Nigeria

How is Nigeria divided?

Northern region is typically Muslim/Islam

Southern region is typically Chirstian

What are the 3 major ethnic groups of Nigeria and there location/religion?

Hausa-Fulani: Northern/Islam

Yoruba: Southwest/Christian

Igbo: Southeast/Christian

How can Nigeria’s democratization be described?

Democratization interrupted by frequent military rule

Who oversees Nigeria’s elections and how do they do that?

The Independent National Electoral Commission.

• Independent Observers

• Registers and monitors political parties and canididates

• Audits campaign finances

What type of democracy is Nigeria?

An illiberal democracy as election fraud still occurs and some civil rights and liberties are still restricted.

What civil law do northern states use?

Sharia law and it is a legal system based on principles derived from Islam

What system of government does Nigeria have?

A federal system with 36 states and the federal territory Abuja where states have the power to make local laws.

How were Nigerian states draw?

They were drawn along ethnic lines in order to reduce conflict and allow ethnic and religious group autonomy.

Since Nigeria relies on oil, it is a…

rentier state

Federal Character Principal

Where the bureaucracy must be filled with people who reflect the diversity of Nigeria and this is to prevent major ethnic groups from centralizing power.

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was created to:

• Investigate financial crimes

• Prosecute those accused of wrongdoing

• Recover gov. funds diverted for personal benefit

What type of government does Nigeria have? (the other one)

Nigeria has a presidential system of government

How is Nigeria’s president elected?

Directly elected by the people

What term does Nigeria’s president serve?

4 year term with a two-term limitW

What are the powers of the Nigerian president? (9)

• Submit a budget

• Propose program of legislation

• Appoint cabinet heads with Senate approval

• Sign bills into law

• Oversees the federal bureaucracy

• Chief Diplomat

• Commander-in-chief

• Negotiate treaties

• Appoints supreme court justices

What are 2 examples of checks on executive power?

• Two-term limits

• Legislature

What type of legislature does Nigeria have?

A bicameral legislature consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

What is Nigeria’s bicameral legislature called?

The National Assembly.

The House of Representatives

• Lower house

• Represents the people

• 360 members

• Led by Speaker of the House

The Senate

• Upper house

• Represents the States

• 109 members

• 3 from each state + federal territory

Both chambers have the power to:

• Debate and pass legislation

• Authority to conduct oversight hearings

What is the National Assembly?

A powerful policymaking body with the power to check other government institutions.

The National Assembly has the power to:

• Approve the federal budget

• Check executive power

• Override a presidential veto with a 2/5 vote of both houses

• Impeach and remove cabinet members and the president by a 2/3 vote of both houses for gross misconduct

What do committee systems do?

Refine legislation before it is sent to the full chamber

Why is the National Assembly seen as fragmented?

• Not doing enough to improve the lives of citizens

• Insufficient oversight of the bureaucracy

Relations between the executive and legislature are…

poor, making it difficult to coordinate policy

Nigeria’s judiciary

• Has separate court systems at the state and national levels

• Has the power of judicial review

A requirement to be a judge

Must be in the profession for at least 10 years

How are judges chosen?

The president nominates justices based on council recommendations, the Senate confirms the nominations.

How is the National Assembly elected?

Directly elected by the people.

How often are presidential elections held

Every 4 years

What is the unique rule when voting a president?

• Must obtain a plurality of the votes

• Must obtain 25% of the vote in 2/3 of the states

What happens in no president reaches the requirements?

A second runoff election is held between the top two vote-getters

How often are House of Representative elections held?

Every 4 years

How is the House of Representatives elected?

SMD system is used to fill the seats

How long do members of the Senate serve?

4 years

How are Senators chosen?

Each state is divided into 3 districts and one senator is elected from each district.

What does an SMD system result in in Nigeria?

A two-party system:

• People’s Democratic Party

• All Progressives Congress

What is the election tradition in Nigera?

Major political parties nominate someone from the north, then in the next election, parties nominate someone from the south.

What are the 5 categories of interest groups in Nigeria?

• Regional, ethnic, and religious

• Professional and labor groups

• Grassroot organizations

• Issue-based groups

• NGOs

What are 3 obstacles to strengthening civil society?

• Weak gov. institutions

• Distrust between groups

• Gov. reliance on oil

What do social movements in Nigeria do?

They seek to influence government policies.

Two recognized social movements:

MOSOP: Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People

MEND: Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta

What is a standoff in Nigeria still happening today?

Between international oil companies, Nigerian gov., and militant Niger RIvet Delta groups/

What do Nigerians have the right to do?

• Vote and participate in the political process

• Engage in lively discussions about political issues

What is the issue around women in Nigeria?

They are underrepresented in gov. positions and discriminated against

What are some factors for women being underrepresented:

• Nigeria is a patriarchal society

• The stigma that politicians are ununtrustworthy

• Low female literacy rates

• Poverty

• Gender

What are examples of corruption in Nigeria? (4)

• Civil rights and liberties are not protected in practice

• Nigerians have less freedom to criticize leaders and the military

• Journalists are harmed

• Gov. has engaged in due process rights

Why does Nigeria have so many social and political cleavages?

• Nigeria’s diversity and history

• Britain pitting local rulers and ethnic groups against eachother

Boko Haram

An Islamic separatist movement in northern Nigeria.

• Gained recognizition for kidnapping over 200 schoolgirls

• Stands for “Western Education is Sinful”

What was Nigeria's economy like under Britishh rule?

• Nigerians’ economic opportunities were limited

Like Mexico, what did Nigeria try and implement?

Import Substitution Industrialization

Structural Readjustment Programs

A requirement for recieving assistance from intl. leaders including the privatization of statewondered companies, reducing tariffs, and reducing subsidies.

Why did Nigeria implement the structural readjustment program

The oil market collapsed in the mid-1980s and Nigera was unable to pay back loans and had to do this to receive loan from the IMF

Consequences of the Structural Readjustment Program

The most poorest and vulnerable citizens are negatively affected

Sovereign wealth fund

Funds set aside that can be spent when oil prices fall, helping stabilize the gov. budget

What was montetary policy used for in Nigeria?

• Control inflation

• Stabilize gov. spending

• Reduce tariff barriers

What is the issue with welfare systems in Nigeria?

• Underdeveloped

• Few benefit from social programs

National Health Insurance Scheme

A system where people pre-pay a fixed amount for medical assistance

What was the National Social Investment Programs created for?

• Deliver welfare servies

• Provide access to the NHIS

What are YOuth Employment and Social Support operations

Job training for young people to prevent unemployment

What does Nigeria’s pop. growth rate affect?

It strains the country’s limited social welfare system

What has Nigeria done to lower the fertility rates?

• Educate girls

• Create jobs