Obasanjo Administration Research Articles

Historical Political Economy of the Management and Development of the Nigerian Railways, 1999-2015

During the colonial period in Nigeria, 1900-1960, the Nigerian Railway was one of the strong pillars of the Nigerian political economy. It facilitated the massive economic exploitation and the economic development of the colony. Moreover, it was one of the important legacies of British domination of the Nigerian space up until when Nigeria got her political independence from Britain in 1960. Starting from 1960, however, and up to the 1990s, the economic, financial, and social fortunes of the Nigerian Railway industry declined at a very rapid speed. Its situation during this period was further complicated by the introduction, implementation, and the negative impact of the IMF/World Bank supported neo-liberal economics undergirded Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP). By the very last year of the twentieth century, which year also marked the beginning of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, the Nigerian Railway Corporation(NRC), the statutory body that was charged with the responsibility of managing and developing the Nigerian Railway industry, had become bankrupt and was rapidly dying and was in free fall into total collapse.As a result of the foregoing negative development, and starting with the Obasanjo Administration (1999-2007), renewed efforts were made to reorganise and modernise this important transport and socio-economic infrastructure. The various reorganisation programmes that were initiated and implemented for the Nigerian Railways from 1999-2015 were critically examined. It is argued that in view of the dependent and neo-colonial nature of the Nigerian historical political economy and the rampant corruption that has come to define it, not much would be achieved by way of radical transformation and modernisation of the railway industry in the medium to long term – unless Nigeria becomes industrialised and is then able to manufacture nothing less than sixty per cent of her needs and requirements, Currently nearly of these are still imported in the face of scarce foreign exchange earnings. Keywords: Nigeria, railway, management, development, transformation, modernization DOI: 10.7176/PPAR/13-3-05 Publication date: April 30 th 2023

Dissecting The Monetization of Benefits Policy and Workers Productivity in Nigeria public Sector: 2004-2020

Monetization policy is one of the reforms agenda of former President Olusegun Obasanjo administration geared towards minimizing cost of governance as well as a motivation tool on the part of public servants. Monetization no doubt is an economic monetary reform programme, which allows its beneficiary more physical cash in the pocket in lieu of some benefits as condition of services. The main thrust of this study is to examine the nexus between monetization policy and workers productivity in Nigeria public-sector. The study adopted Two-Factor theory propounded by Fredrick Herzberg in the late 1950s and 1960s in explaining the linkage between monetization policy and workers productivity. The study made use of qualitative descriptive method of data analysis while relying on the secondary source of data collection such as internet sources, government documents, journals, conference papers, gazette, text books. The study made its findings and agrees that monetization policy implemented by Obasanjo's administration enhances workers productivity in Nigeria public sector. Finally, the study recommended some policy measures which if adhered to, will go a long way in ensuring smooth running of public services.

The Pattern of Employment in Nigeria between 1981 and 2014

Unemployment is a major macroeconomic malaise in Nigeria. It has been high and rising over the years across dictatorship, democratic, administrative, and economic regimes. In the process sectoral employment transitioned from the productive sectors of agriculture and manufacturing to services sectors of trade and services and administration sectors of the economy. This study examined the patterns of unemployment and the transitioning of sectoral employment during the economic growth period between 1981 and 2014.It concluded that, despite the fact that economic growth was a common factor, unemployment worsened during democracy, and more so under the Yar’Adua / Jonathan administration. Unemployment was best managed under the military, ironically, and better under the Obasanjo administration, respectively.

