The Buhari 1983 coup Part 2: Banning of Protests, Payment of Salaries and restrictions on Business Travels
The Announcement of Major General Muhammad Buhari as the new Head of state was followed by activities of The Buhari 1983 coup Part 2 which involves banning of protests, payment of salaries, restrictions on business Travels and reduction in travel allowances of government officials (but not hajj allowances)
After the successful execution of the coup by General Buhari, Tunde Idiagbon was appointed Chief of General Staff.
On New year’s Day 1984, Buhari, by now evidently in control, Provided a rationale for the coup and a broad framework for the public policies under the new military government. The military’s main reasons for intervening, he stated, were to arrest the economic decline and moral corruption: ”The corrupt, inept and sensitive leadership in the last four years has been the source of immorality and impropriety in our society since what happens in any society” as this quote suggests, The Military leaders’ diagnosis of the pathologies of the second republic is based on certain symptoms which are mismanagement of the economy, corruption, ”in-discipline”, bad policies rather than any underlying socioeconomic analysis; the point; this point will be taken up later.
Buhari outlined the structure and organization of the successor military government: with its 19-member Supreme Military Council (SMC), Federal Executive Council (FEC), and National Council of states (NCS), It would be a structural replica of the Mohammed/Obasanjo regime in contrast to the overbloated civilian executive, with its forty more ministries, there would now be only 18 federal ministries. The proliferation pf Local government councils too, would be cut back from nearly1000 to 303 Originally created by the 1976 local government reform. the judiciary and the civil service would be left intact.
According to the government, All these mentioned above would be followed by giving the economy a better sense of Direction by alleviating hunger and start paying salary arrears owed by various state governments to their employees. In the long term, significantly, the country would repay its international financial obligations and maintain its standing in the international capitalist economy. Of course, ”corrupt official s and their agents would be brought to book (Buhari quoted in The Times April 16, 1984). And all treaties and diplomatic relations entered into by the previous government would be honored.
And In fact, the regime has so far adhered to its pledges and policy guidelines with remarkable consistency.
All these were followed by banning Strikes, Protests, and every other form of Public and popular demonstrations. Political parties were banned, reduction in travel allowances of government officials (but not hajj allowances) restriction on business travels, Nigeria’s security agency, the National Security Organization (NSO) was so entrusted with unprecedented powers.
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Recommended websites for history: jstor.org Old Naija, Nairaland.com,
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