Military governments and economic development : A case study of Nigeria from 1960-2000.

Through a study of the history and performance of successive military regimes, this thesis examines the role of military governments in economic development, particularly the creation of a market-enabling environment in Nigeria. The key question underlying this research is: did the policies formulated and implemented by the different military governments accelerate or decelerate economic, and concomitantly markets developments in Nigeria? Essentially, an evaluation of the military governments (1966-1999), is undertaken to determine the nature of the linkage, if any, between regimes and economic and market development policies.Also evaluated are two civilian governments within the relevant period, and only as a reference point to more effectively identify the military's role in economic development.Regime profile outlines the scope and economic effects of policies; case studies of the individual regimes illustrate the underlying reasons for economic underperformance. Measured in real terms and relative to its contribution to the welfare of the average citizen, the study shows that successive military governments' relative economic development achievements are not commensurate with the magnitude of resources expended. Indeed that the decades of military regimes have not seen, in real terms, any significant improvements in the distribution of national income and wealth. Indications also are that the military structure and its paternalistic policy accommodation account for much of the pervasive corruption found all through the regimes. Also identified is the role of the institutional civil service in policy formulation and implementation.