MILITARY RULE IN NIGERIA

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The first military regime in Nigeria started in January 15^th 1966, which was staged by five Majors led by Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu. It was a bloody military coup in the annals of Nigeria’s politics. Prominent Politicians including the Prime Minister, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, Premier of Western Region, S.L. Akintola, the Minister of Finance, Chief Festus Okotie Eboh, Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Premier of the Northern Region and many other top ranking officers in the armed force were killed.

 This coup brought General Aguiyi Ironsi to power. On July 29^th 1966, a counter coup was staged by Northern officers in the army and Aguiyi Ironsi Government was toppled and he was killed. Then Col. Yakubu Gowon took over from him. July 29^th 1975 Coup brought an end to the 9 years rule of Yakubu Gowon when he was busy attending O.A.U. summit in Kampala Uganda. General Murtala Mohammed who was the coup leader took over as the Head of State. General Murtala Mohammed was assassinated in an aborted coup led by Lt. Colonel Buka Suka Dimka on February 13, 1975. General Olusegun Obasanjo the next in command to Murtala Mohammed took over as the Head of State. General Olusegun Obasanjo eventually handed over power to a democratically elected Government of President Shehu Shagari on 1^st October, 1979.

 On December 31^st 1983, the civilian government was terminated by a coup headed by General Mohammed Buhari. On August 27^th 1985, General Ibrahim Babangida, the Chief of Staff to Mohammed Buhari took over from him and became the President and Commander In-Chief of the Armed Forces. On December 1985, unsuccessful coup was led by late General Mamma Vatsa. Then on April 1990, another unsuccessful coup was led by late Major Gideon Orka. However, Babangida retired from the army after handing over in 1993. He set up an interim government with Chief Ernest Shonekan as the Head of State. Late general Abacha sacked the interim government and assume the Military Head of State of Nigeria. Abacha died on the 8^th of June 1998 and was succeeded by General Abdulsalam Abubakar, who eventually handed over power to a democratically elected President on 29^th May, 1999. 

REASONS FOR MILITARY INTERVENTION IN POLITICS

1.     When the process of changing political leadership is in doubt, the military may intervene.

2.     Politicization of the army.

3.     Nepotism, tribalism and favoritism which pervert justice.

4.     Regional differences; Differences among regions were so acute as to precipitate crises leading to direct assumption of power.

5.     Mismanagement of the national economy e.g Alhaji Shehu Shagari.

6.     Corruption and abuse of office by political leaders in the 1^st and 2^nd Republics.

7.     Clumsy handling of census exercise e.g Nigeria in 1962 and 1963 census.

8.     Lack of free and fair election e.g Western Nigeria election of 1965.

9.     Long stay in office; Most Nigerian leaders want to make themselves life president.

10.            Bad administrations in Nigeria have contributed to frequent coups that occurred in the country.

 ACHIVEMENTS OF MILITARY REGIME IN NIGERIA

1.     Preservation of the unity of Nigeria; the civil war was fought in order to preserve the unity of Nigeria.

2.     Infrastructural development; such as construction of roads, bridges, air ports and establishment of institutions.

3.     The creation of more states which gives room for self determination by different ethnic groups in the country.

4.     The National Youth Service Corps (N.Y.S.C.) was established to foster unity among the different ethnic groups in Nigeria.

5.     The military brought about a positive change in the Nigeria’s foreign policy.

6.     The establishment of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) by Gowon and Eyadema.

7.     Changing in the pattern of driving; this was done on 2^nd April, 1972.

8.     Creation of a new federal capital territory by the military administration of Murtala/Obasanjo.

9.     Teaching hospitals, Polytechnics, College of Education and Universities were established.

 

WEAKNESSES OF MILITARY RULE

1.     The military are not trained in the act of governance.

2.     Military regimes are by their nature autocratic; they are insensitive to the opinions or the demands of the people.

3.     The Nigerian civil war; the military was responsible for the civil war that claimed many lives.

4.     Military rule is based on fear because they possessed weapons of coercion especially the gun.

5.     Mismanagement and wastage of public fund.

6.     Increase in the rate of crime in the country.

7.     Violation of fundamental human rights.

8.     Lack of respect for the rule of law; the military do not respect the rule of law because military rule is conducted without a constitution.

9.     The military derive pleasure in passing harsh laws (draconian law) which sometimes take retroactive effect.

10.            Failure to conduct an acceptable population census.

 MEASURES THAT CAN BE TAKEN TO PREVENT MILITARY INTERVENTION IN NIGERIA’S POLITICS

1.     Military intervention could be prevented with the eradication or reduction in the level of corruption in Nigeria by politicians.

