THE IMPACT OF THE ALL PROGRESSIVE CONGRESS ON THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF NIGERIA 2015-2017

Abstract

This study is on the impact of the All Progressive Congress on the socio-economic development of Nigeria 2015-2017. The total population for the study is 200 members of All Progressive Congress. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made up ward chairmen, ward secretaries, ward legal advisers and new members was used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies

 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background of the study

In March of 2015, Nigeria’s first democratic transfer of political power took place with the election of the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by Muhammadu Buhari. This affirms the progress that Nigeria has made since transitioning from military rule in 1999 and is symbolic of its shift from a relatively marginal regional actor into Africa’s largest economy. All the presidents Nigeria has had have their own goal before becoming the president of Nigeria, these differences ranges from the time of General Sani Abacha to the time of Buhari, all these are still for the better things to come for Nigeria. Most if not all African countries are still strangulating to attain a high degree or level in the socio-economic development of their various societies till today. Although, this failure have been always related to the external forces which most a time played insignificant role as the expense of forces or factors within, that are more harmful to the growth and socio-economic development of these countries. The most prominent among, is the inability of administrative leadership across these countries to tap, initiate and transform the societies in line with the resources (both human & Material) at their disposal within their geographical domain. In other words, the socio-economic development of any society is intemperately depending on the nature, character and pattern of its administration. For instance; Freedom, Christian & Temilola (2015) noted that in terms of resources, Nigeria is endowed with enormous natural and human resources sufficient to place it among the first 20 developed countries of the world. It is also the Africa’s largest producer of oil and the sixth largest oil producing country in the world. Yet, these has not been translated or reflected in the socio-economic conditions of the Nigerian citizens. Since independence to date, Nigeria witnessed fourteen different administrations with their concomitant implications on the structure of socio-economic development and well-being of the citizens across the country, despite its abundant human and natural resources. The return of civil rule in 1999 gave Nigerian citizens a high expectation that the new era of socio- economic development and welfare of citizens has came to stay, but today these expectations were defeated by the high level of poverty, unemployment, corruption, insecurity among others that deteriorated the inferior social, economic and well-being of the common men in the country. On one hand, the current administration under President Buhari’s leadership which is under the All progressive congress, during his campaign period vowed to end all the social and economic menaces if elected into office in 2015. On the other hand, many people believed that having assumed office he once occupied as a military officer and for which he contested four times, his administration is expected to urgently tackle several challenges that have besieged Nigeria over the last three decades (Freedom, et.al, 2015). However, things are even getting worse than expected especially considering the massive unemployed youths that are roaming the streets which contributed to the high level of poverty and different sort of crimes across the country. On this background the researcher wants to investigate on the impact of the All progressive congress on the socio-economic development of Nigeria 2015-2017

• STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The socio-economic of Nigeria have never being stable because of change in political administration; the pursuit for a particular vision changes which change in administration, the major problem here is the inability of the current administration to study the previous administration and see the best way to follow the proceedings in the country so as to perfect the previous administration. This is the major problem in Nigeria; difference in interest and in vision is another issue in Nigeria. A new administration is suppose to take over from where the past administration stopped; but at times in Nigeria the reverse is always the case if this issue can be resolved then the economy of Nigeria will be on a more favourable ground.

• OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The objectives of the study are;

1. To ascertain whether change in political administration have effect on the socio- economic development of Nigeria.
2. To ascertain the relationship between All progressive congress and socio-economic development
3. To ascertain whether All progressive congress really brought change in Nigeria
4. To ascertain whether there is socio-economic development in All progress congress era
   • RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

For the successful completion of the study, the following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher;

H₀: there is no relationship between All Progressive Congress and socio-economic development

H₁: there is relationship between All Progressive Congress and socio-economic development

H₀²: there is no socio-economic development in All progress congress era

H₂: there is socio-economic development in All progress congress era

• SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The research work will discuss the various challenges face the country through the change in political administration; the study will also reveal the effect of the change in political administration on the socio-economics of Nigeria. It will highlight the impact of effective rulership by the present administration. The study will further assist the present administration in making good decision that will affect the economy of Nigeria positively.

• SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The scope of the study covers the impact of the All Progressive Congress on the socio-economic development of Nigeria 2015-2017. The researcher encounters some constrain which limited the scope of the study;

1. a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study
2. b) TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.
3. c) Organizational privacy: Limited Access to the selected auditing firm makes it difficult to get all the necessary and required information concerning the activities.

• DEFINITION OF TERMS

ALL PROGRESSIVE CONGRESS: The All Progressives Congress is a political party in Nigeria, formed on 6 February 2013 in anticipation of the 2015 elections. APC candidate Muhammadu Buhari won the presidential election by almost 2.6 million votes

SOCIO-ECONOMIC: Socioeconomics is the social science that studies how economic activity affects and is shaped by social processes. In general it analyzes how societies progress, stagnate, or regress because of their local or regional economy, or the global economy

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Economic growth is the increase in the inflation-adjusted market value of the goods and services produced by an economy over time. It is conventionally measured as the percent rate of increase in real gross domestic product, or real GDP.