The Impact of Political Reform Programme on the Development of the Nigerian Economy (1999–2013)

Worried by the incessant security challenges and poor welfare indicators in Nigeria, the paper investigated the impact of the recent political reform programme on Nigeria's economic development from 1999 to date. Using only descriptive statistical tools, it was discovered that despite the government initiating the INEC Electoral Draft Bill of 1999; the National Political Reform Conference (NPRC); the Justice Uwais Committee Report on Electoral Reforms; the Amendment of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; and the Seven Year Single Tenure for States and National Executives proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011, the Nigerian economy has relatively grown in terms of GDP growth rate and GDP per capita but fail to development as evident from high inflation, high unemployment, high poverty and inequality. The paper recommended for reduction in the role of money in politics and adoption of the “basic needs approach” of providing basic needs such as food, water, health care, basic education, transportation, shelter etc. that can impact directly on the lives of the poor people.