Nigeria Country Review Notes

Type of Government in Nigeria

  • Nigeria transitioned from an authoritarian military regime to a more democratic one.

  • It now operates under a written constitution with regular elections.

  • The government structure is based on federalism, dividing power between the central and state governments.

  • The central government includes executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

  • There are 36 state governments.

  • Political instability remains an issue within the central government.

The Executive Branch in Nigeria

  • Nigeria has a presidential system with a president elected to a fixed term via popular election.

  • The President's roles include:

    • Head of state

    • Head of government

    • Chief executive

    • Commander-in-chief

    • Head of civil service

    • Approving domestic legislation

    • Conducting foreign policy

  • The president appoints cabinet members, subject to Senate approval.

  • Presidential elections occur every 4 years via direct election.

  • A winning candidate must secure a majority of the national vote and at least 25% of the vote in 34\frac{3}{4} of the states.

  • Presidents can be removed through impeachment by the legislature.

The Legislative Branch in Nigeria

  • Nigeria's legislature, the National Assembly, is bicameral, consisting of:

    • An upper chamber (Senate)

    • A lower chamber (House of Representatives)

  • Both chambers can approve legislation.

  • The Senate has unique impeachment and confirmation powers.

  • House of Representatives:

    • Lower chamber with 360 members.

    • Members are directly elected in single-member district elections.

    • The House can approve legislation and hold the cabinet accountable for policy implementation.

  • Senate:

    • Upper chamber with 109 members.

    • Members are directly elected in multi-member state elections (3 senators per state).

    • The Senate approves legislation and can hold the cabinet accountable for policy implementation with confirmation powers.

The Judicial Branch in Nigeria

  • The Nigerian judiciary has been working to reestablish its legitimacy and independence by reducing corruption.

  • Under federalism, Islamic Sharia Courts have been established in the north.

  • Supreme Court judges are recommended by a judicial council and appointed by the president with Senate confirmation.

  • Nigeria uses a common law legal system, which gives judges more power to interpret laws.

  • The Supreme Court has the power of judicial review.

Political Parties in Nigeria

  • Nigeria has a Multiparty System

  • People’s Democratic Party (PDP)

    • Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, and Jonathan’s party of power

    • Won across the country in 2007, but mainly in the south in 2011

  • Action Congress (AC)

    • Brand new (2013) merger of APN, CPC, and ANPP

    • Liberal middle-class opposition party, nominated Buhari in 2015

  • Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)

    • Classical liberalism, won 5% in 2011 presidential election, merged with APC

Interest Groups, Media, and Civil Society in Nigeria

  • Interest Groups

    • Labor Unions:

      • Babangida attempted to restrain their influence through corporatism, but they are still active

    • Human Rights Groups:

      • Protest government corruption Patron-

      • Clientelism (prebendalism) - exchange of political and economic favors promote democracy

  • Mass Media:

    • Well developed, independent press in Nigeria mostly in the South, also reflective of regional divisions

    • Critical of government and corruption

  • Military:

    • It has a strong influence on government.

    • It is he best place for young Nigerians to improve their lives, demonstrate their talents

  • Social Movements in Nigeria (often militant), including:

    • Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND)

    • Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP)

    • These groups advocate for the rights of ethnic minorities or protest against unjust methods of extraction and distribution of oil in the Niger Delta region.

Cleavages in Nigeria

  • Ethnic Cleavages:

    • Ethnic divisions among more than 250 ethnic groups.

    • Diversity includes ethnic and geographical social cleavages between:

      • Igbos in the east

      • Hausa-Fulani in the north

      • Yoruba in the west

  • Religious Cleavages:

    • Religious and regional cleavages between:

      • North: predominantly Muslim

      • South: Christians

      • Central Nigeria (Middle Belt): diverse mix of Muslims, Christians, and Animists

  • Regional Cleavages:

    • North and South are divided by economic prosperity:

      • South: wealthier, location of most of the country’s oil industry

      • North: agrarian, less affluent

Demographics of Nigeria

  • Population: 195.88 million

  • Most populous country in Africa and seventh most populous in the world.

