Nigeria+-+Period+3+-+Government+Structure

Nigeria - Period 3 - Table of Contents

== · Constitutional Provisions == === o First constitution written in 1914 === === o 9 constitutions total === === o The constitutions represent attempts to establish a basic blueprint for operation of the government, but all have been short-lived === === o Constitution of 1999 === === o Federal Republic === === o Separate branches of power === == · Constitution in Reality == === <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">o <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Military and civilian leaders have felt free to disobey and suspend constitutional principles === === <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">o <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">The leaders toss out older constitutions and use those to their likings === === <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">o <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">The government does not have true “constitutionalism”, thus following their own laws === == <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">· <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Executive == === <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">o <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Goodluck Jonathan === === <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">o <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Born 11/20/1957 === === <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">o <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Former zoologist === === <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">o <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">2007 Vice President until Umaru Yar’Adua died on 5/5/10; Jonathan became President on 5/6/10 === == <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">· <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Legislative == === <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">o <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (109 seats, 3 from each state plus 1 from Abuja; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) === === <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">o <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">House of Representatives (360 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 21 April 2007 (next to be held in April 2011); House of Representatives - last held on 21 April 2007 (next to be held on 15 January 2011) === == <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">· <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Judicial == === <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">o <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Supreme Court (judges recommended by the National Judicial Council and appointed by the president) === === <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">o <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Federal Court of Appeal (judges are appointed by the federal government from a pool of judges recommended by the National Judicial Council) === == <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">· <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Military == === <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">o <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Seen as a disciplined organization with the capacity to make decisions efficiently and effectively === === <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">o <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">One of the only truly nationalized institutions, as it is comprised of people from all regions, ethnic groups, and religious predilections === === <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">o <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Often characterized as more representative than political parties and other institutions of government that are subject to ethnic-based patronage ===

[[image:http://www.defenceweb.co.za/images/stories/JOINT/JOINT_NEW/Nigeria/Nigerian_army(1).jpg width="400" height="300"]]
== <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">· <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Comparative Context == === <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">o <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Nigeria differs from other countries in that it lacks a national identity, dividing the country === === <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">o <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Like Mexico, there is corruption within the government === === <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">o <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Like Iran, there are religious rifts === === <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">o <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Like Russia, Nigeria is moving towards a more democratic government === == <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">· <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Level of Democracy == === <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">o <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Nigeria is showing signs of democracy including: === ==== <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">§ <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">//Some checks and balances between government branches// ==== ==== <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">§ <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">//Some independent decisions in the courts// ==== ==== <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">§ <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">//Revival of civil society// ==== ==== <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">§ <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">//Independent media// ==== ==== <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">§ <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">//A peaceful succession of power// ==== ==== <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">§ <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">//Improving Freedom House (an organization that studies democracy around the world, ranking countries on a 1-7 level of democracy, with 1 being the most free, 7 being the least free) scores// ==== == <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">· <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Legitimacy == === <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">o <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">The “national question” (How should Nigeria be governed, or should they even remain as one country?) challenges the country’s legitimacy === === <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">o <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Many citizens have little or no trust in their leaders’ abilities to run an efficient or trustworthy state === === <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">o <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">In the north, sharia has been the source of legitimacy === === <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">o <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">The government has some legitimacy with its military, as it is a source of stability === == <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">· <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Transparency == === <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">o <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">The negative perceptions of the Nigerian people are based in solid evidence of corruption === === <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">o <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Transparency International – Rankings of how “clean” a government is, 1 being the least corrupt` === ==== <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">§ <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">//Ranked Nigeria 142 out of 146 in 2006// ==== ==== <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">§ <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">//Ranked Nigeria 124 out of 146 in 2008// ====