Table of Contents
Citizens exercise their voting rights to select representatives for the national assembly and House of Representatives, crucial entities responsible for sponsoring bills to amend various sections of the constitution.
To actively engage in this process, citizens can submit memoranda to the National Assembly and House of Representatives, pinpointing sections that require review. This contribution, presented at all levels, serves as a means for wider consultations in the constitutional amendment of a country.
Additionally, citizens can participate in and organize public hearings to discuss the portions slated for amendment.
The legislative arm possesses the authority to invite diverse members of the public, including political parties, trade unions, students, and past leaders, fostering a collaborative environment to achieve constitutional objectives.
Individuals can also be nominated as candidates either by the government or their respective parties in their constituencies to actively participate in the drafting or amending of the existing constitution.
The judiciary, displaying independence and determination, plays a crucial role in interpreting the constitution and may provide advice to the legislature on sections requiring redrafting.
Various means, such as mass rallies, propaganda, and peaceful demonstrations, enable citizens to express their perspectives on the constitution of a country.
Institutions that can significantly contribute to national development include the three arms of government – the Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary – as well as political parties, the electoral commission, NGOs, trade unions, civil societies, army forces, students, and ethnic societies.
National security encompasses any defense strategy implemented by a nation that is effective in resisting hostile or destructive actions, whether they occur within or outside the country.
Vigilance entails staying aware of events in the surroundings, playing a crucial role in preventing vandalism of government property such as transformers, worker pipes, oil and gas pipelines, etc.
Supplying valuable information to security agencies is vital; citizens should report anyone perceived as a threat to the police or other security forces, thus thwarting criminal activities.
Adhering to laws fosters the prevention of anarchy, violence, and riots, contributing to a stable society.
Displaying patriotism, defined as having love for one’s fatherland, encourages dedicated citizens to work for the well-being and peace of the country.
Being prepared to join the armed forces when necessary is crucial; citizens should willingly participate in defending the nation against external threats.
The Nigerian Military comprises the armed forces, Navy (the sea branch), and the air force (the air branch), collectively known as the Nigerian armed forces.
Defending Nigeria from external aggression is a primary duty, involving resistance against any attempts by other nations to engage in conflict through land, air, or sea.
Maintaining Nigeria’s territorial integrity and securing its borders is accomplished by the Nigerian army, navy, and air force, ensuring that no nation illegally enters Nigerian territory via land, sea, or air.
Suppressing insurrection involves the military’s intervention in restoring civil authorities, such as curtailing the activities of groups like Boko Haram in the north-eastern regions of Maiduguri, Yobe, and Adamawa states.
The primary mission of the Nigerian police is to protect lives and property in collaboration with the community.
They protect lives and property.
Assisting in detecting and apprehending suspected criminals.
Maintaining law and order in society.
Assisting in resolving minor disputes that could lead to a breakdown of law and order.
Investigating criminal cases and prosecuting suspected criminals in court.
The State Security Service (SSS) within the federal government’s law enforcement agency in Nigeria plays a crucial role in internal policing.
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) was officially separated from the Nigeria Police in 1958.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) was established by decree 48 of 2000.
Many self-employed individuals typically secure initial capital from the savings they have accumulated over time.
Some self-employed individuals acquire funds or capital from their close friends or family members.
Self-employed individuals often approach banks, especially micro-finance banks, to obtain initial capital for their businesses.
Portions of the profits generated by self-employed individuals are occasionally reinvested to expand their business instead of being used for personal expenses.
Individuals who undergo vocational training from government agencies may receive financial support, either in cash or in kind, to kickstart their ventures.
Established in 2001, NAPEP is tasked with coordinating and monitoring all poverty eradication programs in Nigeria.
Functions of NAPEP:
Established under the National Directorate of Employment Act 1989, this agency serves various functions.
Functions:
These institutions, spread across the country, also function as training centres for various vocational and technical education programs. They play a crucial role in feeding skilled individuals into growing industries and supporting Youth Empowerment Programs.
Management involves overseeing the operations of a business organization. The managing director assumes the role of the overall leader within the organization, establishing general policies and making decisions regarding the hiring and termination of assistant managerial staff to implement these policies.
Voter education encompasses the process of instructing, training, and acquiring knowledge about political participation, guiding citizens both prior to, during, and following an election within a country.
Voting, in its broadest sense, involves the electorate or voters selecting their preferred candidates. On the day of the election, citizens exercise their civic right by visiting polling stations.
Each voter is provided with a ballot paper, which they discreetly mark and then deposit into a ballot box associated with their chosen candidate or party. Electoral officials are present to distribute ballot papers, as well as to oversee the proper conduct of the voting process.
Voter registration involves creating an official record of individuals eligible to vote during the election period. Those who have reached the age of 18 and possess sound mental faculties qualify to vote. The voter’s list is publicly displayed to address objections and complaints that may arise.
Before Election Day, every eligible voter is required to complete the registration process. At the registration centre, individuals will receive a voter’s card, granting them eligibility to vote on the designated election day.
On the day of the election, voters proceed to the centre where they register. They present their voter’s card to undergo the accreditation process. Following accreditation, they are provided with a ballot paper containing the names and logos of all political parties.
Voting provides an avenue for citizens to actively participate in the decision-making processes of their country.
It serves as a tool for achieving a peaceful transition from ineffective or dictatorial leadership.
Voting acts as a gauge for measuring public opinion, allowing individuals to express their choices during elections.
It plays a vital role in promoting national unity, particularly in diverse societies like Nigeria.
Voting ensures that people have equal status and political opportunities to elect their representatives.
