JOHN STUART MILL’S UTILITARIANISM IN NATION- BUILDING: A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE IN NIGERIA SINCE 1999

Abstract

Humans, by nature, desire happiness. They intrinsically desire nothing that is
not happiness or its part or a means of happiness. Thus, happiness is more or less the
overriding principle of human action and life. However, the character and quality of a society
largely determine its organisation and the form of happiness the citizens seek to enjoy.
Regrettably, despite all efforts toward nation-building and development by scholars and
successive governments in Nigeria, genuine unity, sustainable development, and indeed
happiness are still a mirage in the lives of most citizens. Hence, the current study has
attempted a critical evaluation of nation-building process within the frame of democratic
governance in Nigeria‘s Fourth Republic. On the basis of the nation‘s political landscape, this
paper proposes JS Mill‘s utilitarianism as an essential tool for achieving long-lasting
solutions to various challenges associated with democracy, nation-building, development and
genuine happiness of the citizenry. Methodologically, it adopted a documentary method of
data collection in which relevant information was extracted from textbooks, journal articles,
conference papers, etc. Analysis was performed within the ambit of Mill‘s utilitarian
principles via qualitative content analysis method. The study highlights the gap between
theoretical ideals and practical governance and how utilitarian principles can inform policy
decisions aimed at improving the overall well-being of the population. Thus, it contends that
genuine application of Mill‘s utilitarianism, offers Nigeria the opportunity to recreate a
society that centres on the value, genuine happiness and prosperity of its people as a nation.