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Pressure Groups In Nigeria – Types And Facts

Pressure Groups In Nigeria – Types And Facts

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All you need to know about the types of pressure groups in Nigeria. Nigeria a very popular country in Africa and the world. This country ranks among the top 10 countries in the world with the highest population. Nigeria is a country where citizens stand up to fight for their rights. In Nigeria, we have a lot of pressure groups. A pressure group is simply an organized body of people that put pressure on their government, with the intention of influencing public policies. Pressure groups are part of the means through which citizens of a country make their voices heard by the government. This article, ‘Types Of Pressure Groups In Nigeria And All You Need To Know About Them’, is meant to discuss pressure groups in Nigeria as much as possible.

Types Of Pressure Groups In Nigeria

First and foremost, it has to be known that people form pressure groups for a wide range of reasons. The reason for the existence of a pressure group determines under which type of pressure groups it falls. In this article, we will discuss the following type of pressure groups in Nigeria.

  • 1. Economic Pressure Group

Economic pressure groups are pressure groups that exist because of the welfare of citizens of a country. These pressure groups are very common in Nigeria. These pressure groups ensure that public policies of the government are always favourable or neutral to the welfare of the people. Furthermore, this category of pressure groups will always stand up to fight against public policies affecting the welfare of citizens negatively. Examples of economic pressure gr ps include Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN).

Types and Example Of Pressure Groups In Nigeria

  • 2. Professional Pressure Groups

Professional pressure groups are pressure groups existing for professional and work-related reasons. Pressure groups under this category get agitated when government creates policies that affect them negatively. Professional pressure groups are very common in the country. Examples of this category of pressure group include the Nigerian Medical Association, the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Nigerian Bar Association, and the National Union of Road Transport Workers. For instance, there was a time Osun State government attempted to lay off medical officers who refused to go to work because of the accumulation of unpaid salaries. In reaction, the Nigerian Medical Association stood up for doctors in the state. The group threatened to withhold the practising license of any doctor that approaches Osun State government as a replacement.

  • 3. Religious Pressure Groups

Religious pressure groups are not many, but those existing are very influential in the country. This category of pressure groups exists to protect religious citizens of the country from public policies affecting them religiously. There are two main religious pressure groups in the country: the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA). The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) is the religious pressure group that fights for Muslims in the country. Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is the religious pressure group that stands up against public policies affecting Christians in Nigeria.

Ways With Which Pressure Groups In Nigeria Exert Pressure

There are a number of ways with which pressure groups in Nigeria exert pressure on the government of this country. The following are some ways with which they exert pressure.

  • 1. Media

Media is one of the common ways with which pressure groups in this country exert pressure on the government. This medium of exerting pressure has existed for a very long time. In recent years, this medium has become very powerful. Pressure groups in the country have been able to achieve a lot with the help of the media. Media, as used here, includes all type of media: television stations, radio stations, newspaper, the world wide web, etc.

  • 2. Public Dialogue

Pressure groups also use public dialogue as a way of exerting pressure on governments in Nigeria, including the federal government of the country and the government of the 36 states of the country. Representatives of these pressure groups engage representatives of governments in public dialogues.

  • 3. Political Alliance

Nigeria is an African country practicing the multiparty political system. In this country, no political party is a monopoly. Some pressure groups take advantage of this fact and use political alliance as a means of putting pressure on the government. The political alliance made by pressure groups come in different forms.

  • 4. Demonstration and Protest

Demonstration and protest is another way of putting pressure on a government, it is common among pressure groups. Pressure groups are well-known to put pressure on the government using this medium. According to statistic, this way of putting pressure on the government is not very effective. It however often yields a result when combined with another medium of pressure exertion.

  • 5. Violence

Violence is another pressure exertion medium. Although usage of this common is not popular, it however exists. A simple example of a pressure group that uses this medium of pressure exertion is Boko Haram. Boko Haram claims to be fighting against the government’s refusal to make Nigeria an Islamic state. While the majority of people will call this group a terrorist group, it is also a pressure group by definition.

Examples of Pressure Groups In Nigeria

Nigeria has thousand of pressure groups, falling under various categories. The following are some examples of pressure groups in the country:

  • Nigerian Bar Association (NBA),
  • Nigerian Medical Association (NMA),
  • Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC),
  • Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR),
  • Campaign for Democracy (CD),
  • The Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU),
  • National Association of Nigerian Students,
  • Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF),
  • Ohanaeze Ndigbo,
  • Afenifere,
  • The Middle Belt Forum (MBF).
  • Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF),
  • Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Afenifere, and the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) are all pressure groups concerned about the welfare of ethnic groups. Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) is the ethnical pressure group of the Hausa and Fulani ethnic groups. Ohanaeze Ndigbo represents the Igbo ethnic group, while Afenifere represents the Yoruba ethnic group.

Problems Of Pressure Groups In Nigeria

Coming soon…

That’s all about The Types and Examples Of Pressure Groups In Nigeria.

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