North, lush in the South, the Niger Delta the source of Nigeria’s oil but its home to over 30 million of the countries poorest citizens

Northern Nigeria characteristics

Two groups combined as the Hausa-Fulani (NW) and smaller groups like Kanuri (NE), Muslim, low education and suspicious of modernizing, follow Sharia law

Middle Nigeria characteristics

Many smaller ethnic groups, mix of Muslims and Christians

Southern Nigeria characteristics

Yoruba that are about 40% Muslim, 40% Christian and 20% native religions (SW) and the Igbo that are predominantly Roman Catholic with some Protestant Christians as well (SE); agricultural region

Characteristics of the area along the Niger River Delta

Oil deposit region, people are from various small minority groups

Executive Branch

Head of State (military and foreign policies) and Head of Government (everyday policies) is President Bola Tinubu, he also appoints a Cabinet (one member from each state)

Legislative Branch

Bicameral Legislature: National Assembly, Upper House: Senate (3 elected per state and 1 from Abuja), Lower House: House of Representatives (elected), rubber stamp for executive branch, recently has become less compliant (budget, regional issues, Obasanjo wanted a 3rd term)

Powers of the Senate

Confirms presidential appointments, introduces/approves legislation, has impeachment power

Powers of the House of Representatives

Introduces/approves legislation, same election time as the President (4 years)

Judicial Branch

Both federal (Supreme Court with weak judicial review) and state courts, Sharia law allowed in the North, most judges today are not well versed in law, easily manipulated by the government

Nigerian Constitutional History

Regimes have switched back and forth between military and civilian governments since independence because people don’t abide by the rules created, the first national constitution kept the regime of a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy, in 1963, after only three years of independence, Nigeria reconstituted itself as a republic, in 1979, the constitution was rewritten and introduced a presidential system reminiscent of the US system, the current constitution was implemented in 1999 and established their system as federal democratic republic with presidential executive, bicameral legislature

What is the single most prominent form of government?

Patrimonialism, where power flows directly from the leader

Rules of Election

Directly elected (4 yr term, 2 term limit), 2-round/majority model (if no candidate wins a majority in the first round, second round pits top two popular vote winners), candidate must win majority of votes cast AND at least 25% of votes cast in 2/3 of Nigeria’s states

Powers of the President

Appoints government officials (cabinet members, federal judges, etc.), oversees bureaucracy/civil service, oversees all government oil and distributes some to the states as directed by law, commands armed forces, can veto laws passed by legislature, key to understanding presidency is the role of patrimonialism in Nigeria’s government, can be impeached through the Process of Impeachment

Muhammadu Buhari

The sixth democratically elected president (APC), Hausa-Fulani, first one to get into office by defeating an incumbent (sitting) President, ruled Nigeria militaristically in the 80s, won the presidency in 2015 after competing in three presidential elections without success

Bola Tinubu

The seventh democratically elected president, Yoruba APC Party candidate from Lagos, former governor of Lagos state and senator, believes in the privatization of oil and electricity

Prebendalism

Aka “patron-clientelism”, the belief that elected officials have a right to a share of government revenues, and can use them to benefit their supporters, clients, and members of their ethnic group; ex: in exchange for support a president may grant his clients a portion of the oil revenues (fiefdoms)

Problems with Local Government

State and local governments have enjoyed little autonomy from national government, have no means of generating revenue, over 75% of local councils have been replaced by “temporary” caretaker committees appointed by state governors

The Expansion of Oil Revenue

led to increased disputes because the federal government controls it (13 percent per state), uses the derivation formula

Why does the military play a central role in Nigerian politics?

It allows for mobility and is the only national institution with the capability to restore order

Differences between “military in government” vs “military in barracks and why they exist

“Military in government” is politics and “military in barracks” is the traditional military, presidents had to place restraints on the traditional military

Urban vs. Rural

Most political organizing, interest groups, and political protest takes place in cities

Social Classes

Wealth of elites stems from access to Nigeria’s resources: maintained their power by appealing to religious and ethnic identities; wealthy elite find it difficult to give up wealth associated with access to state treasury, educated elite would like to see adoption of democratic principles

How Nigeria Attempts to Address Cleavages

Voting rules (president must receive 25% of votes in ⅔ of Nigeria’s states); “gentleman’s agreement”- zoning- for presidency; one cabinet minister from each state; allowing Sharia law in the North; federalism; creating the National Youth Service Corps to promote nationalism (posted to states other than their origin, where they’re expected to mix with diverse groups, learn the local culture, and socialize)

