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|  e-Government - What is it?
Citizen engagement or "digital democracy"
| President: Olusegun Obasanjo: Born in 1937, Obasanjo is an ethnic Yoruba from the southwest of Nigeria. He joined the army in 1958 and came to prominence in 1970 as the officer who accepted the surrender of Biafran forces in the 1967-70 civil war. Obasanjo began his first leadership stint in 1976 after the assassination of Brigadier Murtala Mohamed. In 1979 he earned the distinction of becoming Africa's first modern military leader to hand over power to civilian rule. Renouncing politics, he then returned to his home state to set up a pig farm. In 1995 he was jailed for his part in an alleged coup plot against military dictator Sani Abacha, but was set free three years later by new military leader General Abubakar. He became a civilian head of state in 1999 in elections that followed a transition programme started by Abubakar. Among his first acts, Obasanjo set up an investigation into human rights abuses under military rule and released political prisoners. He also began a crackdown on corruption. But critics accuse him of failing to halt spiralling violence and religious and ethnic clashes. Obasanjo has been praised for improving Nigeria's poor infrastructure but has been criticised over his general handling of the economy. On the world stage, Obasanjo helped to engineer a common plan for Africa's economic recovery - the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD). He is an enthusiastic advocate of the scheme, whether among leaders of G8 nations or business heads. A key player in the Commonwealth, Obasanjo reluctantly supported Zimbabwe's suspension over political violence in March 2002.
COURTESY NEW DEMOCRATS:
Untapped Potentials Our (ND) research results clearly show that thank to the wealth of oil and human resources, Nigeria has the potential to become one of Africa’s leading economies. But years of mismanagement and social division have paralysed the giant of Africa. Real GDP growth was projected to rise slightly in 2001 to 4.0%, up from 3.8% in 2000, largely as a result of improvements in the non-oil sector. The oil sector was hurt by a slump in oil prices and by oil production constraints imposed by the Organization for Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). We found out that the current (2002) GDP of 3.2% falls far short of the 6–10% promised at the start of present administration—and of the 7–10% growth required to make a significant dent in poverty and to achieve the international development goals for 2015. As a result, Nigeria’s position in global poverty rankings has improved little over the years, and the government faces mounting pressure to make good on its promise of “democracy dividends”. Driven largely by an oil windfall, external accounts improved significantly in 2000. Exports maintained the strong growth started in 1999 (58% in 1999 and 64% in 2000), providing the foreign exchange needed to finance the massive (181%) growth in imports in 2000. The strong growth in export revenue—and thus in import demand—is unlikely to be sustained in the short to medium term, since oil prices are not expected to recover to their 2000 level. As a result of the downward trend in oil prices and further production restrictions by OPEC, export earnings are expected to fall significantly in 2002. Tax revenue from the oil sector helped to support a sharp rise in public investment spending in 2000. In addition, inspection of imports rose to 100%, significantly increasing revenue from import duties and offsetting what could have been a significant budget deficit for 2000. The government budget for 2001 had envisaged even greater capital outlays (around 50% more than in 2000 and 250% more than in 1999). But the introduction of procurement rules and value-for-money audits of capital projects helped to slow capital spending and prevent waste. The medium-term outlook for the economy is unfavourable. Real GDP growth is projected to slow to around 2% in 2003, as a result of a reduction in OPEC quotas at the beginning of the year and an expected slump in oil prices. Declining investor interest - especially in privatized companies - and increasing social and political tensions may exacerbate the slowdown. Still, increased investor activity in offshore oil and gas projects and expected improvements in agricultural output might help keep the economy from registering negative growth. The biggest threat to the economy based on our (ND) research is the country’s structural vulnerability - governance problems, volatile oil prices, ethnic and religious tensions, and unpredictable relations with the donor community...Read on
The Abuja Declaration The New Democrats (ND) believes that intellectual and entrepreneurial ballast is the key to success for any political administration. Recent events in the Nigerian political landscape clearly shows that a political party and indeed a government that loses sight of the "big picture" can easily be swept off course by events, driven by sectional or sectoral (Zoning) fundamentalism and splits, and bogged down in administrative minutiae. They risk becoming little more than exercises in crisis management. This is why Nigerians greeted the registration of the New Democrats (ND) with an audible sigh of relief. More importantly because the driving force behind the New Democrats is a collection of patriotic Nigerian entrepreneurs and intellectuals in Diaspora. The New Democrats believe in the need "to start building a common thread between the ideas of academics, thinkers, entrepreneurs and intellectuals. Nigerian political parties have lost the philosophical battle regarding party political engineering and the art of politicking and governance. For the sake of national interest there is a need to replace the current “interest group” politics with a rejuvenated intellectual movement. ND rrelies heavily on intellectuals and entrepreneurs abroad and at home to chart its course.
