Economic Philosophy and Constitution Making in Nigeria

Abstract

The analyses of constitutions, except in few instances, tend to be legalistic on the basis
of examining the structures, functions and perhaps provisions on fundamental human
rights that are contained in the document. A section by section legalistic interpretation
of constitution making in Nigeria has tended to be devoid of the laying bare of the
divergent interests in society in the epoch when the constitution was made and the
subsistence of the dominant economic interests. To analyse constitution making in
Nigeria this way is faulty. To incorporate an analysis of the dominant interests in
society into constitution making is to understand that constitutions are not reflective of
the interests of all in society but an instrument to protect property and economic mode
of accumulation of the dominant class interests. An analysis of constitution making
under the military dictatorships in Nigeria, starting with the 1979 through to the 1989
and 1999 constitutions support the position that these constitutions were made to
protect property interests and a capitalist mode of economic accumulation.