Nigeria's Foreign Policy Since Retuen Of Democracy With Particular Reference to President Olusegun Obasanjo's Administration, 1999 -2007

Nigeria's Foreign Policy Since Retuen Of Democracy With Particular Reference to President Olusegun Obasanjo's Administration, 1999 -2007

DEVELOPMENT AND CHRONIC POVERTY IN NIGERIA: AN EXAMINATION OF OBASANJO'S ECONOMIC REFORM PROGRAM

There is no doubt that Nigeria under Obasanjo's administration is engulfed in a web of chronic poverty, which affects its performance in the development arena. The country has all it takes to develop but unfortunately it could not due to the complex nature of the country's social problems. The country is endowed with vast agricultural and natural resources, and has a relatively important industrial sector (48% of the GDP in 2001), as compared to other West African or Sub-Saharan countries (less than 30%). The recent Human Development index has placed Nigeria among the 20 poorest countries in the World. It is estimated that up to 70% of Nigerians are living below poverty line. Nigeria has been branded by the international community as the second most corrupt nation in the World. For three consecutive years, 2000, 2001 and 2002, it has maintained that unenviable position. The rating came up as a consequence of several failed attempts by the Obasanjo’s administration to wipe out corruption and poverty or reduce them to a tolerable level in the polity. In the same vein, within the Obasanjo’s administration the country has been engulfed in a series of conflicts resulting in the lost in lives and property. Various developmental strategies have been adopted by the Obasanjo's administration, yet the situation is not very encouraging. We have passed the 2015 deadline for the achievement of the MDGs, the poverty eradication policies are judged to be unsatisfactory and inadequate in meeting the MDGs. It is absolutely frustrating and painful when you realize the immense potentials of Nigeria. Eight years is enough time for any administration to sort out the fundamental problem of the country (poverty). Against this backdrop, the paper examined the various developmental strategies for combating poverty in Nigeria. This is with a view to proffering policy recommendations for the present administration on how best to alleviate poverty in Nigeria to achieve the sustainable developmental goals now in place. Article visualizations:

Effects of the Monetisation Policy on employee performance in the Nigerian civil service

Background: This article examined the enormous financial burden placed on the Federal Government of Nigeria by the management and maintenance of its civil servants. The cost of governance in Nigeria continues to rise mainly because of the provision of fringe benefits (such as free residential accommodation, medical services, transport facilities and utilities, including telephone service, water and electricity) to public servants. Yet, public employees’ performance continues to decline, which leads to low levels of human and physical infrastructure development.Aim: This article examines the effects of the rising cost of governance in Nigeria and how to enhance employee performance. The article interrogates the effects of the monetisation of fringe benefits policy (the Monetisation Policy) of the Obasanjo Administration (2003–2007).Setting: The study was conducted in the Federal Civil Service Secretariat in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.Methods: This article is anchored in social exchange theory. The study participants comprised 1007 federal civil servants selected from 32 federal establishments. The participants were selected using the total population sampling technique. A structured questionnaire with a reliability coefficient estimate of 0.742 was used to generate the data for the study. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) aided the presentation and analysis of data relating to the research objectives using frequency distribution tables and testing research hypotheses with chi-square statistics and Pearson’s product–moment correlation statistic.Results: The findings revealed that the Monetisation Policy has helped to enhance employee payment packages. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between high monetised benefits and high employee performance. The study found that the Monetisation Policy has had positive effects on employee performance in the federal civil service in Imo State.Conclusion: This study concludes that the Monetisation Policy has helped to enhance employee motivation and morale, and to reduce employee work-related stress, which are vital indicators of work efficiency. These factors do not only affect the contextual performance of the civil servants, but also predispose their task performance. The researchers recommend that the Monetisation Policy should be sustained. It is also recommended that the government should introduce other measures aimed at enhancing the motivation of employees who receive lower monetised benefits so as to further improve the overall performance of the Nigerian civil service.

Poor Public Policy Formulation and Its Effect on Policy Sustainability in Nigeria: An Appraisal of Monetization Policy of Obasanjo’s Administration

