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ASSESSMENT OF THE UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (UNDP) ASSISTANCE ON PROMOTION OF DEMOCRATIC NORM IN NIGERIA, 2003 -2015
Abstract:
This study evaluates United Nations Development Programme assistance for the promotion of democratic norm in Nigeria (2003 to 2015) in order to determine its impact on voter registration and confidence in the Election Management Body (EMB), as well as in law making, legislative oversight functions and legislative constituency representation functions of National Assembly. These five items are indicators of democratic norm sub-set in electoral administration and the legislative process respectively. Development partners have always commissioned consultants to assess the impact of their assistance in the strengthening institutions of democracy and these consultants usually give them positive results which some domestic observers query. The assistance of the UNDP are in form of funding of trainings, study visits, design and publication of posters, training manuals, books, supply of ICT equipment and software and other forms of technical support to advancement of democratic institutions in Nigeria. The study adopted the Social Constructivist theory as a theoretical framework. The population of the study was 2238 and 340 were sampled using stratified random sampling technique. 164 and 134 questionnaires were distributed to INEC staff and National Assembly members respectively. UNDP Consultants and staff members, INEC staff members, National Planning Commission staff members and Legislative Aides were interviewed. Secondary data was sourced from cooperation plans and evaluation reports from the UNDP, INEC, National Planning Commission and the National Assembly. Chi-square was used to test the hypotheses. Based on the data analysed, the study concludes that there is significant relationship between UNDPs democracy assistance and improvement in voter registration and confidence in INEC as an Electoral Management Body in Nigeria from 2003 to 2015. This study also concludes that there is relationship between UNDP’s democracy assistance and improvement in law making, oversight functions and constituency representation of National Assembly members in Nigeria from 2003 to 2015. There has been some level of improvement in electoral administration in Nigeria which has enhanced democratic practice. The legislature has also recorded some level of progress in performing its constitutional role. The UNDP has made effort to promote shared (neoliberal philosophy and western values) rules which are directed at the behaviours, expectations and understanding of people in the process of governance in Nigeria with the aim of promoting the well being and freedom of individuals and groups in the society and the state. They have empowered the legislature and the Election Management Body to exercise their powers and specify their limits. This means that Nigeria’s democracy is on a gradual process of consolidation in the three electoral cycles that the UNDP rendered assistance to promote democratic norm in Nigeria. This study recommends that ulterior motives in democratic norm assistance in Nigeria should be scrutinised in the course of design, implementation and evaluation of projects to reduce impact of neo-liberalism and neo-colonialism on Nigeria; that it is recommended that joint donors should set aside their interest and adhere to the standards of the United Nations, except where adhering to such undermines the democratic norm assistance being rendered; and that the National Planning Commission should always delegate high ranking personnel to be involved in planning, monitoring and evaluation of development assistance. This will help consolidate assistance to beneficiary agencies.
ASSESSMENT OF THE UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (UNDP) ASSISTANCE ON PROMOTION OF DEMOCRATIC NORM IN NIGERIA, 2003 -2015
