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MPA841Management Sciences2 Unitsintermediate

Nigerian Government And Politics

This course provides an overview of Nigerian government and politics from the pre-colonial era to the present. It explores the historical background, political and constitutional development, and contending issues within the Nigerian state. Key topics include military rule, revenue allocation, ethnicity, religion, democracy, public administration, and foreign policy. The course aims to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of governance and the challenges facing Nigeria.

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54h

Study Time

13

Weeks

4h

Per Week

none

Math Level

Course Keywords

Nigerian GovernmentPoliticsFederalismRevenue AllocationConstitutional Development

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level

Builds on foundational knowledge

65%

intermediate

📚

Math Level

No Math

📖

Learning Type

Theoretical Focus

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Historical Background of Nigerian Politics

2

Constitutional Development in Nigeria

3

Military Rule in Nigeria

4

Revenue Allocation

5

Ethnicity and Religion in Nigerian Politics

6

Democracy and Decentralization

7

Public Administration and Civil Service

8

Local Government Administration

9

Nigeria's Foreign Policy

Total Topics9 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

tutor-marked assessments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

final examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Public Administrator

Apply your skills in this growing field

Policy Analyst

Apply your skills in this growing field

Political Scientist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Diplomat

Apply your skills in this growing field

Local Government Officer

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

GovernmentPublic SectorInternational RelationsNon-profit OrganizationsCivil Service

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week

1

Module 1: Introduction

2h

Unit 1: Overview of Nigerian Government and Politics

2 study hours

•Read the introduction and objectives to understand the scope of Nigerian government and politics.
•Study the historical background, focusing on the pre-colonial and colonial eras.
•Analyze the overview of political and constitutional development in Nigeria.

Week

2

Module 1: Introduction

2h

Unit 2: Historical Analysis of the Nigerian State: Pre Colonial Era

2 study hours

•Examine the pre-colonial political systems of the Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa-Fulani ethnic groups.
•Analyze the judicial administration and roles of traditional rulers in each system.
•Compare the political systems of the three ethnic groups.

Week

3

Module 1: Introduction

2h

Unit 3: Historical Analysis of the Nigerian State: Colonial Era

2 study hours

•Define colonialism and indirect rule, and identify the main features of indirect rule.
•Analyze the reasons for adopting the indirect rule system in Nigeria.
•Examine the advantages and disadvantages of indirect rule in Western, Eastern and Northern Nigeria.

Week

4

Module 1: Introduction

2h

Unit 4: Pre Independence Constitutions or Constitutional Development in Nigeria I

2 study hours

•Study the features of colonial administration in British West Africa.
•Analyze the Clifford Constitution of 1922, including its strengths and weaknesses.
•Examine the Richards Constitution of 1946, including its strengths and weaknesses.

Week

5

Module 2: Constitutional Framework

4h

Unit 5: Independence an Post Independence Constitutions or Constitutional Development in Nigeria II

2 study hours

•Study the main features of the McPherson Constitution of 1951 and the Lyttleton Constitution of 1954.
•Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of both constitutions.
•Understand the historical context and impact of these constitutions on Nigeria's path to independence.

Unit 6: Republic Constitution

2 study hours

•Examine the historical background and main features of the Republican Constitution of 1963.
•Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the constitution.
•Understand the significance of Nigeria becoming a republic.

Week

6

Module 2: Constitutional Framework

3h

Unit 7: Presidential Constitution

3 study hours

•Study the historical background and main features of the Presidential Constitution of 1979.
•Analyze the functions of the President under this constitution.
•Compare the Republican Constitution of 1963 with the Presidential Constitution of 1979.

Week

7

Module 2: Constitutional Framework

3h

Unit 8: Military Rule in Nigeria

3 study hours

•Examine the historical background and characteristics of military rule in Nigeria.
•Analyze the reasons for military intervention and the structure of military government.
•Understand the strengths and weaknesses of military rule and how to prevent future interventions.