Public policy is one of the instruments deployed by the government to realize its objectives; it is supposed to be a process that involves several stages that should be adhered to, as each stage contributes to its acceptance, understanding and eventual implantability and sustainability. This paper is aimed at appraising the relationship between poor policy formulation and its effect on sustainability in Nigeria, with special focus on the Monetization policy of the Obasanjo administration. The paper adopted content analysis as its methodology, where it examined several literatures on the subject matter and drew conclusion based on the findings. Some of the findings are : the formulation of monetization policy was faulted, it was elitist in its approach,The real beneficiaries or the segment of the population it will impact on the most were not carried along in the formulation process. Again, the resumption of construction of residential accommodation for federal civil servants by the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation is an indication of the unsustainability of the monetization policy. Some of the recommendations include: Policy formulation should be backed by serious research and evaluation and Government and policy makers should avoid making unnecessary and frivolous pronouncements or embarking on policies, programmes and projects without proper and adequate feasibility study

Policy Reforms in Nigerian Health Sector and the Potential for Poverty Reduction

This paper studies the policy reforms in the Nigerian health sector and potentiality of the sector towards poverty reduction in the country. The study investigates the contribution of health in the process of poverty reduction by various governments in Nigeria. The study employs secondary source as a methods of data collection. The study reveals that health sector reform involves more than just improvement in health or health care. It is a process motivated by the need to address fundamental deficiencies in health care systems that affect all health care services. Health sector reform in Nigeria is based on the poor health status of the population and the poor rating of the health system itself. The study reveals that Nigerian health status was ranked 187 out of 191 countries by WHO in 2000. The infant mortality rate, the under-five mortality rate and the maternal mortality ratio are some of the indicators that are often used to compare health status of populations. Nigeria’s figures on each of the three indicators are some of the worst in the world, even by the standard of developing countries. The health sector reform was one of the social sector reforms undertaken by the Obasanjo administration, with the National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy (NEEDS) providing the overall national development framework. The NEEDS, itself, has four major goals: wealth creation, poverty reduction, employment generation and value re-orientation. Consequently, the study look at the contribution of the health sector reform towards reduction of poverty in Nigeria.

Looting the Looters: The Paradox of Anti-Corruption Crusades in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic (1999-2014)

The ubiquitous nature of corruption in Nigeria's political boulevard has been a cogged wheel that backpedal developmental liberation in the country. Consequently, Nigerian government embarked on major reform that led to the creation of Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to eliminate the scars of corruption in Nigeria's political map during Olusegun Obasanjo's regime. However, the anti-corruption institution has received a lot of criticism among the general populace in Nigeria. The agency has been accused of politicization, selective operation, lack of transparency and as an instrument of political persecution. Therefore, this study investigates to what extent Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) becomes a political device in the hand of politicians in facilitating further looting and persecuting political enemies. The paper argues that various regimes in Nigeria's fourth republic, ranging from Olusegun Obasanjo's administration (1999-2007), Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s regime (2007-2010) and Goodluck Jonathan’s political dispensation (2010-2014) employed anti-corruption agency as a shield to foster corruption and persecute political opposition. A drastic measure is suggested for the efficiency, effectiveness and absolute autonomy of the agency in Nigeria.

OBASANJO’S ADMINISTRATION ANTI-CORRUPTION CAMPAIGN IN NIGERIA AND SALIENT GOVERNANCE IMPLICATIONS

Anti-corruption campaign among successive administration has been attempting to curb the hydra-headed monster and clog in the wheel of the development progress of developing countries at large and Nigeria in particular. Essentially, the poverty and menace of poor development programmes’ delivery, which Nigeria witnessed in the pre-1999 era made the Obasanjo Administration to fight the war headlong. The methodology adopted is qualitative with the usage of secondary data and observation as conscious citizens of the country who witnessed the activities of the administration against corrupt practices. This essay is therefore divided into introduction; a review of anti-corruption war; the success of institutional approach; salient lessons; conclusion and recommendations that centre on the promotion of entrepreneurship, traditional value system, honesty, sacrifice, selflessness, and discipline.

