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Consumption, Income and Growth are critical features in a society that reflect the general living standard of its people. Consumption of commodities connotes the amount of such used up in a particular period which obviously is influenced by available income. This income is the money received in exchange for a service rendered or from investment outlets. Growth entails a positive change in size or volume over a specified period. While consumption and income are more of micro-economic features, growth is more macro-economic.
These three features are however influenced in societies by government expressing the will of the State. The state as “a human community which successfully claims monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory” as defined by Max Weber (Anter, 2014) is an abstract concept. Its will and aspirations can only be expressed by government which is a body of persons and institutions serving to execute the functions of the state as its determinate agent. The two principal functions of the state are maintenance of security and ensuring the welfare of the citizens (Raphael, 2010).
To accomplish this task, a system of government adopted can either facilitate or impede the achievement of this governmental goal for the citizens of the state.
Contemporarily, while different types of systems abound, the most highly coveted type is Democracy. All over the world, this term democracy is of a strong appeal. Democracy however is an essentially contested concept because while it is known to exist, there are varied interpretations as to what it actually means in practice. Democracy from Greek words ‘’Demos’’ (people) and ‘‘Kratein” (rule of or by) connotes a majority rule with essential tenets being adoption of human rights and rule of law (Anifowose & Enemuo, 2008). To Christenson (1972), with Democracy, it is believed that people generally agree on the operation of the system and they are key participants in governance. Appadorai (1968) also agrees that “it provides a template upon which people are ruled either directly or indirectly” through representatives.
How well a democratic system of government enables the accomplishment of the key positive functions of the state which include consumption, income and growth levels will determine the success or failure of the system.
Nigeria is a developing country desperate to join the ranks of the developed world. About thirteen (13) different regimes including the Military, have ruled over the country since Independence in 1960 (Aruofor, 2017). The policy regimes were varied and numerous (see Aruofor, 1990, 2001, 2004 and 2007; EDD, 1999 and Ayodele 1999). In spite of this, the measure of development has been very low and has not translated to social emancipation of the Nigerian people (Nnoli, 1981; Aruofor, 2017). However, since 1999, Nigeria has embarked on a new democracy and it is believed that this is the panacea to all the problems faced by the country.
Indeed, according to Gberevebie and Oviasogie (2013), the “first democracy after 1960 failed because it was chauvinistic and was not inclusive of women”. Democracy as a system of government has gained more popularity now in the contemporary society than in the years past. The reason for this being that it abhors segregation and adopts equality of participation in decision- making on issues affecting all segments of society. In the same vein, Aboyi (2014) opined that democracy is “generally accepted by most modern states as the best form of government”. In his opinion, democracy is the voice of revolt raised by human spirit against the application of coercion and imposition in government. It is a political system that is opposed to any form of arbitrary use of authority and tyranny in the management of the affairs of state of society.