In this essay, key features of Nigerian governance since independence are reviewed. The military had ruled the county for thirteen years and civilian politicians, in two phases, had done so for ten. Military governments involved significant participation by civilians, so there was overlap between these successive systems. Moreover, the military government in 1975-79 had been deeply involved in shaping the Second Republic and entrenched some of its achievements in the 1979 constitution. The resumption of power by military officers was a relatively smooth one. Government by civilian politicians had been discredited and the military could move decisively to address key issues of corruption, economic mismanagement, and politically-inspired violence.

Last modified

• 10/24/2017

Creator

• Richard Joseph

DOI

• https://doi.org/10.21985/N22T0D

Keyword

• military
• Second Republic
• corruption
• Africa
• governance
• state

Date created

• 1984

Resource type

• Research Paper

License

• All rights reserved