Article Sidebar
Published:
Dec 1, 2023Keywords:
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright to submitted papers when accepted is transferred to the journal, together with the associated reproduction rights. The Publisher reserves the right to alter the text to suit the journal style, particularly in terms of punctuation, spelling and usage. If submitted article contains any material whose copyright (s) are held by other parties, then the author is required to have obtained all the necessary clearances or permissions and show evidence of having done so. Such permission must be sought for citations of text more than fifty words in length, figures/illustrations and/or tables originating or derived (adapted) from other sources.
Main Article Content
Challenges of Shrinking Civic Space and the Path towards Sustainable Democracy in Nigeria: Lessons from the President Muhammadu Buhari Administration
Abstract
This paper examines the experienced challenges of shrinking civic space and the path towards sustainable democracy in Nigeria during the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. It discusses the etymology and problems of shrinking civic space in Nigeria under democratic dispensation. The paper also highlights the potential consequences and some practical instances of shrunk civic spaces during Buhari’s administration. It goes further to link the concept, roles, setbacks and examples of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)and how they attempted to promote and safeguard civil space. The paper identifies the connectivity between Marxism and Liberalism theory in the Nigerian civic space and highlights the efforts made by these theories to address the shrinking of civil space. Furthermore, it presents a comprehensive analysis of the prospects and challenges of the civic space in Nigeria and provides steps for policy reforms as a roadmap towards achieving sustainable democracy. The researchers recommend amongst others that the government should prioritize transparency and accountability in its actions and policies. This could be done by promoting access to information and ensuring that public officials are held accountable for their actions and combating corruption. By promoting transparency and accountability, the government is most likely to build trust with citizens, strengthen democratic institutions, and create an environment conducive to sustainable democracy in Nigeria.
