POLITICAL LEADERSHIP AND NIGERIA’S ECONOMY SINCE 1999

Abstract

The influence of politics and consequently, political leaders on the economy cannot be overemphasised. The power they wield over their nations creates room for influences on the economic institutions and which could make or mar economic growth. Political leadership has always played a fundamental role in Nigeria’s economy, in relation to growth and development. The Nigerian economy which is largely oil-based, have remained in dire straits over the years, because of poor leadership, corruption, as well as poor monetary and fiscal policies. This paper aims to establish the nexus between political leadership and the Nigerian economy. It examines the role of various administrations towards economic development in Nigeria between 1999 and 2019. The study adopts the qualitative and quantitative methods of research in analysing data. The primary and secondary sources of data were used to buttress the arguments of the authors. The study observes that Nigeria has the human and material resources which could make any economy great, but the desiderata has been the quality of leadership since 1999. Incompetent, corrupt and selfish political leaders, who are more concerned with looting the nation’s treasury than its growth, continue to be uncommitted to economic development.