ABSTRACT
Civil-Military relations is the interaction between the civil authority, civil society and the military. It aims at gaining and enhancing the understanding, support and cooperation with each other towards achieving a peaceful and stable environment in the overall interest of national security. Civil-Military relations before May 1999 was stained and the military became revered not out of admiration but for fear of coercion and intimidation. In an effort to re-establish Civil-Military relations and re-professionalise the Armed Forces, the government retired officers perceived to be threat to the survival of democracy and subordination of the military to civil authority. Various training programmes were embarked upon both locally and overseas for cross fertilisation and re-professionalising of the Armed Forces.
For the researcher to ascertain the state of Civil-Military relations in Nigeria, he conducted the research using primary and secondary data. It uses qualitative and quantitative methods in the analyses. It submits that a proper understanding of Civil-Military relations implies the recognition of the military institution in the polity. For the military to perform its role effectively and to ensure stability of democracy, it is essential that both the military, political elites and the civil society understand their proper roles in a democratic society.
The research identifies some challenges Civil-Military relations poses for the Armed Forces. These include; wrong perception of the Armed Forces, lack of appropriate formula for defence budget, militarization of the society, lack of defence expertise, non adherence to the rule of laws and failure to provide dividends of democracy. In order to overcome the challenges, the research identifies a number of strategies that include; re-orientation of the Armed Forces/civil populace appropriate formula for defence budget, equipping the police for internal security role and adherence to the rule of law. It further makes recommendations that could promote the appropriate Civil-Military relations in Nigeria.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study………………………1-5
1.2 Statement of the Problem…………………….5-6
1.3 Objectives of the Study………………………..7
1.4 Significance of the Study……………………...7-8
1.5 Scope of the Study……………………………..8
1.6 Methodology...................................................8-10
1.7 Limitations of the Study.................................... 10-11
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction........................................................
2.2 Civil-Military Relations........................................ 14-17
2.3 Concept of Democracy....................................... 17-18
2.4 Relationship Between Civil-Military
Relations and Democracy.......................................... 18-19
2.5 Theoretical Framework
2.5.1 Theory of Civil-Military Relations...................... 20-23
2.5.2 Models of Civil-Military Relations..................... 23-24
2.6 Review of Some Existing Literature..................... 24-26
CHAPTER THREE
AN ASSESSMENT OF CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS
IN NIGERIA
3.1 Introduction........................................................ 31
3.2 Efforts at Subordinating the Armed
3.2.1 Confining The Armed Forces Roles to
Constitutional Provisions........................................... 32-33
3.2.2 Applying Constitutional Provisions for
The Control of the Armed Forces........................... 33-36
3.2.3 Purging The Military of Politicised
Officers.................................................................... 36-38
3.2.4 Parliamentary Oversight Functions of
The Military............................................................ 38-40
3.3 Reprofessionalising The Armed Forces........... 40
3.3.1 Training.............................................................. 40-44
3.3.2 Military Aid to Civil Power............................... 44-45
3.3.3 Provision of Welfare Services in the
Armed Forces........................................................ 45-47
3.4 Defence Headquarters Efforts at
Building CMR in The Armed Forces...................... 47-52
3.5 The Extent of CMR Attainment Since
Return To Democracy........................................... 52-65
3.6 Challenges of Civil-Military Relations
For The Nigerian Armed Forces............................ 65-69
CHAPTER FOUR
STRATEGIES FOR ENHANCING
CIVIL-MILITARY RLEATIONS IN NIGERIAN
4.1 Introduction......................................................
4.2 Armed Forces..................................................... 77-81
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Conclusion.......................................................... 82-84
5.2 Recommendations............................................ 84-85
Enclosure 1........................................................... 1-1
Enclosure 2........................................................... 2-1
Enclosure 3............................................................ 3-1
Enclosure 4............................................................ 1-4
REFERENCES
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
Civil- Military Relations (CMR) emerged after the Second World War as a dominant challenge and a recurring theme in academic literature in developed and developing democracies across the world. Changes in both the geo-strategic environment and domestic political systems are leading to calls for a review of CMR. The concern has been about finding an appropriate balance between the military and civil society in a democracy. In countries emerging from years of military rule, the fear of a politicized military experiencing a re-entry shock and plotting to intervene again by overt military action has been a major source of threat to elected governments in a democracy and the need to well established CMR.
