THE IMPERATIVENESS OF SOCIAL CONTRACT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF STATE

Abstract

Social contract is a technical description of the terms and conditions of harmonious coexistence of people in an organised society - “State”. The concept of “State” describes a civic community that recognises and protects the rights of its members. State is structured into followership and leadership. Leadership characterises government. Government is an institution of State that organises its resources. State and government are assessed on the basis of development. This paper identifies a problem that certain States and governments neglect social contract to the extent that they neither give due recognition to the rights of the members nor prioritise their duty in terms of development; human and infrastructural, evident in their administrative strategies. This is typical of underdeveloped states. It argues that the governments of such States do not judiciously utilise available resources for the collective interest of the members, rather, for private interest. These problems express the people’s ignorance of social contract, the nature and purpose of state and government and moral character deficit among the people. The paper posits that social contract is indispensable for the development of state. It examines social contract in relation to development in the Nigerian state with particular reference to the Nigerian Civil War and the 2023 Presidential election. It adopts critical analysis of qualitative research methodology. It uses social contract for its theoretical framework. It recommends civic education, pragmatic implementation of social contract and inclusivity.