Download complete project material on Assessment Of Public Policies In Nigeria As Products Of Public Opinion from chapter one to five
1.0 INTRODUCTION
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1.1 Background of the Study.
Since independence in 1960 in Nigeria, different governments have embraced one programme or another. The research work is to examine the activities of the public opinion on public policy from 2011-2016, hence, narrowing it down to an economic reform policy of the deregulation of the downstream oil sector in Nigeria, also known as the fuel subsidy removal in Nigeria.
Nigeria is a democratic nation and one of the principles of democracy is the operation of fundamental human rights, which of cause allows for the freedom of speech, which is on the view of the majority, influencing governmental decisions.
Public policy as applied to politics is seen as a statement of a principle with their supporting rules of action, that conditions and governs the achievement of their goals. Government usually engages in different programmes, as the government is the authoritative body because they are backed up by the law.
Government also has both power and authority to execute their duties and also ensure compliance. These programs are directed towards solving a particular programmes or preempting them. Therefore, programmes are not just made for fun of making them; they are made to solve the societal needs. They entail the expenditure of public funds.
Before colonialization, the economies of the different kingdoms that now constitute the Nigeria political entity were based on agriculture. Since independence in 1960, the role of agriculture in the economy of Nigeria has been on the downward trend with regards to its contribution to GDP. Its share to GDP fell from 61.5% in 1963/1964 to 14.6% in 1983.
This has been partly due to the emergence of oil. Reynolds (1975) argued that agricultural development can promote economic development of the underdeveloped countries in four different ways:
1. By increasing the supply of food available for domestic consumption and realizing the needed labour for industrial employment.
2. By enlarging the size of the domestic market for the manufacturing sectors.
3. By increasing the supply of domestic savings
4. By providing the foreign exchange earned by agricultural exports.
Since the discovery of oil, which earns Nigeria foreign exchange, agriculture has been abandoned. Exploration for crude petroleum oil in Nigeria first began in 1980. But serious and sustained efforts did not happen until shell Darcy petroleum Company commenced operations in 1935.
It took this company more twenty years to discover petroleum crude oil in commercial quantities in Oloibiri in 1956. Nevertheless, oil price has never been satiable in the country as successive governments keep adjusting the price upwards beyond the affordability of the common citizens of the oil producing country. Like in the price of petroleum products is a global phenomena problem in the international market.
Specifically, oil prices in Nigeria have been on a continuous increase since the beginning of 2004 and this has happened despite the organization of petroleum Exporting countries (OPEC) increase in its oil output. Earlier in 2004, the run up in oil price was attributed to surging demand for petroleum products due to global economy. Then, it was the unrest in Nigeria. Concerning the security of oil, supplies have heightened more recently. Nigeria is the sixth oil producing nation in the world.
The subsidy removal on fuel has increase the price of oil. In the past, the increase in price occurred mostly in the extent of disruption to oil supply. Now, the deregulation policy has heightened the price of oil disruption of oil supply. There is concern the current step rise in the price of oil as a result of the removal of subsidy on fuel could have an adverse impact on the Nigeria economy; that is currently on road to recovery and expansion.
When oil is expensive, people try to use less of it. They may reduce the amount they derive on reduce the temperature to which they heat their houses, which their minor economies will have little or nothing on consumption Higher have less money to spend on other things. This reduces because most goods and services the consumer would have bought have required the use of oil for their production and delivery.
If higher oil prices reduce consumer demand very much manufacturers and retails will find that their profits suffer and that they have surplus capacity. They will therefore, deter their plans for expansion. This will result in very large energy savings because work is energy intensive.
This study therefore, attempts to assess the impact of public opinion on public policy in Nigeria, using the deregulation of the downstream oil sector or oil subsidy removal as our analytical focus.
1.2 Statement of the Problems
It is obvious that the present democratic rule in Nigeria has witnessed increase price increase of petroleum products more than during the past military administrations.
Since independence, successive governments in Nigeria have embarked on various policies geared towards developing their country. The first development plan was carried out during the year of Abubakr Tafawa Belewa (1962-1968), the second was during the era of General Yakubu Gowon (1970-1974), the third was during the era of General Murtala Mohammed (1975-1980), Green Revolution by the government of General Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Shehu Shagari 91981-1985) carried out the operation Feed the Nation Policy (OFN), War Against Indiscipline (WAI) was carried out by the government of general Mohammed Buhari in 1989, General Ibrahim Babangida carried out the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) between 1990and 1992, General Sani Abacha carried out the policy on War Against indiscipline and Corruption in 1997.
