Erin Sams

February 17, 2019

Nigeria’s Undemocratic Government Leads To Social Unrest

Executive Summary
It is likely government corruption will increase poverty and social conflict in Nigeria. Fiscal and
monetary mismanagement, minimal efforts to implement democratic legislation by the
Nigerian government, and a rise in citizen displacement because of insurgent groups and ethnic
conflict, may cause irreversible economic and political consequences.

Discussion
The corrupt nature of fiscal and monetary policy implementation is one of the most
problematic factors in Nigeria’s economy, as the inadequate supply of infrastructural funds and
stagnant economic reform creates a significant wage gap, which is a continuous complication in
furthering the success of Nigerian citizens.1 The increase in GDP from 1990-2013 is due to the
success of the oil market, but there is fluctuating economic success due to only encompassing
approximately one percent of the world’s GDP as of 2018.2 Nigeria is sub-Africa’s largest
economy yet it only ranks 14 out of 47 nations on the economic freedom scale.3 Nigeria has an
increasingly large youth population that continuously adds to the unemployment rate, as
Nigeria’s only true source of employment comes from oil companies with extremely low
minimum wages.4

Nigeria is also experiencing a lack of additional legislation and social policies, as the last
enforceable and beneficial policy is the National Gender Policy of 2006,5 which is instilling
extended tension between the Nigerian government and the extremely ethnically diverse
population. Since 2014 the lack of new trade mechanisms, discovery of new resources, and less
implementation of democratic policies is increasing the threat of social unrest against the
government.6

There is an increase in humanitarian violations, citizen displacement, and multiple calls for state
of emergencies since the first presidential term of Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.7 The Nigerian
government spares little resources or outreach to Nigerian citizens affected by the terrorist
group, Boko Haram, and the continuing conflict between ethnic groups, which has affected job
and food security significantly. Boko Haram’s presence in Nigeria increased dramatically in
recent years, which continues escalating terrorist attacks that have misplaced over 650
thousand Nigerian citizens since 2013.8. Furthermore, approximately 50 percent of Nigeria’s
population is Muslim and 40 percent is Christian:9 since the establishment of Nigeria in 1963,
both religious groups have conflicting social tensions, but the tensions heightened within the
past year. 10 The rising conflict over agricultural capital and land between Muslims and
Christians continue to result in displacement, starvation, and deaths.

References

1 World Economic Forum. “Country/Economy Profiles: Nigeria”. World Economic Forum. 2018.
World Economic Forum. Accessed January 29, 2019.
2 Heritage. “2019 Index of Economic Freedom”. Heritage. 2019. Heritage. Accessed January 29,

2019.
3 Heritage. “2019 Index of Economic Freedom”. Heritage. 2019. Heritage. Accessed January 29,

2019.
4 BBC. “Nigeria Country Profile”. BBC. December 5, 2018. BBC. Accessed January 29, 2019.
5 Federal Executive Council. “National Gender Policy, Nigeria”. FAO. August 2008. FEC. Accessed

January 29, 2019.

6 US Aid: From The American People. “Democracy, Human Rights, And Governance”. USAID.

May 21, 2018. US Aid. Accessed January 29, 2019.

7 Human Rights Watch. “World Report 2015: Nigeria”. HRW. 2014. HRW. Accessed January 29,

2019.
8 Security Council Report. “Boko Haram-affected areas”. Security Council Report. April 3, 2018.

Security Council Report. Accessed January 29, 2019.

9 Central Intelligence Agency. “The World Factbook”. January 29, 2019. CIA. Accessed January

29, 2019.
10 Blomfield, Adrian. “The Bloody Cattle Conflict Pushing Nigeria To The Edge of Civil War”.

Telegraph. June 17, 2018. Telegraph. Accessed January 28, 2019.