Democracy and the future of the Nigerian State

Abstract

Democracy gives citizens the opportunity to participate in government, which in turn promotes development. This paper examined democracy and the future of the Nigerian state. It observed that past governments failed in the area of development and peaceful co-existence of Nigerians due to their non-adherence to democratic values and application of the principle of true fiscal federalism. It therefore recommended that for the future of the Nigerian state to be guaranteed, government at all levels should imbibe a political democratic culture which promotes values such as popular participation of citizens in decision-making, fundamental human rights, a free press, the curbing of corruption, and above all, shunning of all anti-democratic vices in dealing with issues of the state and the application of the principle of true fiscal federalism. Without religious adherence to these ideals, then the future will be bleak for Nigeria as a nation.

KEYWORDS: Democracy, good governance, development, Nigerian state, human rights