[01] Samuel Adetola Ogunwa, Department of Political Science and International Relations, Crawford University, College of Business and Social Sciences, Faith City, Igbesa – Ogun State, Nigeria.

Democracy as system of government in Nigeria calls for sober reflection and rethinking. While it is true that democracy is about peoples’ welfarism, popular participation and decision-making process, and smooth transfer of power from one regime to another. Yet, the operators failed to provide the basic necessities of life for the citizens, and this has worsened the living standard of the peoples. The government at all levels, including elected representatives, has neglected their basic functions and the trust reposed on them by the electorate. They continue to neglect various calls to close the gap and to provide jobs, electricity, security, good roads, etc. This paper argues that since 1999 when democratic government was re-institutionalized in the country, the citizens are not better-off and more poverty driven. All levels of government have remained moribund despite the over-bloated government officials in all strata. The elected representatives’ see their elections as a mean to loot the treasuries, whereas their elections were supposed to reflect attitudinal changes in the art of governing the Nigerian people based on liberal democracy.

Democracy, Corruption, Nigerians, Leaders, Amenities, Federalism, Civil Society

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