Week

8

Module 3: Contending Issues

4h

Unit 9: Revenue Allocation in Nigeria

2 study hours

•Examine the principles of revenue allocation in Nigeria.
•Analyze the various revenue allocation commissions and their recommendations.
•Understand the challenges and complexities of revenue sharing in Nigeria.

Unit 10: Origin and Evolution of Federation or Federalism in Nigeria

2 study hours

•Define federalism and trace the origin and evolution of federalism in Nigeria.
•Analyze the main features and structure of Nigerian federalism.
•Understand the factors responsible for federalism and the problems it faces.

Week

9

Module 3: Contending Issues

3h

Unit 11: State Creation in Nigeria

3 study hours

•Analyze the nature of the Nigerian state and the history of state creation.
•Understand the relationship between state creation and national integration.
•Examine the reasons for the continuous demand for the creation of more states.

Week

10

Module 3: Contending Issues

3h

Unit 12: Ethnicity in Nigeria

3 study hours

•Define ethnicity and analyze its causes and effects in Nigeria.
•Understand the role of poverty, manipulation, and self-determination in ethnic conflicts.
•Examine the impact of illiteracy, over-centralization, colonial policies, and military rule on ethnicity.

Week

11

Module 3: Contending Issues

3h

Unit 13: Religion and Political Instability in Nigeria

3 study hours

•Analyze the concept of religion and its impact on political instability in Nigeria.
•Examine the issues of Sharia, communal clashes, secularism, and fundamentalism.
•Understand the role of illusions and mutual suspicions in religious conflicts.

Week

12

Module 3: Contending Issues

3h

Unit 14: Democracy and Decentralization

3 study hours

•Define democracy and decentralization and analyze their relationship.
•Understand the characteristics of democracy and the conditions necessary for its effective operation.
•Examine the types of decentralization and the reasons for its adoption.

Week

13

Module 3: Contending Issues

8h

Unit 15: Public Administration and the Civil Service

2 study hours

•Describe the structure and organization of public administration and the civil service.
•Trace the origin and growth of the Nigerian civil service.
•Analyze the functions and problems of the civil service and suggest ways for its improvement.

Unit 16: Local Government Administration in Nigeria

2 study hours

•Define local government and discuss its theories.
•Analyze the structure, reasons for creation, and functions of local government.
•Understand the sources of local government revenue and the problems it faces.

Unit 17: Local Government Reforms in Nigeria

2 study hours

•Analyze the various local government reforms in Nigeria, including the 1976, 1984/85, 1988, and 1991 reforms.
•Understand the reasons for reviewing the local government systems.
•Evaluate the impact of these reforms on local government administration.

Unit 18: Nigeria's Foreign P9olicy and Relations

2 study hours

•Define foreign policy and analyze the aims and objectives of Nigeria's foreign policy.
•Understand the major features and determinants of Nigeria's foreign policy.
•Examine the instruments used to implement Nigeria's foreign policy.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

Read the complete course material as provided by NOUN.

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Create a timeline of key constitutional developments from pre-colonial times to the present, focusing on the major changes and their impacts.

2

Develop concept maps linking the causes and consequences of military interventions in Nigerian politics, referencing specific coups and their outcomes.

3

Practice analyzing case studies of revenue allocation disputes, identifying the competing interests and potential solutions.

4

Prepare detailed notes on the major ethnic groups in Nigeria, their historical grievances, and their impact on political stability.

5

Review the functions of local government and the challenges they face in delivering services to rural communities, focusing on case studies of successful and unsuccessful initiatives.

6

Outline the key objectives and instruments of Nigeria's foreign policy, and analyze their effectiveness in promoting national interests in a globalized world.

7

Focus on understanding the structure of the Nigerian government, including the roles and responsibilities of different branches and levels of government.

8

Create flashcards for key terms and concepts related to Nigerian government and politics, such as federalism, secularism, and decentralization.

9

Practice essay questions that require you to analyze and synthesize information from multiple units, such as the relationship between ethnicity and political instability.

10

Allocate your study time effectively, focusing on the units that you find most challenging and reviewing the material regularly to reinforce your understanding.

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