2.     It can also be prevented through accountability and transparency on the part of politicians.

3.     Necessary atmosphere should be created for the conduct of free and fair elections.

4.     It can be prevented if elected officials are responsive to the yearnings of the people.

5.     A law should be made to depoliticize the military and be completely separated from politics.

6.     It can be prevented if politicians learn to avoid mismanagement of public fund.

7.     The people should resist military rule through peaceful mass protest.

8.     Fundamental human rights should be respected by everybody in the country especially the politicians and military.

9.     The masses should be given political education so as to be able to fight for their right when it is being infringed upon.

10.            Politicians should learn how to avoid ethnic politics in order not to attract military rule.

 STRUCTURE OF MILITARY RULE

1.     The Armed Forces Ruling Council: This consist of the Head of State and the Commander In- Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Service Chiefs, Inspector General of Police, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation and the Secretary to the military Government. This was the supreme decision making body in the country

2.     The Council of Ministers: This consists of the President, Vice President and the ministers some of whom were military officers, while others were politicians. The council performs executive functions with the President as the Chairman.

3.     The Council of States: This was an innovation introduced by Murtala Mohammed. It was an advisory body to the S.M.C./A.F.R.C. It was usually presided over by the Chief of Staff supreme headquarters. It is composed of the Head of State, Chief of General Staff, Minister of Defense; service Chiefs of the Army, Air force and Navy, Inspector General of Police, Attorney General and all military Governors.

4.     The Judiciary: This is headed by the Chief Justice of the country and various Judges of the court of appeal and high court.

5.     The Civil Service: It was made up of both the Secretary to the military government and the Head of Service. Apart from this, the structure of the civil service remains the same with that of the civilian regime.

 

 

MEANING OF LOCAL GOVRENMENT

A local government can be defined as government at the local level established by law to perform specific functions within defined area. It has the power to take charge of local political affairs. They are created by acts of parliament as avenues by which the federal government reaches the locality. They are usually the third tier of government. In Nigeria, they were created under the 1963 Republican constitution.

 

TYPES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT     

Professor Harold Anderfer classified local government into 4 basic types. They are:

1.      French Type: This type of local government is an extension of the central government. In other words, the staffs of local governments are also staff of the federal government.

2.      English Type: This type of local government has a feature of autonomy. Though federal government has some measure of control over it. Nigeria adopts this system. There is no local economy.

3.      Traditional Type: This system is entirely indigenous. It is neither western nor eastern. It is based on leadership of a traditional ruler.

4.      Communist Type:  Most communist countries practice this system. There is no local economy. Every local government works in conformity with the socialist ideology and values.

 

REASONS FOR THE CREATION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

1.      The local governments are established in order to bring government closer to the people at the grassroots.

2.      They allow the indigenes of the different local areas to govern themselves according to their culture and traditions.

3.      They serve as a link between the people and the state and federal government.

4.      The creation of local government gives room for even development in parts of the country.

5.      They act as representatives of the federal and state government in the implementation of policies and in the maintaining of law and order etc.

6.      They can also provide employment at the local level.

7.      They provide the essential services to the people in areas like electricity, roads, water, health care centers etc.

8.      They are created to avoid the concentration of power in one authority.

9.      They are created to give the people in the rural areas a sense of belonging and participation in the government.

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POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

1.      Local government constructs and maintains public roads, water ways, bridges, gutters, sidewalks and drainages.

2.      Establishment and maintenance of markets, motor parks and public conveniences and refuse disposal.

3.      Collection of taxes, radio and television licenses, rents etc.

4.      The provision and maintenance of primary schools.

5.      They register deaths, births, marriages etc.

6.      Maintenance of forests.

7.      Naming of roads and streets and numbering of houses.

8.      Establishment and maintenance of cemeteries, burial grounds and homes for destitute.

9.      Development of agricultural and natural resources.

10.  They make bye laws for the maintenance of law and order. They also set up customary courts as directed by the state government.

SOURCES OF REVENUE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

1.      Federal Government Grants: Local government gets their fund from federal government. This is the major source of local government revenue. In Nigeria, local government is entitled by law to receive 10 percent of federally derived revenue

2.      Grants from state government

3.      Loans from financial institutions

4.      Taxes from non salary earners residing within their areas of jurisdiction.

5.      Local rates like water, market stalls, motor parks etc.

6.      License fees such as bicycle, dogs, radio, television, canoe etc.

7.      Court fees: These are fines imposed on offenders in customary courts which also help to generate revenue to local governments.

8.      Commercial ventures such as transport services, plantation farms, guest houses, holiday resorts, poultry farms etc.

 CONTROL OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

1.      Amendment of law: The national assembly through the federal government can amend the law establishing the local government.

