The Primary Purpose of Government in Nigeria: A Legal Survey

Abstract

Section 14(2) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 declares that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. In this declaration, the security and welfare of the people are conjunctively presented as a sole purpose. Accordingly, the primary purpose of government is seen as one but it has two interwoven limbs, namely: the security of the people and the welfare of the people. Notably, the deployment of the adjective “primary” in the said constitutional declaration suggests that the security and welfare of the people shall be the main or principal purpose of government in Nigeria. Failure of the government in this primary purpose will give birth to, if not tantamount to failure of the government in every other purpose because without the accomplishment of the primary purpose, the accomplishment of every other purpose of government shall be baseless, meaningless, hindered or frustrated. This paper evaluates the security and welfare of the people in Nigeria. The researcher found inter alia that the government has not prospered but has rather regrettably staggered or faltered in this principal purpose and this has given birth to several serious stumbling blocks in Nigeria including violence, insurgence, banditry, kidnapping, religious intolerance, and increase in crime rate. It is the researcher’s conclusion that security and welfare of the people as the primary purpose of government requires more than having many laws, many law enforcement agencies security agencies and or providing the basic amenities; the accomplishment of that purpose extends to taking prompt and strict measures against factors or things that undermine the welfare of people and trigger insecurity or criminalities. It is herein recommended inter alia that Nigeria should control her national economy in such manner as to secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen on the basis of social justice and equality of status and opportunity.