The Challenges of Pluralism in Nigeria: The Case Study of the National Assembly

• In Event: Comparative Politics of Developing Countries Virtual Poster Session 2

Abstract

Nigeria is one of the most diverse states in the world. The diversity is evident in languages, ethnicity, religious and cultures among others. Similarly, socially, economically and politically some elements of diversity are visible. To accommodate all relevant interests, the amended 1999 constitution created 360 federal constituency seats for the 36 states of the federation. The slot of each state was proportional to its relative population strength. The senate has 108 members with three each from each state. The Federal Capital Territory has one senator. Despite the provisions for 468 members, the national assembly only appears to reflect the ethnic composition of the state. Other equally important elements especially like gender and disability among others are rarely reflected. To be sure, from 1999 to date, the highest percentage of women ever recorded in the national assembly was 7 percent in 2010. This has been on the decline ever since. By 2019, only 3.38 percent of members are women. the implication is that the voice of women is missing in the policy making arena. For the people living with disability, their interest is not represented because rarely does a disabled person get elected. Thus, this study will examine the challenges of pluralism in the Nigerian national assembly. In other words, why is the national assembly not reflecting the diversity of the society? The study will make use of secondary data to be generated from both library and internet. The data will be analyzed using qualitative and descriptive analysis. The study will argue that the national assembly has not been able to reflect the diversity of the society due to some constitutional, political, economic, social and psychological factors.

Authors

• Joseph Olayinka Fashagba, Federal University Lokoja

• Chiedo Nwankwor, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced Innterntional Studies