English

Intergovernmental relation is a necessary political tool for mutual intertwines among the levels of government for the realization and facilitation of government goals and objectives. Intergovernmental wrangling has been a morphological characteristic of Nigerian federalism. The 1999 Nigerian constitution stipulates unequivocal and unambiguous demarcation of functions, powers and jurisdictional ecology within the purview of Nigerian political framework. However, lack of economic justice occasioned by jurisdictional scruples tortured intergovernmental relations during the political regime of former President Olusegun Obasanjo administration in the fourth republic in Nigeria. This study therefore x-rayed chronological crusades of intergovernmental relation conflicts and resource control in the fourth republic in Nigeria. Methodology employed in this study was derived from secondary sources of data collection, such as:  newspaper reports, textbooks, and academic journals. It also adopted interactive and conflict resolution theory to re-echo how best to manage intergovernmental relation conflicts in Nigerian federal-state. This work concludes that intergovernmental relation is a necessary political synergy for the actualization and implementation of government policies and programmes. Therefore, justice, fairness and equity in the allocation of economic resources that endure tolerance and cooperation are veritable weapons to mitigate intergovernmental relation conflicts in Nigerian federalism. Keywords: Intergovernmental Relation, Conflict, Federalism, Resource Control, Fourth Republic, Nigeria.

Newspapers’ Constitutional Responsibility of Holding Government Accountable to the People in Nigeria: Some Seemingly Unassailable Challenges?

This paper reviews roles newspapers can play in curbing corruption and what seemingly unassailable challenges they faced in facilitating the anti-corruption crusade by Olusegun Obasanjo administration between 1999 and 2007 in Nigeria. The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (amended) says the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people of Nigeria The paper observes that while newspapers can fulfill these social and constitutional responsibilities in both tangible and intangible ways, the effectiveness of newspapers in acting as forces against corruption in Nigeria is, however, threatened by factors both intrinsic and extrinsic to the media such as official immunity and secrecy, lack of access to official information, moral obligations to the ethnic community, professional integrity and responsibility, editorial independence, physical threats, harsh economic realities and more. The paper concludes that unless these challenges are surmounted, newspapers may largely remain stymied in their anti-corruption roles and functions and hardly be useful in any efforts to curb corruption in the country. KEY WORDS Newspapers, Corruption, Anti-Corruption Crusade, Challenges, Constitutional Responsibility

Issue of Fiscal Federalism and National Development in Nigeria during Obasanjo Administration

Nigeria operates a fiscal arrangement that caters for the needs of component states. Federalism is characterized by extensive inter-governmental relations in which federal, state and local tier interact to seek policies and programmes that will cater for the welfare of the public. This can become a reality when there is financial insubordination from any levels of government. It implies that federal, state or local level should depend on one another in performing their statutory functions in a federal state. The challenges of fiscal relations and national development is enormous in Nigeria, the paper will x-ray issues within the ecology of Nigerian federal structure, ranging from revenue sharing to fiscal decentralization, allocation expenditure and tax-raising power among the three levels of government. The paper concludes that the prospect of any nation depend on proper arrangement rooted in equity, fairness and justice to enhance equitable revenue formula for the best interest of Nigerian state. DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2013.v3n10p109

Analysing Financing Challenges to Medium and Small Scale Industries in Nigeria: An Empirical Investigation