Expanding the Vital Center New Democrats has assembled an impressive and productive staff of a coalition of thinkers, including Nigerian intellectuals and entrepreneurs residing in the Diaspora, and of-course in Nigeria. Although, Nigerian political parties will want us to believe that their domination of Nigerian politics is based on their strength, our research indicates otherwise. They are merely factional groups which seek to manipulate parochial ethnic interests ...Read on
| | THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH The executive branch of the government consists of the President and the Vice-President. In a democratic government, they are elected. In a military government, the Head-of-State is appointed by the military, and his second in command is the Deputy-Head-of-State.
In both cases, this branch has the highest power in the country, and they are in control of running the country in general (though in the cases of the military, the rule tends to be more dictator than democratic). THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH The legislative branch is also known as the "National Assembly". This branch can further be divided into: THE SENATE THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES This is the lower house of the national assembly. The head of the house of representatives is referred to as the "Speaker of the House". The second in command is referred to as the "Deputy Speaker of the House".
Their main role is to make the laws of the country. In a democracy, they would be voted into office. THE JUDICIAL BRANCH The judicial branch is appointed into power. Their main role is to be a check and balance for the other two branches, making sure they do not abuse their power. They also mediate disagreements between the other two branches of government . They are also responsible for overseeing the legal system.
STATE GOVERNMENTAt the state levels, the same three branches of government exist, with the following differences: CABINET The cabinet consists of a group of ministers that have been appointed to oversee certain areas of the government.
The 'national' cabinet positions are appointed by the president, and they are responsible for national matters.
The 'state' cabinet positions are appointed by the state governors, and they are responsible for their respective position in their state only.
Specifically, after June 15, 1999, the cabinet positions were for Agriculture & Rural Development. Aviation Commerce Communications Defence Education Employment, Labour & Productivity Environment Federal Capital Territory Finance Foreign Affairs Health Industry Information Internal Affairs Justice National Planning Petroleum Resources Police Affairs Power and Steel Science and Technology Solid Minerals Development. Sports & Social Development. Tourism and Culture Transport Water Resources Women Affairs & Youth Development Works and Housing
MILITARY The military is responsible for protecting the country in the event of war.
Even in a democracy, the President automatically becomes the Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. He is the number one guy in the military and has the power to call up and give orders to the military.
He also appoints people to the following top positions: Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Chief of Air Staff (CAS) National Security Adviser (NSA)
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| | Nigeria displays the characteristics of a dual economy: a modern sector heavily dependent on oil earnings overlays a traditional agricultural and trading economy. During the colonial era, cash crops were introduced, harbours, railways and roads were developed, and a market for consumer goods began to emerge. At independence in 1960 agriculture accounted for well over half of GDP, and was the main source of export earnings and public revenue, with the agricultural marketing boards playing a leading role. The leading role in the economy has now been taken over by the national oil company, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC). In 2000, according to official Nigerian government estimates. the oil sector accounted for 83.5% of federal government revenue, more than 95% of export earnings and 10.4% of GDP at factor cost. Agriculture (including livestock, forestry and fishing) is still the main activity of the majority of Nigerians, constituting about 40% of GDP.
On an expenditure basis, the breakdown of GDP is characterised by very high levels of consumption (private consumption accounted for 63.8% of GDP in 2000 and public consumption for 25%) and low investment. Gross capital formation, concentrated almost exclusively in the oil sector, accounted for only 8% of GDP, according to Nigerian government data. (Reference tables 9-11 give GDP data). Economy and Politics Nigeria's economy is highly dependent on the oil sector, which accounts for about 46 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and accounts for 85 percent of the country's foreign exchange earnings. With its large reserves of human and natural resources, Nigeria has the potential to build a highly prosperous economy, to reduce poverty significantly, and to provide the health, education, and infrastructure services its population needs. Despite the country's relative oil wealth, poverty is widespread and Nigeria's basic social indicators place it among the 20 poorest countries in the world. GNP per capita, at about US$260 today is below the level at independence 40 years ago and below the US$370 that it obtained attained in 1985. About 66 percent of the population now falls below the poverty line of roughly one U.S. dollar a day compared to 43 percent in 1985. Economic mismanagement, corruption, and excessive dependence on oil have been the main reasons for the poor economic performance and rising poverty. President Obasanjo's administration has identified corruption and governance as issues that need to be forcefully tackled in order to begin to reverse the economic decline. The Anti-Corruption Bill passed by the National Assembly, was signed into law by President Obasanjo into law. The government has also acknowledged the widespread poverty and has embraced the need to quickly adopt policies quickly to generate broad-based economic growth in which the poor share. Nigeria is an important country in West Africa because it accounts for 47 percent of the region's population and 41 percent of the region's GDP. In recent years, Nigeria has exercised a leadership role through the West African peacekeeping force, the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG), which restored peace in Liberia and Sierra Leone. | |
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