The Military and Socio-Economic Development in Nigeria (1983 – 1999). A Critical Appraisal

The paper appraises the role of the military in the socio-economic development of Nigeria. The paper observes that within the period of military regimes in Nigeria, several policies and programmes were initiated and implemented towards the socio-economic development of the country but with little or no positive impact on the socio-economic development of the citizens of the country. The paper recommends Inter alia that the professionalization and increase budgetary allocation to the Nigeria military would not only encourage them to concentrate on their primary constitutional role but would also dissuade them from intervening in politics, thereby allowing the governance of the country to civilians who are supposed to be better placed to initiate and implement policies and programmes for the socio-economic development of the country. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n23p234