Journal of Nation-building & Policy Studies - latest Issue

Historical conjecture from literature shows that the energy security discourse speaks predominantly about crude oil. Meanwhile, Nigeria is no doubt an oil revenue dependent economy. The socio-political and economic landscape is principally shaped by her oil economy. By implication, politics and governance play crucial roles in Nigeria,s energy security to hopefully produce favourable cost and optimum standard of living to citizens. Hence, an excursion into the best way to entrench energy security in order to deepen nation-building in Nigeria and development is without objection a worthy venture. This is exactly what the paper interrogates, which is to examine the inherent contradictions to oil security of Nigeria which derives from politics and governance that undermines nation-building and development. The paper also suggests policy directions and socio-political reforms that will alleviate negations to humanization that ought to flow from Nigeria's petroleum sector. Guided by Frank Parkin's and the World Bank's social closure and state capture theories respectively, the paper finds in particular that oil politics and governance overtime have not produced antinomies to energy insecurity in Nigeria. This reality derives from the experiences of the Niger Delta militancy, mutual ethnic suspicion in oil sector public appointments and the near absence of public confidence in oil public policies. It concludes that the major path to achieve energy security in Nigeria is to advance participatory governance, thus recommending a governance paradigm which highly incorporates openness, equity and transparency in the government-citizens' relations, particularly with the aspirations of oil producing communities.

The research examines factors that encourage and stimulate the culture of vote buying in Nigeria electoral process. It will also examine the implications of vote buying on the development of modern democratic values. Because of the complex nature of vote buying, the study makes use of qualitative techniques in the analysis of data. The data were collected using secondary method and the tools of content analysis were used to analyze the data generated. One of the greatest threat to the promotion and sustenance of principles of free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria is the strategic use of money, material and resources by political actors to influence the outcome of an election and the political choice of voters. The research reveals that vote buying is a means to an end to determine who gets what, when and how in the electoral process and structure. In 2019 election, under the guise of militarization, ballot box snatching and electoral violence, vote buying norms and tactics were strategically implemented and consolidated. Thus, vote buying provides the mechanism for self-seeking, unpopular and incompetent actors to win elections at all strata of the political system. Hence it has become an instrument of deceit and manipulation carried out with a clear vision and goal in mind. The study concludes that vote buying is a catalyst that determines who gets the highest or lowest number of votes in an election, when and how. Therefore, we recommend that the ban on the use of smart phones by voters in the voting cubicle be strictly implemented by security operatives and electoral officers.

The issue of identity politics and how it affects nation building is one that calls for academic inquiry into the subject matter. This is because Africa as a continent, unlike its colonial masters, is made up of heterogeneous communities with different cultures, religions and languages. The multiplicity of these ethnic groups has continued to generate crisis especially as regards the collective development of the nation. Specifically, the process of allocation and sharing of socio-economic and political benefits in any political system can be seen to fuel politics of identity as various ethnic groups struggle for the authoritative allocations of value to the interest of their own ethnic group. Using qualitative, historical and analytical method, the study investigates how politics of identity practiced by the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria (Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa) and other tribes have affected nation building. It found that Nigerians see themselves as part of an ethnic group before seeing themselves as Nigerians. The paper concludes that if Nigeria is to develop into a strong and vibrant nation in the world, ethnic politics would have to give way for an inclusive politics where the interest of every ethnic group will be well represented.

Population is very vital to the government for nation building of a country especially, Nigeria. Nigeria's population has been contentious and politicized since colonial times. Census statistics embodies an essential database prerequisite for measuring the physical and social well-being of a nation's population. Hence, for any country to realize its development potentials, it requires a comprehensive population database support to guide its socioeconomic programmes, planning and implementation. The fusses in Nigeria census steered the cancellation of the 1962 general population census which was repeated in 1963.The Population of an area is considered a political weapon, a condition desiderata for provision of amenities, infrastructure and in fact, guides wealth allocations and fiscal planning. Regrettably, Nigeria is yet to produce an acceptable and satisfactory demographic data for infrastructural development and nation building. Scholars of Nigerian history appear not to have paid adequate attention to nation building in Nigeria as a result of inaccurate population database. Hence, this paper is an attempt in the direction. It contends that over politicization of population census is a major challenge to nation building in Nigeria. It explores the nexus between population census and democracy; and how it affects the nation building. These challenges inter-alia include building strong institution for democracy, equitable distribution of amenities, justice and equality of life for all Nigerians among other issues. Information from both primary and secondary sources was used while the approach is inter-disciplinary. Qualitative research methodology was adopted for effective analyses. The conclusion is interspersed with some recommendations.

