Proceedings of the 3rd (Hybrid) International Conference, Faculty of Social Sciences, Niger Delta University, Held on June 4, 2025
DOI: 10.36108/wjss/ConfP.2025.022
APPLICATION OF ROBERT MERTON’S MANIFEST FUNCTIONS AND LATENT FUNCTIONS IN FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL IN NIGERIA: MATTERS ARISING IN EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Lawrence Udisi and Timiyerimene Ayogoi Martin Holewa
Department of Sociology, Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State, Nigeria
Abstract
The planned and recognized effects of social phenomena are Robert Merton’s manifest functions. The hidden or unanticipated effects of social phenomena are its latent functions. The obvious benefit of removing fuel subsidies was the billions of dollars in tax revenue that the government could use for much-needed infrastructure projects. The government claimed that the subsidy is no longer affordable and that the average Nigerian does not benefit from it because petrol station owners and operators do not pass the savings on to customers. This is because of systemic inefficiencies in the country’s downstream industry. The administration is anticipating a yearly savings of almost US6 billion as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy. Subsidy removal would help rectify Nigeria’s massive budget gap between operating and capital expenditures. Removing subsidies is a key part of the federal government’s plan to speed up Nigeria’s economic growth, according to their stance. Removing fuel subsidies had the unintended consequence of hurting many people, including those in the state and social services sector, the education and health sectors, the lower middle class, the elderly, students, and women. It also reduced the quality of life and jeopardized state security. Examining the hidden impact of removal of fuel subsidies on educational progress is the primary objective of this article. The approach is qualitative, and it makes use of Robert Merton’s idea of latent and manifest functions.
Keywords: Manifest functions and Latent functions, Fuel Subsidy Removal, Matters Arising, Educational Development