In the global arena of democracy, Nigeria’s recent positioning in the 2023 Democracy Index has sparked contemplation and concern.
The Democracy Index is a quantitative and comparative assessment of the quality of democracy in a country.
The main outcome of the Democracy Index is the creation of a ranking structure among states based on their democratic quality.
Setting the agenda and influencing the national political discourse, the Democracy Index has the potential to shape global perceptions of democracy, despite its imperfect methodology and ideological inclinations.
The Jurist Newspaper brings you fresh perspectives to Nigeria’s low ranking in the recently released democracy index.
Background
The Economist Intelligence Unit’s comprehensive assessment of democratic health across 165 independent states and two territories has placed Nigeria in a reflective stance, raising questions about the nation’s democratic path.
With an overall score of 4.23/10 and a rank of 104, Nigeria’s stance in the index emphasizes a sobering reality.
Despite being Africa’s most populous nation and having experienced over two decades of uninterrupted democratic governance, Nigeria finds itself confronting significant hurdles on its path towards robust democratic consolidation.
While the electoral process and pluralism receive a relatively higher score of 5.17, indicating some degree of electoral competitiveness and inclusivity, other dimensions paint a less optimistic picture.
The functioning of government, political participation, political culture, and civil liberties all reflect areas of concern, with scores ranging from 3.93, 3.89, 3.75 and 4.41 respectively.
Civil society can play an effective role in the democratization process. It can provide a linkage between democracy, environmental issues, people, and the state.
According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) ‘civil society is together with the state and market, one of the three spheres at the interface in the making of democratic societies.
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) act as a forum for people with common goals and interests to further develop democratic ideals, which in turn can lead to a more democratic state
Omoniyi Adeoye, a rights activist from the Resource Center for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), offered insight into Nigeria’s democratic challenges.
Adeoye highlighted significant discrepancies between the ideals of democracy and the realities experienced by Nigerians and the inconsistency between election outcomes and the will of the electorate, pointing to persistent allegations of electoral irregularities and manipulation.
Role of Civil Society in Nigeria`s democracy
According to Mr Adeoye, since the return to democracy in 1999, CSOs have continued to play pivotal roles in deepening Nigeria’s democratic culture and values.
“Some of the ways they have been doing this include election monitoring, citizens education, budget monitoring. Organizing protests and campaigns against or observing anti-democrat practices in government, petitions and public interest litigations among other things.
“A lot of CSOs are engaging in quite a number of initiatives aimed at addressing democratic deficits and human rights violations.
“For instance, CHRICED was the one that wrote a petition to the National Judicial Council that led to the slacking of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Samuel Onoghen in 2019.
“CHRICED is also presently working on a project to promote accountability and citizen’s participation in the planning, selection, and implementation of constituency projects in Kano State, among other initiatives and interventions.
“Also, organizations like the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) have consistently taken the government to court to challenge any observed infractions in government policies and actions.
“The engagement of the government with the Civil Society Sector is far short of what it ought to be in a democratic country like Nigeria. Most times, government officials see CSOs as spies trying to unravel government secrets.
“They see us as critics and enemies rather than as allies and partners in progress. This is perhaps the reason why they rarely want to work with CSOs, particularly those they know won’t compromise and allow themselves to be bought over by government officials,” Mr Adeoye added.
Legal perspective on Nigeria`s democracy
Barrister Abdulazeez Isah Umar, a legal practitioner based in Kano State, delved deeper into the intricacies of human rights in Nigeria.
Umar highlighted a disconnect between internationally recognized human rights standards and Nigeria’s legal framework, noting gaps in the protection of rights such as education, security, and environmental sustainability.
He further raised concerns about Nigeria’s constitutional framework, characterizing it as reminiscent of military decrees rather than democratic principles, calling for constitutional reforms to align Nigeria’s legal framework with contemporary human rights norms and aspirations.
Reflecting on the state of civil society in Nigeria, he lamented its co-option by opportunistic interests and the dearth of genuine human rights advocates.
He consequently bemoaned the commercialization of human rights advocacy within both civil society and the legal profession, stressing the need for a concerted effort to reinvigorate authentic human rights activism.
“The strengthening of the Department of State Service (DSS) in Nigeria was implemented to curtail or suppress, particularly, the freedom of speech. Freedom of assembly and association is allowed because it allows a few individuals to join forces with the oppressors.
“For the country to thrive, it has to do away with the constitution and form another one that is all-encompassing, reflects the desires of the majority, and is in line with global standards.
“Chapter two of the Constitution shall be added to the list of human rights; otherwise, we are light-years apart from global standards,” Barrister Umar said.
Nigeria must tackle its systemic challenges and plan for the future in light of the Democracy Index.
The road to a more robust and inclusive democracy may be fraught with obstacles, but the collective resolve to address these challenges offers hope for a brighter democratic future in Nigeria.