  • Expected to have the third-largest population in the world by the end of the twenty-first century.

  • Annual Population Growth Rate: 2.56%2.56\%

  • Life expectancy: ~57 years

  • GDP Per Capita: $2,032

  • Major Cities: Abuja (Federal Capital) and Lagos

The Economy in Nigeria

  • Nigeria has a mixed economy and is an emerging market.

  • It has expanding manufacturing, financial, service, communications, technology, and entertainment sectors

  • Gross domestic product: $446.543 billion (2019)

  • Currency: Nigerian Naira

  • GDP per capita: $2,222 (nominal, 2019 est.)

  • Population below poverty line: 40%40\%(2020)

  • Oil:

    • Brings wealth and gives Nigeria international clout.

    • Makes Nigeria a rentier state - a country that receives a sizeable percentage of revenue from oil or natural gas.

  • Nigeria is plagued by the “Resource Curse!”:

    • Concentrates resources on one profitable export industry.

    • Excludes other types of industries.

Public Policy: Domestic Policy of Nigeria

  • Domestic Policy

    • Bureaucracy: assumed to be bloated, corrupt, and inefficient

    • State corporatism: para-statals serve to give the appearance of public/private cooperation, while really giving the state control

    • Para-Statals: privately owned, but headed by government appointees (part of the patron-client network)

    • The government provides public utilities but privatized into 17 companies and ownership went to politically connected elites

    • Nigerian Electric Power Administration (NEPA) – Nicknamed “Never Expect Power Again” by Nigerians

Public Policy: Foreign Policy of Nigeria

  • Member of both the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), African Union (AU)

  • Has taken strong stance on supporting African democracy

  • Oil exports make Nigeria an important trading partner for Europe, Asia, and North America.

  • Instability in Middle East will likely further push Nigeria to forefront of energy production

Supranational Organizations That Impact Nigeria: OPEC

  • Nigeria is a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

  • OPEC coordinates oil production to ensure the stability of the market by regulating the supply of oil to its customers

Supranational Organizations That Impact Nigeria: ECOWAS

  • Nigeria is a member of ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), which is like the EU of West Africa.

  • Fosters international cooperation and reduces barriers to trade.

  • Regional security cooperation

  • Common ECOWAS Court of Justice

  • Promotes economic integration and free trade

  • Has attempted to implement a unifying currency (the Eco) with a West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ), but it keeps getting delayed

Supranational Organizations That Impact Nigeria: African Union

  • Nigeria is a member of the African Union which is a continental union consisting of 55 member states located on the continent of Africa.

  • The purpose of the African Union is to promote the unity and solidarity of African states; coordinate and intensify their cooperation and efforts to achieve a better life for the peoples of Africa

Supranational Organizations That Impact Nigeria

  • Nigeria is a member of the United Nations (UN)

    • The UN is an intergovernmental organization that promotes peace and security as well as develops friendly relations with its 193 member countries.

  • Nigeria is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the World Bank

    • Both are UN organizations that try to improve trade barriers worldwide.

  • Nigeria’s membership in the WTO helps to settle trade disputes with other countries.

  • Nigeria’s membership in the World Bank allows it to seek bank loans to increase and improve its domestic infrastructure.

  • Nigeria is a member of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which is an international financial institution with 190 member countries

    • It fosters global monetary cooperation, secures financial stability, facilitates international trade, promotes high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduces poverty around the world.

Current Issues That Impact Political Stability in Nigeria

  • Boko Haram is an Islamic separatist group that has killed tens of thousands of Nigerians since 2009.

  • Boko Haram’s intent was to create an Islamic theocracy in northern Nigeria and used acts of terrorism to try to accomplish this goal.

  • While Nigeria’s national military and President Buhari claimed that Boko Haram had been defeated in 2015, the group is still linked to violent terrorist acts that continue in Nigeria.