Political Structure, Governance Dynamics and the Collapse of the Social Contract in Nigeria

Social contract theorists from Hobbes to Locke and Rousseau posit that the legitimacy of the political community – the state and its government – rests on reciprocity of obligations which entails submission to the general will by the individual, and the state’s commitment to guaranteeing good life in return for such submission. In terms of this pact, the state owes its citizens the duty of ensuring the security of their lives and property while the citizenry owes the state their submission to its laws, having relinquished some of their natural liberties. In modern political society, security and socio-economic development are important aspects of state functionalities that are delivered through structures that engender a legitimate state-citizen relationship and, in turn, serve as an essential ingredient for nation-building. In Nigeria, the nature and quality of governance with respect to these functionalities have raised questions on the durability of the social contract, with groups contesting its legitimacy as state capacity becomes increasingly dubitable due to poor governance and the state’s failure to meet its most basic obligations. Adopting a historical discourse approach, this chapter interrogates the evolution of Nigeria’s politico-structural (mal)formation and its implications for state-citizen synergy that is essential for nation-building and development. It highlights the need for an ideational reimagining of the Nigerian state through politico-structural remodelling and increased commitment to the public good as envisaged in the social contract as a strategy to kick-start the nation-building process.