Inadequate funding has been the major challenge to Small and Medium Scale enterprises in Nigeria since independence till date.Every political administration, including military and civilian governments attempted to make an issue of unaccomplishable wild propaganda out of this critical economic matter of national concern, but they were all talking and instituting policies on paper, more than achieving results by practically implementing the policies and turning the much ado about empty storytelling to action and results. The 1st to the 3rd Nigerian Economic Summits sponsored by the Babangida military Junta, focused more aggressively on Economic Development through industrialisation with increased concern for the expected impact of the Medium and Small Scale Industries in Nigeria. In spite of all the inactivated, unproductive policy statements, establishments of various “Development Financial institutions”, and the ultimate technically unprofessional “liberalisation of banking institutions licensing”, which made total mockery of the institution of banking in Nigeria, including its ethics and professionalism, the consequences, of which the industry is yet to recover from. As a result of all the political interferences in the banking industry, and consequent failure of the financial system to provide appropriate financing for MSSI'S (the back bone of industrialization), since attaining independence in 1960, Nigeria is yet to experience any remarkable achievement in industrialization. On the foreign scene, the World Bank, initiated three different tranches of subsidised credit to Medium and Small Scale industries in Nigeria, administered through deposit money banks, all of which totally failed to achieve their objectives. Small and Medium Scale Industries Equity Investment Scheme (SMEEIS) was initiated and established by the Obasanjo administration, plus an additional sum of 500 billion naira budgetary provision, to support MSSI's; In spite of these and other myriads of multilateral financial supports administered through Nigerian governments and the financial system, the good intentions of the foreign governments aids and multilateral financial institutions supports, were thwarted by the corruption and fraudulent tendencies of the Nigerian authorities, and the operators of the financial system.The findings of this research effort proved that there is a positive relationship between the appropriate financing of MSSI's and a systemic development and growth of industries which is also a required condition for national economic growth and development. Poor industrialization and stunted economic growth and development in Nigeria are direct consequences of the poor funding of Medium and Small scale Industries since independence, yet there is no evidence of any promising solution in sight in the immediate future.

Nation-building Initiatives of the Olusegun Obasanjo Administration in the Fourth Republic, 1999-2007

For much of its existence, Nigeria was governed by the military. From 1960 to 2007, a total of forty-seven years, the military ruled for twenty-nine years. The remaining eighteen years was taken up by civilian rule. The search for a functional and cohesive Nigeria was a constant leitmotiv that ran throughout the period. This search is what has been termed nation-building. The federal government of Nigeria was confronted with important nation-building challenges between 1999 and 2007. Some of these nation-building challenges are those of democracy, corruption, federalism and aggressive ethno-regionalism. By 1999, when Nigeria’s Fourth Republic was inaugurated, most of these nation-building challenges were yet to be resolved. When Chief Olusegun Obasanjo became the first civilian president in the Fourth Republic in 1999, he was confronted with the task of creating a functional and cohesive Nigerian polity. Thus, the central questions that this paper addresses are: 1. What are the mechanisms the Olusegun Obasanjo administration used to tackle Nigeria's nation-building challenges between 1999 and 2007? 2. What are the specific programmes the administration used in the nationbuilding process? 3. What are the nation-building challenges that confronted Nigeria between 1999 and 2007? Keywords: Nigeria, Nation-building, fourth republic, Obasanjo, challenges.

The media and democratic consolidation in Nigeria: An overview of government–media relations, 1999–2009

Relations between the media and government in Nigeria have historically been conflictual. Nevertheless, the Nigerian media has played important roles in the country’s struggles to free itself from the shackles of colonialism and military rule. A national desire for disengagement from decades of military dictatorship, however, took away the usually critical edge of the Nigerian media once the democratic dispensation got underway. But as the post-transition euphoria gave way to realism, government and media relapsed into their old animosity. This article argues that the initial indifference to certain undemocratic tendencies – especially of the Obasanjo administration in the name of not ‘rocking the boat’ of the new-found democracy – did set a new ambience, resulting in government becoming too sensitive to criticism. The article posits that the initial ambivalence of the media towards the government could have inflicted more harm on the democratic project than good, and was responsible for the manner in which the government responded by the time it regained its critical edge. It contends that the media should at all times remain faithful to its watchdog role, hereby assisting in strengthening the country’s democracy.

Assessment of Application of Due-Process Policy in Public Procurement and Contracts Under Obasanjo Administration in Nigeria, 2003-2007

Many Nigerians identify corruption and poverty as the bane of the nation’s development paralysis. The Obasanjo administration in the country was determined to enthrone the principle of transparency and accountability in public life in Nigeria. The government of President Olusegun Obasanjo believes that without probity in public life, the ultimate aim of providing for the happiness and welfare of the citizenry will be an illusion. It is in the light of the above that the government embarked on a number of public sector reform programmes aimed at blocking leakages of all sorts in public sector service delivery and transactions. The official instrument designed to achieve this much desired honesty, transparency and accountability in the conduct of government business especially in the award of contracts and procurement in the ministries, parastatals and departments in Nigeria is the introduction of the Due Process Policy. Key words: Due process; Public procurement; Administration

