Democracy and Inequality in Nigeria. Issue 1 (March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Umukoro, Nathaniel
• Is Part Of: Journal of developing societies. Volume 30:Issue 1(2014)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 24
• Publication Date: 2014-03
• Subjects: democracy -- inequality -- gender inequality -- Nigeria -- poverty; Developing countries -- Politics and government -- Periodicals; Developing countries -- Social conditions -- Periodicals; Developing countries -- History -- Periodicals; 909.09724
• DOI: 10.1177/0169796X13516340
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0169-796X

Abstract

Increasing inequality in Nigeria has been of growing interest to scholars, international political observers, and the Nigerian public since the creation of the country in 1914 by the British colonial masters. The focus of this article is on the extent to which the practice of democracy in Nigeria's Fourth Republic has contributed to the reduction of inequality. The article begins with the dimensions of inequality in Nigeria. The study shows that democratic governance has not adequately bridged the inequality gap in country. The article further identifies reasons for the failure of democratic governance to address the problem of inequality successfully. It also discusses reactions of Nigerians to widespread inequality.