Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

William J. Benet

Abstract

AbstractSince Nigeria gained independence in 1960, political leaders' and elected officials' behavior and actions have contributed to a decline in public trust and people's engagement with the democratic system. It is currently unknown whether the concepts of public trust and citizen engagement can be democratic tools for good governance in Nigeria, with its diverse religions, ethnicities, and cultural values. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the Yoruba people’s perceptions of the barriers to and facilitators of public trust and citizen engagement in the Nigerian democratic system. The theoretical framework was polarities of democracy theory, espoused by Benet as a means of attaining sustainable social change in society. The study’s research design was a nonexperimental case study using a purposive sampling method. Twenty-eight individuals who were knowledgeable about the research phenomenon were purposefully chosen from the six Yoruba states of Nigeria. Data from semi-structured interviews with participants and field notes, journal articles, government gazettes, and other archival materials were analyzed using NVivo software. Findings showed that most of the participants were nonpartisan in their politics. They voted in elections but did not engage in political party activities such as holding rallies, holding political office, and maintaining active party membership. A commission should be created to oversee the political education political parties provide to ensure that their members are well informed of their rights and know when and how to utilize their voting rights. Citizens’ participation in Nigeria's democratic process may increase positive social change if the due process and justice are seen as deeply ingrained in both the justice system and governance. These efforts may promote Nigeria's democratic growth and sustainable development.

Download

Share

 
COinS