Nation-Building Initiatives of the Olusegun Obasanjo Administration in the Fourth Republic, 1999-2007

For much of its existence, Nigeria was governed by the military. From 1960 to 2007, a total of forty-seven years, the military ruled for twenty-nine years. The remaining eighteen years was taken up by civilian rule. The search for a functional, viable and cohesive Nigeria was a constant leitmotiv that ran throughout the period. This search is what has been termed nation-building. The different military and civilian administrations that ruled Nigeria between 1960 and 2007 were confronted with important challenges that impacted negatively on the country’s nation-building process. Some of these nation-building challenges are those of democracy, autarky, corruption, federalism and aggressive ethno-regionalism. By 1999, when the Nigeria Fourth Republic was inaugurated, most of these nation-building challenges were yet to be resolved. When Chief Olusegun Obasanjo became the first civilian president in the Fourth Republic in 1999, he was confronted with the Herculean task of creating a functional, viable and cohesive Nigerian polity. Obasanjo's administration successfully conducted federal elections in 2003, the second federal elections in the Fourth Republic, in which he was re-elected. The successful conduct ensured the sustenance of democratic rule in Nigeria. This means that during the Fourth Republic, Obasanjo governed Nigeria from 1999-2007. Thus, the central question which this paper seeks to address is what are the mechanisms the Obasanjo’s administration used to tackle Nigeria's nation-building challenges? This paper is divided into four parts. The first part is the introduction, which provides a historical overview of Nigeria's socio-political scene. The second part provides a brief historical overview of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration between 1999 and 2007. The third part is the conceptual clarification of nation-building. The fourth part, which is the main body of the paper, analyzes the various mechanisms used by the Obasanjo’s administration in Nigeria’s nation-building process between 1999 and 2007. The final part of the paper is the conclusion.

The Effectiveness of Anti-corruption Agencies in Enhancing Good Governance and Sustainable Developmental Growth in Africa: The Nigeria Paradox under Obasanjo Administration, 2003-2007

Nigeria’s public image at international scene has been very negatively, impressed. Since 1966 when the first military coup took place on the account of corruption, the country is still searching for better atmosphere that could guarantee corrupt free society. Since the early 2000’s when Transparency International ranked the country the second most corrupt nation in the world, the government has been working assiduously to make sure that the Nigeria image is being treated with respect. Nigeria and indeed Africa are so enmeshed in corruption that their leadership is either positioning for life leadership or wealth for great, great, grand children unborn. Also in these countries, hunger is so pronounced that people throw away conscience and decorum for survival. In a bid to fight these ills and join the wagon for good governance, viable democracy and developmental growth, some African countries like Ghana, South Africa, Nigeria, etc. have been making efforts towards attaining such desired governance. In Nigeria many anti corruption agencies are established, both public and private, all aimed at fighting against corruption and enthronement of better governance. In this paper some of these anti-corruption agencies are critiqued and their impacts are also empirically examined. Key Words: Anti-corruption agencies; Good governance; Sustainable development

Challenges of democracy and the (de)memorialisation of the June 12, 1993 elections in Nigeria

This article explores the complex dynamics and underpinnings of the contested significance of the June 12, 1993 presidential elections in Nigeria. It shows how a sectional cabal not only saw to the annulment of these elections, but has relentlessly engaged the machinery of the state to foist collective amnesia on the citizenry by memorialising May 29 as ‘Democracy Day’, instead of June 12. We argue that these actions became necessary as the remembrance and memorialisation of June 12 could have dire implications for the survival and reputation of the cabal. Using the Obasanjo administration (1999–2007) as a case, this article analyses certain critical events to illustrate and buttress its points. We conclude that until there is a national commitment to memorialising June 12, as well as the institutionalisation of the fundamental tenets of democracy embodied in those elections, a civic and democratic ethos among Nigerian civil society will remain elusive.