Marxism is oriented on a class understanding of human history.

For Karl Marx, the machine of

historical evolution is the oppression of one class by another powerful one until the latter is
undermined by the dynamics of its oppressive instrument. Thus, history is filled with the account of
classes at war—slaves and slave-owners, serfs and lords, proletariats and bourgeoisie. Like
capitalism, Marxism has also gone through various iterations that we should call “neo-Marxism.” And
this attests to the continuing relevance of neo-liberal capitalism as a fundamental site of global
injustice and inequality, global unemployment and poverty, welfare deficit in significant proportions,
and so on. Marxist conceptions of revolution are essentially centered around the belief that the
impoverished will eventually overturn the wealthy, establish a more equitable society, and live in a
world where everyone is on an equal footing and collaborates.

In Nigeria, there are several crises and socio-economic issues that intersect with Marxist notions of
revolution, class struggle, and social change. While Nigeria's complex political landscape
encompasses a range of factors, here are some key crises that have connections to Marxist ideology:

Income Inequality: Nigeria exhibits significant income inequality, with a small elite controlling a
disproportionate share of the country's wealth. This vast wealth gap between the rich and the poor
perpetuates class divisions and exploitation, aligning with Marxist critiques of capitalism.

Economic Exploitation: Nigeria's economy is heavily reliant on natural resources such as oil, yet the
benefits of resource extraction often accrue to multinational corporations and the political elite rather
than the broader population. Marxist analysis highlighted this exploitation of labor and resources for
the profit of the ruling class.

Marx theory laid emphasis on economic production of goods and services, that production brings
wealth and prosperity to a nation. The emphasis by Marxist on the economies of production is that if
the economy does not function, there will be no production, wealth would not be generated and there
would be no jobs for the masses while the welfare and standard of living of generality of the people
will be undermined. However, the majority of the masses are left out in this scramble and
incapacitated in contributing to the economic production of the country. However, the first
opportunity for Nigerians to upturn this order of social structure came in 1987 Anti SAP riot. The
General Ibrahim Babangida’s regime introduced the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), which
was a macro- economic programme designed to stabilize the economy, and restructure the economic
base with emphasis on diversification away from the petroleum (oil sector), which was meant to
create foreign exchange to service foreign debt and balance of payment deficit, also to encourage high
agricultural productivity.
Due to the unsustainability of the Nigeria system, it has led to the production of Niger Delta militants
agitations, Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), a militant youth wing of the Yoruba nation and Boko
Haram group. The production system has placed money in the hands of few elites who does not
produce but only consume the wealth of the State.

Unemployment and Poverty: High levels of unemployment and poverty, particularly among the
youth population, contribute to social unrest and discontent. Marxist theory emphasizes the systemic
nature of poverty and unemployment under capitalism, viewing these issues as inherent to the
capitalist mode of production.

Corruption: Corruption is pervasive in Nigeria, with political leaders and elites often accused of
embezzling public funds and engaging in nepotism and cronyism. Marxist analysis would attribute
corruption to the capitalist system, arguing that it serves to maintain the power and privilege of the
ruling class.

Social Injustice and Marginalization: Marginalized groups in Nigeria, including ethnic minorities,
rural communities, and women, often face social injustice and discrimination. Marxist perspectives
would highlight the intersectionality of class, ethnicity, and gender in perpetuating systems of
oppression and exploitation.

Authoritarianism and Political Repression: Nigeria has a history of authoritarian rule and political
repression, with human rights abuses perpetrated by state actors. Marxist theory emphasizes the role
of the state in enforcing the interests of the ruling class and suppressing dissent to maintain capitalist
power structures.

The Nigeria State and Labour Relations

Marx saw labour as the producers of wealth in the society which is been appropriated by the elite few
who does not produce. And without production, wealth cannot be generated and society would not be
transformed. In 1978, Marxist lecturers were dismissed from various Nigerian universities after the
student riots that took place that year, and in 1986, the federal government directed that lecturers who
are “not teaching what they are paid to teach” be identified and flushed out of the university system,
as well as the general persecution and expulsion of students leaders (Alubo,1990: 4 ) The case of Dr.
Patrick Wilmot and the eighteen UniIlorin lecturers also comes to mind. In 2002, The Obasanjo’s
regime accused organized labour under the umbrella of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), of
running a parallel government, when the NLC called out its members for general strike and protest
against the increase in petroleum products and proposed removal of subsidies.
In conclusion, the major crisis Nigeria is facing is a weakening economy and rising insecurity which
threaten progress made in its democratic development. Amid deepening distrust in government and
institutions, Nigeria has significant work to do in improving national, state and local security and
governance. While Nigeria has not experienced a Marxist revolution in the traditional sense, these
crises and socio-economic issues provide fertile ground for Marxist critiques of capitalism and calls
for revolutionary change. Marxist ideas continue to inform debates about social justice, inequality,
and revolution in Nigeria, shaping political discourse and grassroots movements aimed at challenging
existing power structures and advocating for a more equitable society.