Strong Institutions as Major Pillars Of Democracy SS1 Civic Education Lesson Note

1. ARMED FORCES

Armed forces are constitutionally established bodies empowered to protect or defend the territorial integrity of a democratic state against internal insurrection and external aggression. In other words, the armed forces are institutions established by the state for the primary purpose of national defense against external threats and internal conflicts. The armed forces consist of the Army, Air-force and Navy.

Their Role In The Democratic Process 

a) They defend the country and participate in the collective defense of the Alliance

b) Provision of humanitarian aid

c) They perform search and rescue missions

d) Armed forces provide internal security and stability.

e) They participate in maintaining public order, with and without arms.

f) They assist law enforcement, such as public order operations, border control, drug control, crime investigation, cyber operations, and intelligence gathering.

g) Development mandate, for example, infrastructure and engineering projects, harvest assistance and educational programmes, among others.

h) They engage in civil defense, including responding to national emergencies and natural disasters;

i) They also performed non-security assistance tasks, such as search and rescue, training and monitoring, equipment and facility provision, scientific research, and environmental protection.

2. TRADE UNION

Trade Union is an organization whose membership consists of workers and union leaders, united to protect and promote their common interests. 

Their Roles In The Democratic Process

The following are some roles of Trade Unions in the democratic process.

a) They negotiate wages and working conditions terms,

b) They regulate relations between workers (its members) and the employers,

c) They take collective action to enforce the terms of collective bargaining.,

d) They raise new demands on behalf of its members, and

e) They help settle their grievances. 

A trade union may be (a) A company union that represents the interests of only one company and may not have any connection with other unions.

3. CIVIL SOCIETIES AS A PILLAR OF DEMOCRACY

Civil societies are private nonprofit organizations formed to promote collectively shared values, interests and objectives that are capable of enhancing the general welfare and development of a democratic state. It can be seen as a group of people who come together for a common course and to provide an alternative to pressure groups in society.

Civil societies are also a body of people or persons joined together to influence government policies or legislation that are not in the interest of the people. It is a voluntary organization or group of people with common interests, purpose and values which it pursues and protects through peaceful and legal means.

Civil society is the aggregate of non-governmental organizations and institutions that manifest the tests and will of citizens. Civil society includes family and the private sphere, referred to as the sector of society.

Their Roles In The Democratic Process

Civil societies in Nigeria perform the following functions in the democratic process.

a) They serve as a watchdog for political officeholders from abusing and misusing their trust.

b) Civil societies also force political officeholders to be accountable.

c) They render free professional services such as legal, medical and financial assistance to fight oppression and tyranny.

d) They stage protests against unpopular government policies, programmes and actions which may threaten the survival of the polity.

e) They sponsor a public protest against the unpopular government and are mostly the masterminders of revolutionary changes.

f) They limit the power of the state more generally, including challenging the abuses of authority;

g) They defend the fundamental human rights of citizens and strengthen the rule of law.

h) The groups sometimes sponsor bills in the legislative house.

i) They inform and enlighten the people on important national issues.

j) Develop and promote societal values such as hard work, tolerance, honesty, etc.

k) They work to eradicate poverty and illiteracy in rural communities.

l) The diverse membership of civil society creates unity in a multi-cultural country like Nigeria.

m) They build a constituency for economic as well as political reform

4. ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is a Nigerian law enforcement agency that investigates financial crimes such as advance fee 419 fraud) and money laundering.

Roles of the EFCC in the democratic process

The following are some roles of EFCC in the democratic process.

a) The agency provides financial security in Nigeria

b) It provides a level playing field in the economy for all stakeholders

c) It Investigates and prosecutes financial Crimes as set out in section 47 of the enabling act to deal with crimes such as bank fraud, tax evasion, capital market fraud, futures market fraud, etc.

d) EFCC is the national coordinator for anti-money laundering.

5. NIGERIA IMMIGRATION SERVICE

Nigeria Immigration Service is responsible for making millions of decisions every year about who has the right to visit or stay in the country, with a firm emphasis on national security and a culture of customer satisfaction for people who come here legally

Their Roles In The Democratic Process 

The following are some roles of NIS in the democratic process.

a) They control of persons entering or leaving Nigeria

b) It issues travel documents, including Nigerian passports, to bonafide Nigerians within and outside Nigeria

c) It issue of residence permits to foreigners in Nigeria

d) It engages in border surveillance and patrol

e) Ensure enforcement of laws and regulations with which they are directly charged; and

f) It performs such para-military duties within or outside Nigeria as may be required of them under the authority of this Act or any other enactment.

6. STATE SECURITY SERVICE

The State Security Service (SSS) is the primary domestic intelligence agency of Nigeria. It is responsible for intelligence gathering within the country and for the protection of senior government fils, particularly the President and state honors. It is also called the Department of State uses (DSS).

Roles in the Democratic Process

The following are some roles of SSS in the democratic process.

a) They protect and defend the Federal Republic of Nigeria against domestic threats,

b) They uphold and enforce the criminal laws of Nigeria, and provide leadership and criminal justice services to both federal and state law-enforcement organs.

c) SSS is charged with the protection of the President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, State Governors, their immediate families, other high-ranking government officials, past presidents and their spouses, certain candidates for the offices of President and Vice President, and visiting foreign heads of state and government.

d) They prevent security threats in Nigeria including counter-terrorism and counter-insurgent

e) They gathered intelligent

f) They maintain and promote peaceful co-existence in Nigeria

7. The Nigerian Police

The Nigerian Police (NP) formerly The Nigeria Police Force is the principal law enforcement agency in Nigeria.

Roles in the Democratic Process

The following are some roles of the Police in the democratic process.

a) Prevention of crime

b) Protection of lives and properties

c) Enforcing the law

d) Maintenance of peace and public order.

e) Providing a wide range of services to the citizens.