This study examined the effects of Public Accountability on Rural Development in Ebonyi State Local Government Councils, (2006-2014). Local government in Nigeria, especially in Ebonyi State has become the means through which operators such as politicians and bureaucrats at the local levels enrich themselves through diversion of public fund to personal accounts for personal use and manipulation of budgetary process which has in most cases led to budget perversions at the local levels. The specific objectives are: to determine the extent at which budget perversion during implementation affects rural development in Ebonyi State; to examine the degree at which compliance to due process in contract award affects Rural Development in Ebonyi State; and to determine the level at which Legislative Oversight on Local Government affects Rural Development in Ebonyi State. The adopted design for the study is the Descriptive Survey while the researcher adopted sample size of 400 which were determined using Taro Yamane formular. Primary data complemented secondary data to explain and analyze phenomena relating to public accountability and rural development in Ebonyi State. The study anchored on Goldberg (1965) Commander Theory. Test re-test of testing reliability of instrument was employed and Cronbach Alpha method was used to establish the reliability coefficient values of the item statements in the questionnaire. The research questions were answered using statistically weighted mean and hypotheses were tested using Pearson Movement Correlation. Findings of the study show among other things that: Perversion of budget during implementation by local government leaders created impediments to public accountability and rural development in Ebonyi State. This study therefore recommended among other things that:- There should be a mechanism designed to ensue that budgets are not perverted during implementation by leaders at the local levels in Ebonyi State. This mechanism can be a combination of efforts of the Local Government Audit Department, Office of the State Auditor-General, the Press and Civil Society Organizations who should rise up to their statutory duties of overseeing the Local Government accounts and expenditure profiles through various audit and press alarms. Also, there should be stringent measures to ensure adherence to due process in contract award in the Local Government system in Ebonyi State. This stringent measure can come in form of joint taskforce of Public Accounts Committee of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, the Antigraft Agencies and Security Agents who would from time to time monitor the monthly allocations to the local councils in the state in order to ensure that Local Government leaders are accountable to the people through provision of various rural development projects.

The Deuteronomic formulae reveals that obedience attracts prosperity and disobedience causes destruction. The idea has guided Israel and her children for decades. However, by the seventh century B.C, Habakkuk witnessed a reverse. The wicked were prospering while the righteous were suffering. There was injustice in the land. The environment of God's people was polluted. He, but, had to cry in agony unto the Lord against violence that had bedeviled the society. The environment was in-conducive as found in many parts of the globe including Africa. Insecurity ensued as is witnessed in the Nigerian state y today. This work considers the historical background of Habakkuk 1:1-4 vis-à-vis our contemporary society. There are concrete evidences that depict injustice as a core contributor to insecurity. Its rippling effect is felt in our social institutions and communities. Its dismembering effect is felt in our revered cultural values and our over flowing love in our world view; „anya bewe imi ebewe' (when the eye cries, the nose cries). Its concomitant effect is evident in the collapse being experienced in various segments and sectors of our society which has brooded and hatched crimes of various nature and degree. The study adopts African cultural Hermeneutical approach, which was juxtaposed with phenomenological approach as a theologian. Thus, this study submits that when the godly and the law abiding emulate Habakkuk in crying unto the Lord patiently and encourage African Biblical communal life, and the Church positions herself as prophet of reconstruction and transformation, and pray for visionary leaders to emerge; then we would have unveiled the solution to both social injustice and insecurity in our society, and foster nation building.

The place of environment in societal building cannot be neglected. The environment is fundamental in the attainment of the corporate goals of every state. It is within the environment that other forms of developmental activities are planted. Over the years, plants and animals have been on the receiving end as they suffer from the negative impacts of development. This study which used ethnographic and other qualitative method, focuses on the legal frameworks and conventions that ensure the protection of plants and animals. It found that these plants have not been effectively managed for national transformation. The study recommends the holistic implementation of the legislations that will lead to the transformation of plants and animals within their habitat.

The Nigerian human development index on health have been rated low due to unnecessary morbidities and mortalities. Even though multiple actors are engaged in health delivery, emphasis on the government as primary health providers overshadowed or dwarfed the immense potentials of the Non- Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in health delivery. This study assesses the roles of NGOs' health care services, the impact, strategies and constraints using the NGOs managers and government stakeholders. The study adopted qualitative approach. Data were collected using in-depth interviews conducted with NGOs managers and government stakeholders. Qualitative data was content analysed for themes relating to NGOs health care, strategies and constraints. The NGOs contribute and enhance health care services through collaboration with other non-state actors and government. The problem of funding and sustainability hamper effective NGOs' health delivery. Multisectoral collaboration is severely hampered. Thus, to harness the potential of multi-sectoral participation, all actors' collaboration is required.