Civil Society

Voluntary associations independent from the state, including local religious and neighborhood organizations, news media, business and professional associations, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs); ex: Boko Haram, Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND)

Boko Haram

Islamist sect, extremist group; wants to establish of an Islamic caliphate through terrorism; Schoolgirl kidnapping in 2014 (Undermined government in eyes of Nigerians; many voiced outrage in protests)

Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP)

Established by Ken Saro-Wiwa to secure financial benefits for the inhabitants of the region where oil was found

Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND)

Turned to violence, and has illegally siphoned off oil, kidnapped foreign oil workers and sailors, captured ships, and attacked facilities; 2009 Truce between the government and MEND (thousands of militants surrendered in exchange for unconditional pardon, a monthly stipend, and the promise of retraining and education; derivation formula adjustment for allocating oil revenues to Delta communities; truce called off in 2010; periods of alternating peace/tension since)

Political Ideology

The collective attitudes, values, and beliefs on the goals of government, public policy, and politics

Popular Culture

The collective attitudes, values, and beliefs on the role of government, rights of individuals, extent and role of citizens in controlling policymaking, norms of behavior in the political system, and the expectations about the exercise of power

What do Nigerians base support for democracy on?

Trustworthy leaders

Direct vs. Indirect Elections

People directly elect candidate or party they want to represent them vs. People vote for candidates who choose members for the representative position

Plurality

One person fills a seat

Types of political party systems

One Party System (only one party is allowed to fully operate in a country and run the government; party competition is nonexistent), Two Party System (two parties dominate the party system and compete to run the government; other parties exist and can win seats, but only two parties have a realistic chance at running the government), Multi-party system (at least three parties can compete for government power and control), Dominant Party System (multiple parties exist and can win states, but one party wins a high percentage of elections and has a virtual monopoly of power in government; ex: Mexico (pre-2000), Russia)

How is the House of Representatives and Senate elected?

Directly elected, SMD plurality that are apportioned by population vs. Each of 36 states divided into three senate districts and the capital territory elects one senator; directly elected single member district plurality as well

Independent National Election Commission (INEC)

Developed in an attempt to enhance electoral competition, reduce voter fraud, and contribute to democratization

APC

Three smaller political parties merged in 2013

2 Major Parties

People’s Democratic Party (PDP)-(Goodluck Jonathan; conservative, center-right, Neo-liberalism); All Progressives Congress (APC)-(Muhammadu Buhari/ Bola Tinubu; center-left, broad spectrum of views)

Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority

Manages surplus oil revenue

Oil Curse

State controlled abundance of oil leads to 80% population poverty; Big Oil Companies in Nigeria: Shell (NL), Chevron (US), Total (FR), ExxonMobile (US)

National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS)

Audited government to oversee spending and provide information for public; created Economic and Financial Crimes Commission

What did Johnathan and Buhari do for Nigeria?

Jonathan government restructured foreign debt, modernized banking system, privatized electrical production, attracted foreign investment; Buhari government has arrested number of former government officials, recovered $1.5 billion in revenue

Foreign Relations

Nigeria has had relatively good relations with Western countries (oil trader); Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) allows Nigeria a leadership role in Africa

Reason for terrorism

Northern feel marginalized

Targets of Boko Haram

Most of the victims (20000) have been Muslims, the Nigeria state has failed to uphold their monopoly of power and Boko Haram’s followers keep increasing, Chibok girls, police stations, government buildings, military installations, christian churches, bus stations, schools, refugee camps, mosques

Vanguards for the Protection of Muslims in Black Africa (Ansaru) 

Uses targeted killings to fight for blacks on a world wide scale

Environmental issues

Oil spills destroy the environment; local community is angry

Niger Delta Avengers

Attack oil producing facilities in the delta to create a sovereign state in the Niger Delta; have threatened to disrupt Nigeria's economy if their aims are not met

Occupy Nigeria 2012

Socio-political movement in response to the fuel subsidy removal by the Government of President Goodluck Jonathan

Electoral violence

Re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 sparked violence not only at the hands of civil society, but also police officers and the military became involved

Domestic Issues

Poverty, wealth inequality, AIDS, literacy rates

Healthcare Problems

Rural areas lack access; AIDS epidemic

Education problems

Limited government assistance; low attendance rates (worse in the North)

Population Growth

Government has tried free contraceptives and family planning, but it didn’t work; polygamy in the North