1. Advanced Placement Comparative Government
Nigeria in Review
Advanced Placement Comparative Government

2. Sovereignty, Authority, and Power
Constitutionalism
8 constitutions since 1914.
Most recent: 1999
None have lasted- Difficult for Nigeria to accept a constitution as a guiding set of principles.

3. Sovereignty, Authority, and Power
Legitimacy
Pre-colonial Era ( ) Kingdoms: Trade connections, Islam, kinship-based politics, complex political identities, democratic impulses
Colonial Era ) Authoritarian rule (British and Portuguese), interventionist state, individualism, Christianity, intensification of ethnic politics
Since Independence (1660 to present) Parliamentary-style government replaced a presidential system, intensification of ethnic conflict, military rule, personalized rule/corruption, federalism, and economic dependence on oil.

4. Sovereignty, Authority, and Power
Political Culture
Patron-clientelism (prebendalism)
State control/rich civil society (ethnic/religious)
Tension between modernity and tradition
Religious conflict (sharia)
Geographic influences:
Northwest-Huasa-Fulani-Muslim
Northeast-Kanuri-Muslim
Middle belt-mix of Christians and Muslims
Southwest-Yourba-Christian and Muslim
Southeast-Igbo-Catholic/Christian
Southern Zone-small minority groups

5. Political and Economic Change
Pre-colonial- Change occurred through cultural diffusion. North traded with Muslims, south with sea traders on the Atlantic.
Colonial- Indirect rule. Democracy vs. subjugation. Influence from the west.
Modern- Military rule to democracy

6. Citizens, Society, and the State
Challenges
Poverty
Gini Index: .48 High
Health issues: HIV/AIDS
Literacy: 75% male 60% female
Cleavages: Extremely fragmented
Ethnicity
Religion
Region/north vs. south
Urban/rural differences
Social class

7. Citizens, Society, and the State
Public Opinion and political Participation
Patron-cleintelism: (prebendalism) Extremely personalized system of rule. Corruption.
Civil Society: 1999, many groups have sought to influence political decisions. Trade unions are very active.
Voting Behavior: Tradition since 1959, elections seen as corrupt.
Protests/Social movements: Ethnic based and religious movements have increased since 1999.

8. Political Institutions
Regime type: Federalist and Democratic
Linkage institutions
Political Parties: Regionally and Ethnically based.
PDP: Christian Olusegun Obasanjo and Umaru Yar’Adua (Muslim)- widespread corruption. Moderates.
ANPP: Muslim General Muhammed Buhari. Conservatives.
AC: Muslim Atiku Abubakar. Liberal.

9. Political Institutions
National Elections:
Presidential Elections: Must receive the majority or a 2nd ballot election may take place. Must also receive 25% of all votes cast in 2/3 of the states.
Legislative Seats: 109 Senators, 3 from each of the 36 states and one from the capitol, Abuja are directly elected representatives are elected from single-member districts by plurality vote.
Election Fraud: Rampant in Nigeria election resulted in 200 deaths.

10. Political Institutions
Interest Groups: Play an important role, hampered by pre-bendalism. Labor unions established through corporatism. (Nigeria Labor Congress) Business interests share the spoils of corruption.
Mass Media: Well developed, independent press. (South more vocal) Radio is the main source of communication.

11. Political Institutions
Federal Political system/Presidential system
The Executive:
Civilian rule since 1999-
The bureaucracy: British legacy. Many government agencies are para-statals. Para-statals create state corportatism because para-statals provide input to the government on policy issues and serve as contact points between government and business.

12. Political Institutions
The Legislature
The National Assembly-
Senate: 109 members, equal representation
The House of Representatives: 360 members, many ethnicities and only 23 were women.
The Judiciary
Combined British common law with traditional law.
Today: Judicial Review
Much like the US court system
Sharia courts.
The Military
Strong force behind policymaking
Lost legitimacy as a governing body/internal discord

13. Public Policy
Military rule resulted in top-down policy-making process.
Power concentrated in the presidency
Input from patron-cleintelism
Economic Issues
Oil: How to use the revenue equitably
Rents/rentseeking behavior
Structural Adjustment (1980s)

14. Public Policy
The question of Federalism: Does Nigeria have enough in common to remain together as a country?
Democratization
Some checks and balances between government branches
Some independent decisions in the courts
Revival of Civil Society
Independent Media
A peaceful succession to power
Improving Freedom House Scores ( 2007: 4)