Deinstitutionalization: A Perspective from Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria is one of the West African countries south of the Sahara desert. Geographically, it is divided into the North, with arid vegetation, and the South, with green forests. It has an estimated population of 80 million, consisting of three main ethnic groups, the Hausas, the Yorubas, and the Igbos, each group having several linguistic subgroups. The Hausas live mainly in the North; the other two groups live in the South. There is interaction among the different ethnic groups, however; and people are free to settle in any part of the country. Over 70% of the population has no formal education. Islam, Christianity, and traditional religions coexist, but Islam is the predominant religion, especially in the northern parts of the country. Most of the people live in homogeneous rural settings and cultivate the land. Trading is an important occupation among both city -dwellers and those in rural areas. Within the last two decades, since oil production has become the backbone of the nationTs economy, rapid urbanization and industrialization have taken place. Nigeria has a federal system of government similar to that of the United States of America. It has a central government headed by a democratically elected president. At the center, the legislative bodies consist of the Houses of Representatives and the Senate. Each of the 19 states of the federation has a semi -autonomous government with executive and legislative branches, a governor heading the former, and a house of assembly serving as the latter. Under the constitution both the