The military exists throughout history and is widely viewed as the “shield and sword of the state” (Adache 2007:38). Most nations have armed forces with their roles stipulated in the country’s constitution. One of the cardinal objects of a nation’s vital interests is the defence of its territorial integrity by its armed forces and this is sacrosanct. In spite of the armed forces’ sacred role however, their position in the context of national political hierarchy is often a source of debate and intense emotion.
CMR has grown over the years beyond just the concern about civil supremacy or control over the military. Thus, Shiyanbade observes that CMR in any country especially in a democracy is determined by several factors. These include; history of the military as an institution; political culture of the country; the political economy of the state; external factors, the characters and training of the officer corps; the characters and disposition of the political leadership and the constitution of the country (Shiyanbade 2007:9).
Western countries differ greatly as to the degree of control of the military and the model of CMR. For instance, in the United States of America (USA), Britain and Canada; the constitution is the benchmark for measuring the duties of the executive and the military interactions in relation to the legislative oversight of the military (Zabad, p.81). The relationship between the military and the political elites is based on the doctrine of civil supremacy. In the USA, the President and the Congress share almost equal powers over the responsibility for the armed forces. The President is the Commander -in -Chief (C-in-C), but only the congress declares war, raises and supports armies and makes regulation for the armed forces (Meir 1995:2). Therefore, the robustness of the American democracy can be traced to the relations that exist between the political class and the military.
The state of CMR is however different in the Third World countries where the military has extended its role beyond its constitutional provision to the political spheres of nation-states. Thus, Gupta cites several factors that helped promote the military interventions in the political life of new nation-states. Some important factors include perceived instability, weak political institutions, corruption and government ineffectiveness in handling economic issues. He further observes that the military institutions have not imbibed the professional values and respect for civilian supremacy (Kennedy and Louscher 1991:65). It is therefore not surprising that the boundaries between the polity and the barracks were so blurred.
National security and strong diplomatic stature; proper equilibrium between political influence and military professionalism must be established to create and maintain democratic stability. It is an on-going process which evolves to cater for changing concepts. The situation is however critical in nations like Liberia and Sierra Leone that have recently emerged from authoritarian rule. A proper understanding of CMR implies the recognition of the military institution in the polity. For the military to perform its role effectively to ensure stability of democracy, it is essential that both the military, political elites and the civil society understand their proper roles in a democratic society (National Defence Policy, p.56-57). This understanding will include well defined areas of cooperation between the military, the political leaders and civil society which is CMR.
In Nigeria, the military is now subjected to civil control since return to democratic rule in 1999 after many years of autocratic rule. The military leadership faces with the tasks of educating personnel against clashes with Nigeria Police, civil populace and to be subordinated to civil authority. Policy makers, academics, military strategists and civil society groups are pre-occupied with developing a balanced CMR in the country. Democratic rule therefore demands military subordination to civil authority both in terms of legislative oversight and budgetary allocation among others (Zabadi, p.89). This presents some challenges to the Armed Forces as they are accountable to the civil authority. The researcher’s motivation was to see how to evolve ways of addressing the challenges CMR poses for the Armed Forces.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
CMR in a democracy does not only deal with the issues of military in politics and power conflicts, it spans across professionalism, security and defence for enhanced political stability among others (Huntington 1985:3). CMR studies have focused attention on established democracies with very few systematic studies on developing democracies like Nigeria. Most studies of CMR are greatly concerned with the 'military factor' only after an intervention occurs. The role of the same institution in domestic situations where the military does not rule is often neglected or underestimated. The return to democratic governance in Nigeria implies a new approach as regards the oversight of the military and subordination. This is sequel to the fact that the military is the only agent of the state that controls arms hence the need for cooperation and subsequent control of the Armed Forces to guide against its misuse.
One of the main concerns of democracy in Nigeria is how to attain the appropriate balance between maintaining military force strong enough to protect and sustain democratic values of the society, and the civil control to be able to prevent any military takeover of government. It was against this background, that this study sought to provide answers to the following questions:
a. What is the relationship between CMR and democracy?
b. How has CMR fared in a democratic Nigeria?
c. &n
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