At the advert of democratic rule in 1999, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo embarked on economic reform pregramme, encapsulated in the privatization, liberalization and deregulation programmes, while the current president Muhammadu Buhari brings about the Policy of Treasury Single Account and declared fight against insurgency and corrupt practices.
Notwithstanding, these array of programmes, Nigeria is still looking for a better way for advancement and development as none of these economic reforms of the country. Deregulation of the downstream sector started during Obasanjo‘s regime as an economic told that will enhance or foster development. This was justified on the grand that the downstream sector or the oil sector is riddled with corruption as a result of mismanagement and inefficiency.
Some Nigerians especially the political observers see it as a good step that will save Nigeria from her present economic problems. Other see it as a means whereby few people will benefit, which a large number of the citizens will not, instead, it will be detriment to them. To some scholars also, it is a channel for development while other sees it as a new way or means of penetrating and exploiting Nigeria by the western world. None has however emphasized the role of public opinion in influencing the formulation or abrogation of public policies to assuage the yearning of the populace.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
This work is channeled at the critical examination and analysis of the impact of public opinion on public policy.
Specifically, the study intends to:-
1. To ascertain if public policies in Nigeria are products of public opinion.
2. To ascertain the impact of public opinion in public policies in Nigeria.
3. To determine if the deregulation of the downstream oil sector is a panacea to poverty and underdevelopment in Nigeria.
1.4 Research Questions
This research work therefore attempts to fill this gap to the extent liter by seeking answers to the following questions:
1. Are public policies in Nigeria a product of public opinion?
2. To what extent has public opinion impacted on public policies in Nigeria?
3. Is the deregulation of the downstream oil sector a panacea to poverty and underdevelopment in Nigeria?
1.5 Statement of Hypotheses
Drawing from the forgoing, the study will be enriched in the following:-
1. Public policies in Nigeria are products of public opinion.
2. Public opinion seems to influence public policies in Nigeria.
3. Deregulation policy may aggravate poverty and underdevelopment in Nigeria.
1.6 Significance of the Study
Recently in Nigeria, public policies have affected the lives of the Nigerian people. The work optimistically will be of great value to the contributors of literature on policy formulation in Nigeria. Therefore, it is to inspire and guide researchers who in the future want to enroll in more studies.
This work will help policy makers and executors to consider their nation while attempting to make policies in Nigeria as well as other nations. With this, it is believed that the study will contribute to the economic, political, educational, social development of Nigeria, hence beneficial to the Nigeria public.
1.7 Scope and Limitations of the Study
The research work is on the fuel subsidy policy or the deregulation of the downstream oil sector that was adopted by the federal government of Nigeria, to takes effect 2011 to 2016. The work is therefore to examine on the impact of the policy on the lives of Nigeria masses as well as the problem of the policy.
1.8 Method of Data Collection/Analysis
Data will be gathered from text books, articles, magazines, internet materials, Newspapers as well as published and unpublished writings, records and documentaries, (secondary source). While the qualitative method will be the method of data analysis.
1.9 Definition of Terms
Deregulation: The act or process of removing or reducing state regulations.
Subsidy: A benefit given by the government, usually in form of a cash payment or reduction.
Public policy: A system of laws, regulatory measures, course of action, and funding priorities concerning a given topic promulgated by a government entity on its representatives.
Multi National Companies: A corporation that has its facilities and other assets in at least one country that its home country. Such companies have offices and/or factories in different countries and usually have a centralized head office where they co-ordinate global management. Very large multi nationals have budgets that exceed those of small countries. And most times, they come inform of foreign investors.
Underdeveloped or Less developed Countries (LDCS): Consist of the countries of the third world of Africa, Asia and lain America that are referred to as agricultural because they rely on agriculture and have little or no industries, for manufacturing. Charactersied with:
1. Economic. Financial, technological and cultural dependency.
2. Lots of import substitution industries which depend on external resources.
3. Poverty
4. High level of child mortality
5. Unemployment
6. Political instability
7. Malnutrition
Developed Countries: They are also known as the advances countries of Europe and Western America. They are called industrialized countries because of their advanced technology. They are often characterized by the following:
1. High level of employment
2. Self-reliance
3. Independent control of economy
4. Self-sufficiency in food production.
5. Increase in the ability to guard national independence
Economic Policy: It is a guideline, used in the economic development of a nation. Example, Structural Adjustment programme (SAP), deregulation of the downstream oil sector etc.
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