Government as an institution, process and academic field

My dear students, welcome to another exciting Government class! Today, we're going to start our journey into understanding what 'Government' truly means and how broad its scope is.

Think about it: who organises elections in Nigeria? Who builds roads? Who makes laws? Yes, it's the Government!

First, let's look at Government as an institution.

An institution is a formal, established organization that has a clear set of rules, procedures, and structures to carry out specific functions in society.

Just like your school is an institution, with a Principal, teachers, and classrooms, the Government is also an institution.

In Nigeria, this includes bodies like the Presidency, the National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives), and the Judiciary (the courts). They all have their specific roles and ways of working.

The Nigerian Police Force, the Army, and even INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) are all parts of this big institution called Government.

Next, let's explore Government as a process.

Government as a process refers to the dynamic activities, actions, and decision-making mechanisms through which public policies are formulated, implemented, and evaluated.

This means that government is not just a building or a group of people, but it's also about what they *do* and *how* they do it.

When the President signs a new law, when the National Assembly debates a budget, or when a state governor commissions a new hospital, these are all parts of the government process.

It involves things like voting during elections, public protests, policy debates, and even how different ministries work together to solve a national problem like insecurity.

Lastly, we'll talk about Government as an academic field.

Government as an academic field is the systematic study of political systems, institutions, behaviours, theories, and public policies.

This is why you are studying it right now! Just like you study Mathematics or English, Government is a subject you can learn and get a degree in at the university.

It helps us understand why countries are governed the way they are, how power is shared, and the history of political thought.

We study topics like constitutions (e.g., the 1999 Nigerian Constitution), electoral systems, international relations, and public administration.

So, whether we are talking about the police, an election, or what you are learning in this class, remember that 'Government' has these three important meanings.

It's everywhere, and it affects our lives daily. Understanding it helps us to be better citizens and make informed decisions.

I hope you enjoyed today's lesson. See you next time!