PUBLIC PERCEPTION ON DIVIDEND OF DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA: A STUDY OF MINNA METROPOLIS, NIGER STATE

This study examined the public perception on dividend of democracy in Minna Metropolis, Niger State. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population of the study consisted of 625,000 adult residents of Minna Metropolis, comprising both Bosso and Chanchaga Local Government Area. A sample size of 384 respondents was selected for the study using Krejcie and Morgan Table. The sample respondents are particularly those aged 18 years and above, who were eligible voters and had experienced democratic governance in Niger State. A multistage sampling technique was adopted, which involved stratifying the metropolis into major areas, randomly selecting communities, and selecting respondents from the chosen communities. The instrument used for data collection was a structured questionnaire designed by the researcher. The questionnaire was validity by experts at Department of Political Science, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai. A pilot study was conducted outside the study area to test the reliability of the instrument, and the data obtained were analyzed using Cronbach’s Alpha which yielded an index of 0.85. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, mean, and standard deviation. Inferential statistics, t-test was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Based on the findings, the study concluded that the public perception of democratic dividends in Minna Metropolis is negative. The study recommended among others that government should prioritize investment in critical infrastructure and social services to ensure citizens experience tangible benefits of democracy.