In this article, we discussed the deficiency of democracy in Nigeria, we also defined deficiency and democracy.
Definition
The term “democratic deficit” is commonly used to refer to situations where territories under the authority of an independent state do not enjoy equal participation in electing representatives that legislate for them.
Deficiency is the quality or state of being defective or of lacking some necessary quality or element, the quality or state of being deficient, inadequacy. suffers from a deficiency of critical thinking, an amount that is lacking or inadequate, shortage.
Democracy can be thought of as “power of the people”: a way of governing which depends on the will of the people.
Democracy refers, at a minimum, to a political system that guarantees some involvement in decision-making. It gives citizens opportunities to choose and replace their leaders or representatives via free and fair elections.
But that’s not all. Democracy also protects citizens’ socio-economic, political and cultural rights.
Its success turns on its ability to bring changes to the living conditions of citizens.
It is a form of governance that holds this truth: that the people are what matters most.
Democracy is a global maiden which every nation woos. The democratic craze is sweeping across the whole world, from the nation states in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe to Africa and Asia. It shows that democracy has gathered momentum across the globe as a result of its immense advantages and by implication because of the negative consequences of bad governance Consequently, democratic movement all over the world is among other things, an insistence on expression of the will of the people. Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa has no choice than to align itself with the rest of the world on the democratic crave. However, Nigeria has not been so lucky to be democratized. It has had long tortured history of dancing around democracy but has never gotten it right.
Here are the Deficiency of Democracy in Nigeria
Election fraud:
Rigging of elections, poor management of polling, a lack of independent election management institutions, a lack of neutrality of external and internal monitors, a lack of credible opposition, weak political parties – all these are problems.
For example, the history of elections in Nigeria is filled with stories of rigging. Post election adjudication should not only be concerned with determination of who did and did not win in those elections, but should punish with imprisonment and fines in cases where it is established beyond reasonable doubt that political elite or their agents have violated electoral rules.
Lack of effective citizens welfare
When elected political leaders emerged in 1999 after 16 years of military dictatorship, many Nigerians expected an improvement in their economic and social conditions. But that has not happened.
Unemployment, shortage of food, lack of public safety, lack of clean water, inadequate healthcare and poor incomes remain prevalent.
The performance of politicians in improving the welfare of citizens shows that Nigeria’s civil regime has achieved nothing. Programmed that would improve the lives of all Nigerians are still lacking.
Poverty and unemployment require the institutionalization of development-oriented practices. This means a political and governing culture that places a high priority on the welfare of citizens.
The absence of development-oriented practices has been one of the major weak points in Nigeria’s democracy.
Terrorist attack and in security
The spiral of violence in northern Nigeria in which armed bandits engage in deadly planned attacks on communities, leading to widespread population displacement, has become another grave security challenge that has sharpened regional division. Because some public servants are usually unaware of the insecurities faced by ordinary Nigerians, they lack the frame of reference to make laws that address the priorities of citizens. The crisis of governance is emphasized by a democratic culture that accords less importance to the knowledge and competence that political leaders can bring to public office. These systemic challenges have bred an atmosphere of sarcasm and mistrust between citizens and political leaders at all levels of government.
Choosing incompetent leaders
One of the deficiencies of democracy is the obvious fact that the majority will always have their way, even if the choice of the majority is a wrong one, because it is a game of numbers. Knowing this should enable us to prepare our minds that the deficiency of democracy will definitely manifest in the choice of who becomes our leaders in Nigeria.
Our democracy has not matured to the level where choosing a candidate is based on the competence and qualifications of such candidate. We have always voted along religious, tribal, ethnic and regional sentiments. That is why we kept getting it wrong all the time.
An average Nigerian will prefer a completely incompetent leader to pilot the affairs of the country provided that person is either of the same faith with him, speaks the same language with him or are from the same region. Politicians have taken advantage of these fault lines of ours to continue to exploit and manipulate most of our citizens, while they continue to remain united in sharing our common patrimony.
Lack of Freedom of Speech
A vibrant media industry exists in Nigeria, much of it based in the south-west, but the government has been cracking down on the free press as evidenced by its actions during the #ENDSARS protests of 2020.
Twitter was banned for more than a year following the protests, while big media houses closed and journalists fled, diminishing open debate. Security incidents go unreported or misrepresented for fear of punishments by the government.
Police Brutality
Nigeria’s police have a reputation for brutality which led directly to the #ENDSARS protests of 2020, demanding the dismantling of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, a unit accused of kidnapping, murder, theft, rape, and torture.
Lack of Good Governance
Good governance should be the goal of any government interested in improving the quality of life of its people. Professor of economics Michael Obadan has argued that there are five fundamental elements to good governance. We found that Nigeria was falling short on all these scores:
Accountability of public office holders with regard to public funds.
In public service there are many accountability mechanisms, including codes of conduct, which are intended to guide decisions of public officials.
Sadly, the observance to these principles often falls short of expectations, leaving room for a culture of freedom in Nigeria. A clear example shows up when the influence of a state governor permeates the state legislature, especially in the budget-making processes. This unrestricted influence compromises essential public scrutiny for the welfare of citizens. Officials can then misappropriate public funds and avoid justice.
Transparency in public policy and decision-making processes
A cloud of confidentiality surrounds governance in Nigeria. Details of how officials get and use funds are often withheld. The public can’t see the impact of policies formulated to improve their well-being.
Predictability in government behaviour
The essence of expectedness in good governance is the ability to expect the policies, decisions, and activities of government. Predictability makes it possible for citizens to engage in civic life, contributing to a democratic process.
Adherence to the rule of law
At the core of good governance lies the rule of law. It signifies that the law is supreme, applying universally without exception. This principle reinforces the idea that no individual or entity is exempt from legal obligations. It promotes fairness and a just society.
CONCLUSIONS
Our democracy has not matured to the level where choosing a candidate is based on the competence and qualifications of such candidate. We have always voted along religious, tribal, ethnic and regional sentiments. That is why we kept getting it wrong all the time.
An average Nigerian will prefer a completely incompetent leader to pilot the affairs of the country provided that person is either of the same faith with him, speaks the same language with him or are from the same region. Politicians have taken advantage of these fault lines of ours to continue to exploit and manipulate most of our citizens, while they continue to remain united in sharing our common patrimony.
READ: Causes of Underdevelopment in Nigeria