Military Civilian Regimes and Socio Economic Development in Nigeria a Comparative Discourse and Evaluation

Abstract

Nigeria, like other African countries, is faced with the problem of providing its citizens with the basic needs that make life worth living, whether under the military or civilian regime. This paper attempted a comparative evaluation of the military and civilian administrations’ efforts at the socio-economic development of Nigeria. The paper relied heavily on data culled from existing records and analysed using descriptive techniques. The paper noted that both the military and civilian regimes in Nigeria have initiated and implemented several policies and programmes towards the socio-economic development of the country but with little and in most cases, no positive impact on the lives of the citizens. The paper observed conclusively that the civilians are believed to be the best administrators of government whereas the military are meant to be specialists in handling ammunition and warrelated strategies, not governance. It was recommended that the Nigerian government should encourage professionalism as well as increase budgetary allocation to military formations to keep them from meddling in governance while the civilian administrators should endeavour to reduce unemployment and inflation rates in addition to improving the nation’s GDP through sustainable economic policies.