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Interim National Government

{{Short description|1993 transition government in Nigeria}}

{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}

{{Infobox government cabinet

| cabinet_name = Interim National Government

| cabinet_number =  

| jurisdiction = Nigeria

| flag = 160px

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| incumbent =

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| date_formed = 27 August 1993

| date_dissolved = 17 November 1993

| government_head = Ernest Shonekan

| government_head_history =

| state_head = Ernest Shonekan

| members_number =

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| total_number =

| political_party =

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| opposition_cabinet =

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| advice_and_consent1 =

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| incoming_formation =

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| previous = Government of General Ibrahim Babangida

| successor = Government of General Sani Abacha

}}

The Interim National Government was the short-lived civilian administration that governed Nigeria, following the crisis of the Third Republic. The largely powerless and illegitimate government{{Cite web |title=Nigeria's Military Ruler Quits; Appoints Interim Government |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/nigeria/stories/bab0893.htm |access-date=July 6, 2024 |website=Washington Post}} was dissolved when General Sani Abacha seized power on 17 November 1993.

History

12 June 1993 presidential election was won by Moshood Abiola. General Babangida annulled the election.{{sfn|Cajetan N. Iheka|2012|p=1}}This led to rioting, particularly in the south, which was harshly suppressed.

Babangida announced that he would step down on 26 August 1993, and handed over to Ernest Shonekan as head of the Interim National Government (ING) on 27 August 1993.{{sfn|Cajetan N. Iheka|2012|p=336}}

Shoenkan had a degree in law, had studied at the Harvard Business School in the US, and had held senior management positions in various companies.{{cn|date=June 2022}} He was an Oloye of the Yoruba people and had been president of Babangida's Transitional Council.{{sfn|Daily Times news item, 1993}} He was an unelected technocrat chosen in a deal between Babangida and political leaders, and his appointment was poorly received by the press and the public.{{sfn|Ayo Olukotun|2004|p=69}}

Shonekan appointed Moshood Abiola as his vice-president.{{sfn|Daily Times news item, 1993}}

General Sani Abacha was made secretary of defence in the cabinet.{{sfn|Cajetan N. Iheka|2012|p=1}}

Under the ING the country suffered runaway inflation and saw strikes by workers in various sectors.

Most foreign investors withdrew apart from oil companies.

Shonekan made efforts to have government debt forgiven. He drew up a timetable for return to democracy and for withdrawal of Nigeria's contingent from the ECOMOG preackeeping force in Liberia. He also launched an audit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the largest oil company, and tried to restore civil liberties.{{Cite web |last=Refugees |first=United Nations High Commissioner for |title=Refworld {{!}} The Price of Oil: Corporate Responsibility and Human Rights Violations in Nigeria's Oil Producing Communities |url=https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6a82e0.html |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=Refworld |language=en}}

Shonekan managed to remove laws that allowed arbitrary arrest and confiscation of property, promoted press freedom, obtained the release of some political prisoners and made reforms to the corrupt public services and state-owned companies.{{Cite web |last=King |first=Kola |date=2022-01-24 |title=Nigeria’s Interim National Government: A Political Contraption Set Up To Fail – OpEd |url=https://www.eurasiareview.com/24012022-nigerias-interim-national-government-a-political-contraption-set-up-to-fail-oped/ |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=Eurasia Review |language=en-US}}

No clear process was given for holding fresh elections, and there was general political uncertainty under the Shonekan government.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-29 |title=Ernest Shonekan as a footnote (4) |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/03/ernest-shonekan-as-a-footnote-4/ |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=Vanguard News |language=en-GB}}

The ING faced media campaigns against the delay in returning to democracy and the continued involvement of the military in politics.

The government was opposed by pro-democracy activists, civil society organisations, labour unions and students.

The Lagos high court nullified Shonekan's appointment and called for Abiola to be sworn in as the elected candidate for the presidency.{{Cite web |date=2015-06-12 |title=Abiola, June 12 and the road not taken |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/abiola-june-12-and-the-road-not-taken/ |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=Vanguard News |language=en-GB}}

General Sani Abacha forced Shonekan to resign on 17 November 1993, and as the most senior military officer took over as head of state.{{sfn|Cajetan N. Iheka|2012|p=1}}

Ministers

The ministers initially announced were:{{sfn|Daily Times news item, 1993}}

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The final list of members was:{{sfn|Wale Fatade|2014}}

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Notes

{{notes}}{{reflist|30em}}

Sources

{{refbegin}}

  • {{cite book|author=Ayo Olukotun|title=Repressive State and Resurgent Media Under Nigeria's Military Dictatorship, 1988–98

|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qz9BlWO7ExwC&pg=PA69|access-date=3 July 2015

|year=2004|publisher=Nordic Africa Institute|isbn=978-91-7106-524-7}}

  • {{cite book|author=Cajetan N. Iheka|title=Dictionary of African Biography

|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=39JMAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA1|access-date=3 July 2015

|year=2012|isbn=978-0-19-538207-5|chapter=Abacha, Sani}}

  • {{cite journal|ref={{harvid|Daily Times news item, 1993}}

|title=Daily Times news item, 1993|journal=Daily Times of Nigeria}}

  • {{cite journal|url=http://segun.bizland.com/ing1.htm|title=In the interim, a government in a fix

|author=Wale Fatade|journal=Daily Independent|year=2014|access-date=3 July 2015}}

{{refend}}

{{Cabinet ministries of Nigeria}}

Ernest Shonekan

Category:1993 in Nigeria