Science and Politics: Four National Case Studies--Nigeria

Major focus is on the process of scientific research planning in Nigeria. While scientific research is not a salient political issue, a broad consensus on the principal issues has emerged: (1) research must enjoy strong public support, with the government rather than the private sector providing leadership, (2) research planning must be considered an integral part of national development planning, which concentrates on transforming the economy into higher levels of productivity, (3) scientific research should have an applied orientation, & (4) the view that the social sciences should play a leading role, while technological benefits from research in the natural sciences should be imported, is generally rejected. Relations between academic scientists & government lack mutual confidence; no formal channel of communication exists between the official Nigerian scientific organization & the government's advisory body for national science & technology policy. Scientists are underrepresented in the decision-making bodies of the government, & underrecruited into the civil service. The national science policy machinery is organized in a 3-tiered structure (listed from highest to lowest): (A) the Nigerian Council for Science & Technology (NCST), (B) the 4 research councils--agriculture, industry, medicine, & natural science, & (C) research institutes & U departments. An important role is also played by the Federal Executive Council (the executive arm of the Supreme Military Council) & the secretariat of the NCST. The research councils & secretariat are staffed by experienced professional research scientists, who also have representation on the NCST. A description of the planning process of each of the councils notes that there is no central mechanism for coordinating social research. Although problems exist in the relationship between the U's & the other 2 levels, on the whole, there have been no rivalries between scientific interest groups over the allocation of financial resources. 1 Figure. J. N. Mayer.