Class: Senior Secondary School 2 (SS2 / SSS 2)
Term: 3rd Term
Week: 5
Age: 16 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: History
Curriculum Theme: Nigerian Political History
Previous Lesson: Second Republic Continued: Federal Character, Bicameralism and Multi-Party Democracy.
Topic: THE RETURN OF THE MILITARY
Subject Matter: Meaning of return of the military (military takeover from civilian rule), factors that led to 1983 coup, programmes of the regime, anti-corruption programme, Buhari/Idiagbon regime, war against indiscipline WAI

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain:

Define the term “return of the military” in the Nigerian context.
Outline the factors that led to the 1983 military coup.
Explain the major programmes implemented by the Buhari/Idiagbon regime.
State the aims of the War Against Indiscipline (WAI).

Affective Domain:

Appreciate the complexities and reasons behind military interventions in Nigeria.
Recognize the impact of military rule on national development and governance.

Psychomotor Domain:

Discuss the features and effects of the War Against Indiscipline (WAI).
Analyze the challenges faced by the Buhari/Idiagbon regime.

Participate actively in discussions about Nigeria’s political history and military rule.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

Senior Secondary Schools Education Curriculum
State Unified Scheme of Work
Adekunle, A. et al. (2010). New Topics in West African History for Senior Secondary Schools. Ibadan: University Press PLC.

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Newspaper cuttings related to the 1983 coup and Buhari/Idiagbon regime.
Video clips showing events from the period (if available).
Political maps of Nigeria.
Pictures of key figures from the Buhari/Idiagbon regime.

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand a significant period in Nigeria’s political history, specifically the return of military rule in 1983. It enables pupils to identify the causes and effects of military interventions, which is important for understanding the country’s past and present political landscape.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have prior knowledge of Nigeria’s independence, the First and Second Republics, and the general concept of civilian and military rule.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

THE RETURN OF THE MILITARY

Meaning of the Return of the Military

The “return of the military” refers to the period when military officers once again seized power from an elected civilian government. In Nigeria, this specifically refers to the military coup of December 31, 1983, which overthrew the Second Republic led by President Shehu Shagari.

Factors that Led to the 1983 Coup

The military takeover in 1983 was a result of several critical issues that plagued the civilian government of the Second Republic. These factors include:

Economic Collapse: Nigeria faced a severe economic downturn characterized by falling oil prices, massive foreign debt, high inflation, unemployment, and scarcity of essential goods.
Widespread Corruption: There was rampant corruption and mismanagement of public funds across all levels of government, leading to a loss of public trust.
Constitutional Crisis: The 1983 general elections were widely believed to be rigged, leading to political instability, protests, and a breakdown of law and order.
Social Breakdown: There was a general decline in public morality, indiscipline, and a rise in crime. Basic social services were also deteriorating.
Insecurity: Various forms of social unrest and religious conflicts, such as the Maitatsine riots, contributed to a sense of insecurity.

Programmes of the Buhari/Idiagbon Regime (1983-1985)

The military regime of Major-General Muhammadu Buhari and his Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Major-General Tunde Idiagbon, focused on restoring discipline and fighting corruption. Key programmes included:

War Against Indiscipline (WAI): A comprehensive programme designed to instill discipline, patriotism, and national consciousness among Nigerians.
Anti-Corruption Crusade: A rigorous campaign against corruption, which led to the arrest and trial of many politicians and public officials from the previous regime.
Economic Austerity Measures: Policies aimed at reducing government spending, controlling imports, and promoting local production to revive the economy.
Decree 2 and Decree 4: These decrees curtailed civil liberties and press freedom in the interest of national security and public order.
Counter-Trade Policy: An attempt to exchange Nigeria’s crude oil for essential goods and machinery from other countries.

The War Against Indiscipline (WAI)

WAI was launched on March 20, 1984, by the Buhari/Idiagbon regime as a national re-orientation campaign. It aimed to restore order, sanity, and patriotism in Nigerian society.

Aims of WAI:

To instill public morality and ethical conduct.
To promote patriotism and national pride.
To encourage hard work and productivity.
To foster respect for constituted authority and public property.
To combat corruption and economic sabotage.

Pillars/Phases of WAI:

Queue Culture (Phase 1)
Work Ethics (Phase 2)
Nationalism and Patriotism (Phase 3)
Anti-Corruption and Economic Sabotage (Phase 4)
Environmental Sanitation (Phase 5)

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them to recall the last military coup in Nigeria before 1983 and the circumstances that led to it.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond by mentioning the 1966 coup and discuss the reasons.
Learning Point: Pupils connect previous knowledge to the new topic.

Step 2: Meaning of Military Return

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the meaning of “return of the military” focusing on the 1983 coup and the overthrow of civilian rule.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively and ask questions for clarification.
Learning Point: Pupils understand what the return of the military signifies in Nigerian history.

Step 3: Factors Leading to the 1983 Coup

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion/Analysis
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher outlines and discusses the factors that led to the 1983 coup, using newspaper cuttings and video clips to illustrate the economic collapse, corruption, and political crises.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils explain the factors in their own words and discuss how these issues affected the country.
Learning Point: Pupils identify and comprehend the causes of the 1983 military intervention.

Step 4: Programmes of the Buhari/Idiagbon Regime

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Lecture/Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the major programmes initiated by the Buhari/Idiagbon regime, such as the anti-corruption drive and economic austerity measures.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils take notes and ask questions about the regime’s policies.
Learning Point: Pupils learn about the key initiatives of the Buhari/Idiagbon government.

Step 5: Introduction to War Against Indiscipline (WAI)

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the War Against Indiscipline (WAI), defining it and stating its primary aims and the context of its launch.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and note the definition and aims of WAI.
Learning Point: Pupils grasp the concept and purpose of WAI.

Step 6: Discussion on WAI

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads a brief discussion on the various phases/pillars of WAI and its impact on Nigerian society at the time.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils contribute to the discussion, sharing their understanding of WAI’s effects.
Learning Point: Pupils gain a deeper understanding of WAI’s implementation and societal influence.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

What does the “return of the military” refer to in the context of Nigerian history?
Mention three factors that led to the 1983 military coup.
List two major programmes of the Buhari/Idiagbon regime.
What were the main aims of the War Against Indiscipline (WAI)?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.
Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarization
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the key points of the lesson and assigns homework: “Research and write a short essay on the challenges faced by the Buhari/Idiagbon regime.”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and copy down the homework.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their learning and are prepared for further study.

Lesson Keywords

Military Coup – The sudden, illegal overthrow of a government by a small group, typically the armed forces.
Second Republic – The period of Nigeria’s history between 1979 and 1983 when the country had a civilian government led by President Shehu Shagari.
Buhari/Idiagbon Regime – The military government that ruled Nigeria from December 1983 to August 1985.
War Against Indiscipline (WAI) – A national re-orientation campaign launched by the Buhari/Idiagbon regime to instill discipline and patriotism.
Economic Austerity – Policies aimed at reducing government spending and national debt.

Differentiation

For pupils who grasp concepts quickly, the teacher can encourage them to research and present on the immediate reactions of Nigerians to the 1983 coup. For those who need more support, the teacher will provide simplified notes and focus on the core definitions and factors through direct questioning and repetition.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Teachers should ensure to use relevant visual aids like newspaper headlines and historical images to make the lesson more engaging and concrete. Encourage open discussion while maintaining a respectful classroom environment, especially when discussing sensitive political events. Emphasize the long-term implications of military interventions on Nigeria’s democratic journey.