Proceedings of the 3rd (Hybrid) International Conference, Faculty of Social Sciences, Niger Delta University, Held on June 4, 2025
DOI: 10.36108/wjss/ConfP.2025.014
PUBLIC POLICY MAKING AND FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL IN NIGERIA: EXPLORING JEREMY BENTHAM’S UTILITARIAN THEORY
Christopher Fiemotongha
Department of Political Science, Isaac Jasper Boro College of Education, Sagbama, Bayelsa State
Abstract
The objectives of public policy in Nigeria indicates the desire to arrive at outcomes that promotes the welfare of the people and general societal good, which conforms with Utilitarianism. However, most policy outcomes in Nigeria contradicts these objectives and does not reflect the principles of utilitarianism. Utilitarianism, also known as the principle of consequentialism focuses on the realization of the greatest happiness of the greatest number, resulting from human actions, especially of the State. This study, “Public Policy Making and the Fuel Subsidy Removal Policy in Nigeria: Exploring Jeremy Bentham’s Utilitarian theory”, examines the application of Bentham’s Utility theory to policy making, and the total removal of Fuel Subsidy in Nigeria by president Ahmed Bola Tinibu on May 29, 2023. The Utilitarian theory is a democratic theory that is defined by the welfare and happiness of the majority, however the formulation of the Fuel Subsidy Removal policy and its rejection by the people, because of the pain it brought on them, was a total deviation from the principle of Utility. Is Utilitarianism applied in policy making and implementation in Nigeria? The Fuel Subsidy Removal policy brought pain and hardship to Nigerians instead of producing the greatest happiness of the majority and general wellbeing of society. The study employed qualitative content analysis in the analysis of data, and the Utilitarian theory as its theoretical framework. It is observed that the vigour and commitment exerted in the formulation of policies in Nigeria, is not employed in their implementation. Nigeria should employ Utilitarianism as a standard in the formulation and implementation of public policies, as it is emphasized by Scholars as the ideal, democratic and practical guide to policy making and implementation.
Keywords: Bentham, Fuel Subsidy, Public Policy, Nigeria, Utilitarianism