LEGITIMACY AND ROLE OF THE CIVIL SOCIETY IN PROMOTING CONSTITUTIONALISM AND DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE IN NIGERIA: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS

Abstract

In the past, the role of the civil society in Nigeria did not loom large. Today, civil society organizations have mushroomed with rapidity, carrying out activities that impact positively on the promotion of constitutionalism and democratic governance in Nigeria. As it stands, the civil society have become formidable group carrying out roles that cannot be dispensed with as active partners with government in the democratization process. It cannot therefore be gainsaid, that without the role of the civil society as a third force, the needed catalyst or pressure for government to deliver on its constitutional mandate would have been missing with negative impact on democratic consolidation and the socio-economic development of the country. However, the effectiveness of the civil society groups in carrying out their objectives have been hampered by a number of challenges, while government very often perceives their activities as anti-government and therefore should be controlled. Against the above background, using doctrinal methodology and relying on the social contract theory, the article analysed the role of civil society groups and found that some of their challenges include poor funding, lack of proper organisation and coordination, lack of cooperation from government, corruption, lack of adequate knowledge of their rights and responsibilities, greed, etcetera. The article concluded by advancing the recognition of the legitimacy and role of the civil society groups and suggested measures that could make them more effective in promoting constitutionalism and democratic governance in Nigeria.