The Role of Constiution Building Processes in Democratization - Case Study Nigeria

This case study report was written by John Simpkins in 2004, published by International IDEA.

With over 130 million inhabitants, Nigeria is the giant of Africa. It boasts the oldest university on the continent. Members of the Nigerian diaspora have contributed to business, scientific, legal, medical, and artistic communities around the globe. Blessed with a wealth of natural and human resources, post-independence Nigeria seems ever poised to generate a wave of development across the continent. Prosperity always appears to be just around the corner. Unfortunately, prosperity has proven to be a condition that it always on its way yet never arrives. The same could be said of Nigerian democracy.

This case study examines the impact of the ongoing constitution building process on the problems currently facing Nigeria. It compares the 1979 constitution building process with the current process, which resulted in the 1999 Constitution. In addition, it discusses the roles of stakeholder groups in the current constitution building process, attempts to engender the 1999 Constitution, and the potential obstacles to constitutional reform.