2.      Withholding of grants: The federal government may for one reason or the other withhold the grant allocated to local government. It may be on the grounds of mismanagement of fund.

3.      Judicial control: The law courts can declare bye-laws made by the local government as null and void if they are not in conformity with the provisions of the country’s constitution.

4.      Ministerial control: Ministers or commissioners and government officials controls the activities of local councils from time to time.

5.      Audit control: The government officials audit the account book of council at least once a year.

6.      Public control: Members of the public whom the local government are meant to serve,

PROBLEMS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

1.      Bribery and corruption: Bribery and corruption are common in some council as well as embezzlement and misappropriation of funds.

2.      Financial problem or poverty of local government bodies.

3.      Shortage of personnel: Some council officials are untrained or ill-trained and so inefficient.

4.      The machinery for or rate collections is grossly inadequate and inefficient.

5.      Lack of infrastructure such as electricity, pipe borne water, good roads etc.

6.      The size of local government councils: A council should not be too large as to create problems.

7.      Favoritism and nepotism.

8.      Illiteracy among councilors.

9.      Interference from central government.

SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

1.      Control by the central government should be reduced.

2.      Honest and capable hands should be used in the collection of rates and levies.

3.      Qualified personnel should be employed to local governments.

4.      Local government accounts should be audited regularly and any official found guilty on misappropriation of funds should be prosecuted by E.F.C.C. or I.C.P.C.

5.      More money should be allocated to local governments from the federation account to enable them carry out their functions.

6.      Access to loan should not be made difficult for the local government.

7.      Regular in-service training and seminars should be given or organized for local government workers.

Commercialization Privatization and Deregulation of public Corporations

 Meaning of Privatization Commercialization and Deregulation:

Privatization is the transfer of public assets to the private sector by sale, or contracting out. It means the sale of public utilities to private individuals.

Privatization is the contract operation of a public utility by private entity.

Privatization is defined in the federal government of Nigeria decree 25 of

1988 as the “relinquishment of part of the equity and other interest held by the Federal government or its agency in enterprises whether wholly or partly owned by the federal government.

 

Commercialization is defined as the “reorganization of enterprises wholly or partly owned by the Federal Government in which such Commercial enterprises shall operate as profit – making commercial ventures and without subvention from the Federal Government control over market forces.

The idea of privatization and commercialization has been generated by the desire of many National governments to improve the well being of their people. To create wealth and sustain a high level of national standard of living there is a crucial need for efficiency at resources mobilization and application.

Since it has been proved beyond any reasonable doubt that the private sector is better at mobilization and application of resources in a more efficient manner than the public sector it has become inevitable to divest such functions for which government has the least comparative advantage to the private sector

 

Reason for privatization and commercialization

i. To increase efficiency in public services

ii. To reduce deficits in governance

iii. To shrink the size of government

iv. To restructure and rationalize the public sector in order to lessen the dominance of unproductive investments in that sector

v. To re – orientate the enterprise for privatization and commercialization towards a new horizon of performance improvement, viability and overall efficiency.

iv. To ensure positive returns on public sector investments in commercialized enterprises

vii. To create a favorable investment climate for both local and foreign investor.

viii. To reduce the level of internal and external debts via the use of the debt conversion programme in the privatization of certain enterprises.

 

Merits of privatization and commercialization:

1. Privatization Commercialization and deregulation makes enterprises to be more efficient and effective in service delivery.

2. The trend encourages low cost of production whereas government producers have no incentive to hold down production costs, private producers who provide the services have more at stake thus encouraging them to perform at a higher level for lower cost.

3. Private firms have more flexibility than governmental units to use part – timers to meet peak periods of activity, to fire unsatisfactory workers, and to allocate workers across a variety of tasks

4. Privatization raises large sum of money for government to offset public borrowing

5. It weakens the power of public sector trade unions

6. It widens share ownership

7. It encourages commercial autonomy to formerly state – owned enterprises.

8. It reduces the burden of decision – making imposed on government by public ownership

9. It encourages more service providers with better products

10. It reduces deficits in public sector spending

 

Demerits of privatization and commercialization:

1. Privatization results in lay-offs of public sector employers

2. Private firms pay lower wages and fringes benefits than government owned corporations.

3. There is often a problem of take – over companies initially offering a price to the government that I s less than the actual production costs to induce the government to transfer the service to them, subsequently they would than demand a higher price after the government has dismantled its own production system.

4. Instability concern a government agency contract period they are always around to maintain but private company gives away country how much profit made from the contract.

5. Privatization disproportionately hurts minority populations because they tend to rely more heavily on employment in the public sector.