DEVELOPMENT OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN NIGERIA

SS 3

GOVERNMENT

FIRST TERM

 

LESSON NOTE SCHEME OF WORK

 

WEEKLY LESSON NOTE 

 

 

WEEK 5

 

TOPIC:

DEVELOPMENT OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN NIGERIA

 

 

CONTENT

 

a.       Social Democratic Party (SDP): Structural organization, sources of finance, objectives and performance.

b.       National Republican Convention (NRC): Formation, structural organization, sources of finance, objectives and performance.

 

SUBTOPIC 1

 

SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY (SDP) AND NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONVENTION

 

A.     FORMATION: The military government headed by General Ibrahim Babangida came to power in 1995. By 1986, the government set up a transition programme which was its process of handling power over to civilians and politicians. After the failure of the associations that applied for registration, the government set up the National Republican Convention (NRC) and social Democratic party (SDP) in 1989.

 

The main reason for establishing the two parties was to bring government closer to the people at the grassroots, socio economic mobilization, and which would establish a platform for new leadership and give equal rights and opportunities to all Nigerians to participate in the political process. The two system was also adopted to curtail the intra-party conflicts and alliances.

 

B.      Structural Organization of SDP and NRC: Membership of the parties was open to every citizen of Nigeria irrespective of the person’s religion, ethnic group place birth, sex social or ceramic status. It was mandatory for any willing person that wanted to form any of the parties to register as a member of the party of his choice, at the ward in which he/she resided. Such a person must be 18 years and above.

 

The organization of the parties, SDP and NRC which were of four levels was as follows:

 

i.     The ward

 

ii.    Local government area

 

iii.  The state

 

iv.   The national level.

 

The constitutions of the parties also provided for a functioning party secretariat at the above levels of the party or organisation. The organizational structure of the parties SDP and NRC was as follow:

 

i.     Ward executive committee

 

ii.    Ward congress

 

iii.  Local government area executive committee

 

iv.   Local government area congress

 

v.    State executive committee

 

vi.   State congress

 

vii. National executive committee

 

iix. National convention

 

EVALUATION

 

1.       Trace the history of NRC and SDP.

 

2.       What are the four levels of organization of NRC and SDP. Discuss each level in detail.

3. Explain the objectives and performance of NRC and SDP.

4. What are some of the challenges faced by NRC and SDP? How were these challenges addressed?

5. What impact did the formation of NRC and SDP have on Nigerian

 

SUBTOPIC 2:

Source of Finance of SDP and NRC

 

Since the two political parties were formed by the government, their major source of finance was government subvention, however, the constitution of the parties mandated each party members to pay the prescribed annual membership fees as may be levied by the party.

 

The decree that set up the parties also made provisions for contributions by party sympathisers. Although contributions were acceptable, no individual or organisation could donate or contribute more than N100,000 in a given year to a party or N50,000 to a party candidate.

 

i.         Objectives (Manifestos of the NRC)

 

The manifestos of the NRC were rooted in the free enterprise economy in which individuals would be allowed to participate, owning business of their choice. Thus the party hoped to build for the country a system of political economy created substantially on individual initiative open choices and a free, competitive market.

 

ii.       Objectives (Manifestos of the SDP)

 

The manifestos of SDP stated that government of SDP would strive to build a self-reliant economy that would develop on the strength of the nation’s resources and by the efforts of the people. The party planned to pursue this objective by making the state play a leading role in reliant and just society. It also planned to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor through an equitable income distribution policy and by providing full, gainful employment for all citizens

 

Performance (Achievement) of SDP.

 

i.     It sponsored candidates for elections between 1991 – 1993

 

ii.    The party contested and won many local government elections and elections into state and federal parliaments. Also the party won gubernatorial elections in many states of the federation, but it is assumed that it lost the annulled presidential election of 1993

iii.  It promoted participatory democracy at all levels of government between 1991-1993

 

iv.   It won many gubernatorial elections to its credit and its presidential hopeful chief M.K.O Abiola was leading the presidential election of June 12, 1993 with majority votes from most states was annulled by General Ibrahim Babangida.

 

Performance (Achievement) of NRC

 

1.       It sponsored candidate for elections between 1991-1993.

 

2.       The party contested and won many local government elections in many states and federal

 

parliaments. Also, the party won gubernatorial elections in many states of the federation, but it is assumed that it lost the annulled presidential election of 1993.

3.       It promoted participatory democracy at all levels of government between 1991 and 1993.

 

EVALUATION

 

1.       Write three performances of SDP.

 

2.       What were the achievements of NRC?

3. How did the parties contribute to democracy in Nigeria?

4. Discuss the impact that SDP and NRC have had on Nigerian politics and society.

5. What lessons can be learned from the successes and failures of the two parties? How can these lessons inform the formation of future political parties

GENERAL EVALUATION

 

1.       What was the target of Babangida administration behind the founding of NRC and SDP?

 

2.       Explain the manifestoes of SDP.

 

3.       Explain the organization structures of SDP and NRC.

 

4.       What were the achievements of NRC

 

5.       How were NRC and SDP funded?

 

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

 

1.    The two political parties during the third republic were (a) NRC and NPP (b) SDP and NRC (c) UPN and NRC (d) GNPP and NAP

2.    The presidential candidate on the platform of SDP believed to have won June 12 1993 presidential election was (a) Chief MKO Abiola (b) Alhaji Sheu Shagari (c) Alhaji Waziri Danzuki (d) Chief Omololu Olunloyo

3.    The major source of funding of the two parties – NRC and SDP, was (a) Federal Government grant (b) council tax (c) monthly allocation from crude oil (d) collections from the masses

4.    SDP and NRC lasted between (a) 1998 and 2000 (b) 2005 and 2010 (c) 1967 and 1970 (d) 2009 and 2012

 

5.    NRC mean (a) National Republican Convention (b) Nigerian Redemption Council (c) Nigerian Reactivation Congress (d) New Revolution of the Country

6. Discuss the impact that SDP and NRC have had on Nigerian politics and society.

7. How can we learn from the successes and failures of these two parties? How can these lessons inform the formation of future political parties in Nigeria?

 

READING ASSIGNMENT: Read Comprehensive Government for Senior Secondary Schools by Johnson Ugoji Anyaele (2003).Pages 180 – 181.

 

PRE-READING ASSIGNMENT: Read about the fourth republic political parties.