An election is the process of voting for a candidate to represent the people of a country in various government branches. It involves providing voters with diverse choices to select individuals who will contribute to the transformation of the nation.
Selection of leaders: Elections empower the citizens of a country to choose their leaders for different political positions, such as the President, Governor, and Legislators.
Promotion of Democracy: Elections serve as a crucial element of democracy, contributing to the sustainability of democratic governance through regular free and fair electoral processes.
Smooth and peaceful government transitions: Elections offer the public a peaceful means to remove an ineffective government from power and facilitate a smooth transition from one regime to another. A notable example is the peaceful transition from Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to President Mohammadu Buhari.
Checks on leaders’ abuses of power: Leaders displaying oppressive tendencies are inclined to amend their behaviour, recognizing that the electorate may withhold their votes if unsatisfied with their governance. This serves as a check on leaders, as seen in the era of the late Military junta General Sanni Abacha in Nigeria.
Opportunity for political education: Elections create a platform for political parties to educate the public. This is achieved through campaigns and rallies where parties present their manifestoes to the masses, contributing to political awareness and education.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) plays a crucial role in fostering democracy in Nigeria. Established as a permanent body by the constitution, INEC is tasked with organizing elections at the Federal, state, and Local Government levels.
INEC carries out the following functions to uphold the democratic process in Nigeria:
In line with the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) has the authority to:
The SIEC comprises its chairman and seven other individuals typically appointed by INEC.
Democracy relies fundamentally on the presence of free and fair elections, which are pivotal in establishing the legitimacy of governments. Such elections ensure that all eligible citizens can exercise their voting rights without interference, and the electoral procedures are carried out with transparency and impartiality. The following are key components of free and fair elections:
These principles collectively contribute to the realization of free and fair elections, nurturing democracy, citizen participation, and trust in the electoral system.
Electoral malpractice encompasses any illicit or unethical conduct occurring during the electoral process, intended to manipulate election outcomes or compromise fairness. It may manifest in various forms, involving individuals, groups, or even state institutions. Examples of electoral malpractice include:
Forms of electoral malpractices in Nigeria include the compilation of fictitious names, illegal compilation of separate voter lists, falsification of election figures, abuse of voter lists exercises, allowing underage voting, harassment, intimidation, and victimization of candidates, agents, and voters, manipulation of the process by the ruling party, corruption, and bias at various election tribunals.
Causes of electoral malpractices in Nigeria are often rooted in the desire to perpetuate one ethnic group or party in office to the detriment of others. This is driven by selfish and parochial interests, specifically ethnic or cultural hegemony in office, a persistent issue in Nigeria’s political landscape since independence.
Preventive measures for electoral malpractices in Nigeria include proper constituency delimitation based on equal population representation, ensuring the independence and non-partisanship of the electoral body, meticulous compilation of eligible voter lists, public display of voter registers for the removal of deceased individuals and inclusion of qualified voters, and the implementation of robust security measures to create a conducive atmosphere for voters to exercise their rights.
Electoral malpractice undermines democratic principles, erodes public trust in the electoral process, and can lead to illegitimate outcomes. Governments, election monitoring bodies, civil society organizations, and citizens all play vital roles in detecting and preventing such malpractices to uphold the integrity of elections.
Planning is essential to ensure and boost economic development. It aids in increasing the rate of capital formation by elevating income, saving, and investment levels.
Additionally, planning addresses widespread unemployment, reduces high levels of poverty, and facilitates the equitable distribution of resources.
It also promotes risk management in executing public projects and enhances organizational and individual learning. Furthermore, planning supports proper growth and development, enabling a comparison of performance with advanced democracies in the West and Asian Tigers like China, Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea.
Planning allows us to determine what needs to be done and when. Without proper planning, projects or programs may be implemented incorrectly, resulting in poor outcomes.
It helps manage crises, ensures smoother implementation, and improves focus on priorities, leading to more efficient use of time, money, and resources.
Planning also helps define what success will look like, enabling individuals and units to assess the achieved results against the intended ones.
The lack of planning or inadequate planning may lead to the wastage of materials and human resources. It can create vicious circles of poverty, as a lack of education, technical skills, knowledge, and entrepreneurial activity hinders the utilization of natural resources.
This situation results in low capital formation, productivity, real income, saving, investment, and overall economic growth.
Additionally, a lack of planning may contribute to societal issues, such as anarchy, chaos, and various forms of violence, as evidenced by problems like kidnapping and militancy in the Niger Delta and Boko Haram in Northern Nigeria.
Planning is defined as the process of setting goals, developing strategies, outlining implementation arrangements, and allocating resources to achieve those goals.
The supreme law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the Nigerian Constitution, which establishes the framework for the country’s governance and administration. It delineates the powers and responsibilities of government institutions, as well as the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens.
Adopted on May 29, 1999, the current constitution is the fourth since Nigeria gained independence in 1960, replacing the previous one in effect since 1979. It marked the return to democratic governance after years of military rule.
This summary provides a general overview, and the full document contains detailed provisions on governance, rights, and responsibilities.
The Constitution is the fundamental law of the land, defining citizens’ rights and duties, as seen in the 1999 constitution of Nigeria.
Preamble:
The preamble of a constitution articulates its aspirations.
The constitution outlines the government structure, delineating whether it is unitary or federal, and simultaneously defines the distribution of powers among the constituent units within the state.
It specifies the powers and functions of key institutions, including the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government.
The constitution discloses the preferred party system—whether one-party, two-party, or multi-party.
It establishes the rights of citizens, outlining their duties and obligations to the state.
The 1979 constitution prescribes a four-year tenure for governments.
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