THE IMPACT OF CIVIL SOCIETY ON NIGERIAN’S POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT

THE IMPACT OF CIVIL SOCIETY ON NIGERIAN’S POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT

ABSTRACT

The study examined the impact of civil servant organization on Nigeria political development. A case study of Non Governmental Organization in Ilorin, Kwara. Members of Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) were chosen as a case study, questionnaire containing fourteen items based on Likert style rating was used to collect data for thus study from the data collected. The research was analysed using Chi-square method on a statistical table. Therefore, it was gathered from the research work. The impact of civil society, organization have not have been quantitatively and qualitatively realized in dealing with issues of urgent national importance confronting the country. Research findings revealed that the impact of civil society organization was on the negative side due to lack of finance, lack of innovation, organization weak among others. As a result of this, the research work contains useful recommendations towards finding lasting solution to the short coming among the Members of Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) as contained in the main report of this report.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

The role of civil society organization in the struggle for civil rule on Nigeria Political and sustainable development cannot be overstated indeed. They were at the vanguard for the liberation struggle that contaminated in the achievement of independence in 1960. In pre-colonial and post colonial government especially during the military regime, the Nigerian print media was the standard bearer of the civil society organizations as they sought to expose acts of authoritarianism mismanagement and corruption in the polity. Adewumi, (2006) The return to civil rule in 1979 after years of military interregnum raised expectation for a possible resolution of the hydra-headed socio-political and economic crisis bedeviling. The nation since independence in 1960, but that hope truncated by military junta who felt that politicians have learnt nothing from the despicable and objectionable practices of the first attempt at democratic rule in Nigeria Dag Hammarskjold Foundation (1992). The military that had little or no experience in governance when they first took power in 1966 gradually settle down in government. The late 1980s and 1990s saw the campaign by pro-democracy groups and political organization for the democratization of African states in what has been describe as the second libration movement, Ninalowo (2004). The first libration movement was said to have been inconclusive because it was hijacked by reactionary forces who sought to truncate the philosophy and ideology behind the libration movement which bought independence to most African states.

The resort to authoritarianism and one party rule in most African stats demonstrated the lack of direction and vision. Factors which sustained the libration movements and achieved independence for most African states. This very people that the first liberation movement sought to liberate became victims of economic mismanagement, social degradation and political high handedness. While the euphoria that greeted the return to multi-party democracy in most Africa states was party credited to internal forces championed by civil society organizations external forces gave the process impetus. However, the expectations that democratization in Nigeria since 1999 would stem the tide of economic decline, political dislocation and social emancipation has largely been unfulfilled. It would appear the civil society organization have lost its stem or have caused by the totalizing influence of the state. These are some of the issues this study seeks to unravel. Transition Monitoring Group (2007), To address issues related to the subject of discourse, the paper is pigeon holed as follows: the first section is the conceptual and theoretical issues central to the paper. The second examined the types and nature of civil society organization and political development in Nigeria: The way forward. The first prescribe ways civil society can consolidate the gain of political development in the country.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Civil society organization as conceptualized in the west may not easily fit into the Nigeria socio-economic and political environments. Therefore it may be difficult to talk about a universal understanding of the phenomenon of civil society in the age of political development.

Since 1999, the country has experienced some vibrant and robust associational life. The civil society organization are springing up by the day in Nigeria. Notable among which are the Joint Action Front (JAF). The Save Nigeria Group, United Action for Democracy (UAD), Campaign for Democracy (CD) Trade Union Such as; The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) among others have joined the fray. In some cases civil society has challenged mis-management and corruption in all branches of Government even where such organization has not been epitome of transparency and the rule of law. In the make of the campaign for the return to civil rule, some publicly recognized progressive and pro-democracy activists were co-opted into joining the ruling military Junta under General Babangida and Abacha abandoned their pro-democracy constituency, some are waiting in the wings to jump into moving train of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to enrich themselves. According to Gyimah-Baadi 1999, the ability of civil society to help deepen democratic governance and put it beyond reversal remains in serious doubt consequently, the mobilization orientation of these organizations is limited to urban centres and elite while important social forces in rural areas are neglected. According to Ibonvbere 2000, this raise against popular opinion that civil society should be captured and incorporated into popular movement that can engage in political pedagogy particularly among the poor in rural-urban centres can be captured and used to established new relationship between excluded citizens and the state apparatus. Many civil society organization lack the very democracy they are trying to promote or sell to the larger society as its members are treated as second class citizens by their leaders.

1.3 Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of the study is to find out the impact of civil society organization on Nigeria political development. The research would as well help to gain an insight into the nature and character of civil society organization in Nigeria and their struggle in political development in the country. The study would also give some recommendation and the way forward to the efficient and effective in carrying out their rules and consequently improve standard of their performance as a civil society organization.

THE IMPACT OF CIVIL SOCIETY ON NIGERIAN’S POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT

Format: MS Word

Chapters: 1 - 5
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Number of Pages: 68

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