Research
The Dimensions of Poverty and its Effects on Nigerias National Development
This paper examines the dimensions of poverty and how it affects national development in Nigeria. It therefore, views poverty as a phenomenon that affects the socio-economic and political conditions of its victims in both developed, developing and underdeveloped countries. Relying on qualitative data, this paper used the political economy approach to argue that the underdevelopment of the productive forces occasioned by politics of primitiveness orchestrated by the political class is largely the cause of the poverty in Nigeria. It is against this analytical angle that the paper reveals that poverty in Nigeria has resulted to inequality, social injustice, conflict, crime and consequently leading to political apathy and sometime vote buying during elections. With these dimensions, it concludes that the nature and character of poverty in the country pose challenges to Nigeria’s national development. Because sustainable national development cannot be achieved in a poverty ridden nation hence, the menaces of poverty are recipes for anti-nation building culture. It recommends among others that the poor should be involved in the designing and implementation of policies that concern them due to the fact that they know better the challenges facing them in their various communities.
Challenges in Nigerias Democratic Institutions: Accountability in Focus
This paper looked at the challenges facing Nigeria’s democratic institutions with particular reference to accountability which has been regarded as the alpha and omega in democratic governance. This is because any government that lacks accountability lacks everything as accountability provides opportunity for checks and balances between and amongst the various democratic institutions. This paper revealed that there is absence of accountability in almost all the institutions of democracy in Nigeria which had led to the high degree of corruption witnessed in the country in recent time. The paper concluded that until and unless Nigerian leaders see accountability to the citizens as an important factor in the governance of the nation, Nigeria will continue to remain under developed economically and politically and will be very far from the democratic destination. Theoretically, the approach taken in this research is to recognize the political institutions as organs through which political activities are carried out on behalf of the people. The approach also focused on how the relationship between citizens and these institutions provide a principal-agent related result. Methodologically, this paper adopted qualitative method of data collection for its analysis.
Effects of Insecurity on the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPS) in Northern Nigeria: Prognosis and Diagnosis
Northern Nigeria among other regions of the country has witnessed various degrees of insecurity with its resultant effect on the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), economic fortunes of the affected communities and overall standard of living of those living within the affected states. This has made security the major concern for Nigerian government and has invested huge resources to that effect. Insecurity in the north has not only prevented development of that region but also hinders foreign investment, disrupt social activities, peaceful coexistence and has become a great threat to the growth and development of the region in particular and Nigeria in general. This paper therefore, examined the insecurity situation in the Northern Nigeria and its effects on the IDPs.
