Institutional Reform and Nigerian Economy

An Appraisal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

Abstract

The deplorable socio-economic condition of Nigeria has attracted global attention. Most scholars allude the cause of the Nigerian socio-economic trajectory to institutional crisis and poor leadership recruitment process. The title of this research, therefore, is the Institutional Reform and Nigerian Economy: An appraisal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).  The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between electoral institutional reform and economic development in Nigeria. The study relied on secondary sources of data such as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), Electoral Acts, textbooks, journals, conferences proceedings, workshops, newspapers and the internet. The various forms of electoral manipulation, violence and crisis that have characterized Nigerian elections are reviewed. The composition of the Electoral Management Bodies (EMB) of Nigeria is juxtaposed with the EMB of other thriving democracies and the state of their economies. Findings show that (a). The economy of any country is a dependent variable that has a direct correlation with the quality of its elections. (b)  That the process of appointing members of EMB does not guarantee institutional autonomy, for example, the INEC. (c) Following the (b) above, the expected impartiality and credibility expected of electoral bodies fall below standards, etc. The study concludes that the Nigerian electoral system must be reformed to drive good governance and sustainable economic development. Recommendations include: (a) A credible electoral body that is drawn from the civil society. (b) The tenure of the members of the electoral body is not subject to the whims and caprices of the executive.(c) The funding of the electoral body should be charged to the Consolidated Revenue Fund, etc.