Monday, March 23, 2009

Period 3: Friday 3/20

-Nigerians are most likely to belong to ethnic based groups in cities
-long history of womens market associations, part of the grassroots economy
-military officers and civilians make up the Kaduna Mafia
-SW Nigeria: National Democratic Coalition, calls for a good 'honest' government
-Labor unions exist but are not very powerful. The large number of ethnicities makes organization of large groups difficult
-North and Rural areas are more likely to be apart of patron-client networks.


-Military rulers banned political parties
-first political parties were associated with ethnic groups
-the 2nd Republic: parties were required to demonstrate national support
-1998/1999: parties were allowed to form. 9 parties competed in elections and 3 successfully competed in 1999.
3 parties: PDP, APP (All peoples party), AD (Alliance for Democracy)


-Written constitutions of 1960, 63, 79, 99 ( all set up a federal government)
- it was an attempt to build a coherent nation state with all ethnicities while blending democratic values with a strong gov't.
-because of colonial rule, a unitary system was practiced even though it was a written federal system.
-states are not dependent enough to function on their own. Today there are 36 states
-more states are meant to reduce ethnic conflict and encourage competition
-29 years of military rule suppressed the ability of state to build power


-because of military rule, the executive branch has been over developed at all levels.
-weak legislative and judicial branch
-constitution gives many powers to the president, unchecked powers
-President must give assent to bills passed by legislative but has no power of veto.
-if the pres refuses assent, or doesnt act it will become law of the legislative tries to pass it again with a 2/3 vote in both houses.
-4 year term by direct vote must win by plurality and at least 25 percent of the vote in 24 states.
-appoints a federal cabinet (must be approved by senate)
-can refuse to give assent to the legislature
-realites of government are not always shown in the constitution. the executives characterize the regime.


-3/4 of Nigerias history there has been no legislature because the military made all the decisions
-bicameral legislature & resembles the US Congress
-members of both houses serve 4 years
-each state elects 3 members from single-member districts.
House: 360 members, candidates from single member districts based on population
Senate: must approve all high level presidential appointments


-@ independence Nigeria has an active judiciary.
-overtime powers were restricted by the military regimes
-1993-95, particilary hard; no judicial review , decreased funding, decisions were ignored.
-new constitution set up a 15 member Supreme Court, appointed by the President and approved bythe Senate.
-constitutitonal court has the power of judicial review
-executive funds the judicial system
-Sharia Courts: in the North, follows Islamic Law
Traditional courts: middlebelt and south
-some northeners have called for all Nigerian courts to be replaced by Sharia Courts.


-culutrual divisions have been made worse by prebendalism
-patrons linked to clients by ethnic, religious ties
-only benefitted a small group fostering ethnic competiton & undermines economic stability
-loyalty pyramids from patron-client networks: BIG MEN.
-Parastatals: state owned enterprises: much gov't employment, patronage resource.
-over 500 of these organizations, independent, appointed by government executive
-produce utilities, transportations, public services (etc...)

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