Traditional Institutions and the Democratisation Process in Nigeria (2015-2020)

ABSTRACT

The research project titled “Traditional Institutions and Democratization process in Nigeria 2015-2020, was guided by three research objectives; to find out contributions of traditional institutions in Nigeria democratic process, to investigate the relationship between traditional institutions and modern day democracy; to discover challenges facing traditional institutions within the Nigeria democratic space. The research adopted descriptive survey and Purposive sampling was used for the determination of the appropriate sample size from the population of the study. A total sample of 400 copies of questionnaire were administered using five Likert Scale. Frequency and percentages were used for analysis of the returned and valid copies of questionnaire completed by the respondents. Chi-Square was also used to analyse the semi structured interviews. The results from the test of hypotheses showed that; the calculated value of x2 = 20.000 was greater than the table value of x2 = 7.81, it was therefore expected to reject the null hypothesis and accept the alternative hypothesis. This shows from the statistical significance indicated that traditional institutions contribute to Nigeria democratic process. It was also observed from the study from calculated value of x2 = 30.000 being greater than the table value of x2 = 7.81 in H2, which indicates rejecting the null hypothesis and accepting the alternative hypothesis of  relationship between traditional institution and modern day democracy in Nigeria. Based on the results, it was recommended that Traditional institution should adequately contribute and be involved in Nigeria democratic process for the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria. The relationship between traditional institutions and democratization should remain high in that government should constitutionalize traditional institutions which in turn helps in carrying out their functions. Challenges facing traditional institution within Nigeria Democratic space should be looked into by the government. Outlined challenges identified are funding, relegating the institution to a mere chaff, and no nexus between the government and the institution.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page                                                                                                                    i

Declaration Page                                                                                                         ii

Certification Page                                                                                                       iii

Dedication                                                                                                                  iv

Acknowledgements                                                                                                    v

Abstract                                                                                                                      vi

Table of Contents                                                                                                       vii

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION                                                                        1

1.1  Background to the study                                                                                       1                                                               

1.2  Statement of the Problem                                                                                      4

1.3  Objective sof the Study                                                                                        5

1.4  Research Questions                                                                                              5

1.5  Research Hypotheses                                                                                            6

1.6  Significance of the Study                                                                                     6

1.7  Scope of the Study                                                                                               7

1.8  Limitations of the Study                                                                                       7

1.9  Definition of Terms                                                                                              7

CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.1       Conceptual Framework                                                                                   9

Defining Democracy                                                                          9

Concept of Traditional Institution                                                      9

Diversity and transformation of traditional institutions                     11

Decentralized systems                                                                        11

                        Centralized systems                                                                            12

                        Towards a new typology of African traditional institutions               13

Challenges Facing Traditional Institution within Nigeria

Democratic Space                                                                               14

Harnessing Traditional Institutions for democracy,                           16

development and peace in Nigeria

                        Areas of potential contribution of traditional institutions to

                        democratization process in Nigeria                                                    18       

                        The role of traditional institutions in contemporary democracy        20

                        in Nigeria.

2.2       Theoretical Review                                                                                         25

Traditional school of thought                                                             25

The Modernist School of Thought                                                     26

2.3       Empirical Review                                                                                           30

2.4       Summary of Reviewed Literature                                                                  33

2.5       Gap in Literature                                                                                             35

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY                                                                  36

3.1       Research Design                                                                                             36

3.2       Area of the Study                                                                                           36

3.3       Sources of Data                                                                                              37

3.3 .1 Primary Sources of Data                                                                      37

3.3 .2 Secondary Sources of Data                                                                  37

3.4       Population of the Study                                                                                  37

3.5       Sample and Sampling Technique                                                                   37

3.6    Data Collection Instrument                                                                                40

3.7       Validity of the Instrument                                                                              40

3.8       Reliability of the Instrument                                                                          41

3.9     Method of Data Analysis                                                                                  41

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS                           42

4.1: Data Presentation                                                                                                 42

4.2 Test of Research Hypotheses                                                                               47

4.3 Discussion of Findings                                                                                         52

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1       Summary of Findings                                                                                     53

5.2       Conclusion                                                                                                      53

5.3       Recommendations                                                                                          54

REFERENCES

APPENDES