DREW DONIS Nigeria Political Institutions pt. 2

PARLIAMENTARY OR PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM British Parliamentary style government (Westminster Model) 1979 country switched to a presidential system with popularly elected president, a separate legislature, independent judiciary. The head of government is also head of state and leads an executive branch that is separate from the legislative branch Some Nigerians want to change to a parliamentary system of government due to corruption

SEPARATION OF POWERS T he Theory of Separation of Powers in Nigeria - A complete separation of powers is neither practicable nor desirable for effective government. This essay argues that a watertight separation of powers is impracticable under the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria. In so doing, the paper is divided into three distinct but related segments. The first segment is made up of the meaning and nature of separation of powers. Whereas the second segment focuses on the factors that limit the strict application of the doctrine; the last segment is the conclusion. There are 3 branches of government in Nigeria They practice Baron de Montesquieu’s system of separation of powers

GOVERNMENT POLICY “Unfinished Nigerian State” is seen in governance and policy making Struggling with the essential questions of who will and how to rule Nigeria. Nigeria has had 4 different constitutions written in 1960, 1963, 1979 and 1999 but has drafted 9. 2 pathways have been used to govern. 1.Anglo-American models of democracy 2.Military dominant ruling 36 states and 776 local government units are empowered to enact their own laws but, have limited scope by the constitution and federal laws

POLITICAL PARTIES Nigeria has a multi-party system, with two or three strong parties and a third party that is electorally successful PDP (Peoples Democratic Party): Power house of Nigeria. Open for participation of anyone who cares to belong. Morally lacking and sometimes referred to as a cult. All groups in Nigeria have an effective representation in PDP. President is extremely powerful by this party APC (All Progressives Congress): merger of multiple parties to help "get the king out of the castle“ Lead by Tinubu Combines the (ACN, ANPP, CPC, APGA, Labour Party)

POLITICAL PARTIES ACN - essentially a Yoruba party championed by Tinubu. Tinubu is a seasoned politician who has styled himself after the South West premier Obafemi Awolowo. They are Nationalist. ANNP( All Nigerians Peoples) - right-wing conservative party with mass appeal. The party draws its strength from Northern Nigeria CPC( Congress of progressive Change) - left wing of the political spectrum, supporting individual liberty, rights and social welfare for the less privileged APGA( All Progressives Grand Alliance) – smaller party that didn’t receive a lot of vote in the last election Labour Party – a social democratic political party in Nigeria. Didn't receive much vote.

Goodluck Jonathan and Tinubu

WHO ARE THE ELITES AND HOW DO YOU BECOME ELITE? Very corrupt Elites and recruiting methods Prebendalism - peculiarly Nigerian version of Corruption, is the disbursing of public offices and state rents to one’s ethnic based clients Extreme forms of clientelism are found in Nigeria Bureacracy - government personnel has grown tremendously from 72,000 (at independence) to well over 1 million (by the 1980s). The salaries of bureacrats consume roughly half of government expenditures Bureacrats are appointed on the basis of patronage, ethnic group, and regional origin rather than merit.

PARA-STATALS Para-statals in Nigeria are Corporate enterprises, owned by the state, created for specific commercial and social welfare services They engage in traditional government operations but are considered institutions Autonomous but limited because their boards are politically appointed and ultimately answerable to the government

MAJOR INTEREST GROUPS Political attitudes, political culture, and sectional identities are still dominated and defined largely by elite, urban-based interest Elite and nonelite Nigerians alike come together in civic organizations and interest groups such as labor unions and student and business associations. National Labor Congress- important role in challenging the government NUPENG- strike in 1994 that reduced oil production nearly bringing the country to a halt. State Corporatism- designed to control and co-opt various social forces such as labor “Pirate capitalists”- the high level of corrupt practices and cullion of state officials Other groups- National Council of Women's Societies (NCWS), National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Nigeria Union of Journalists, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA)

JUDICIARIES The judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the Court of Appeals, the High Courts, and other trial courts such as the Magistrates', Customary, Sharia The Supreme Court is presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria and thirteen associate justices, who are appointed by the President of Nigeria on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council Confirmed by the Senate There is Judicial review but limited Shari’a- religious law used in the northern part of the country with a large Muslim population.

JUDICIARIES CONTINUED Decline of independence in 1993 Labeled “judicial terrorism”-endorsed government position that placed military executive beyond judicial review Recently gaining more independence law passed that would prevent new parties from contesting the national elections of 2003 but was reversed by Decisions contravened the wishes of the president and the ruling party in 2003

MILITARY AND OTHER COERCIVE INSTITUTIONS Military has often seized control of the government and have ruled the country for long periods of time Last period of rule ended in ,000 active personnel in total between the army, navy and airforce Nigeria has turned to China and Russia to purchase of military equipment and training State Security Service- responsible for intelligence gathering within the state and protection of senior government officials Overall police corruption in all forces

More Military