Nigerian Federalism and the Unending Clamour for Restructuring: Which Way Forward? 1 2 (original) (raw)
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FUDMA Journal of Politics and International Affairs, 2020
Restructuring has been a usual clamor in a heterogeneous societies due to their nature. The study focusses on the challenges of Nigerian federalism and restructuring as a way out. It identified the factors necessitating the call for restructuring which are conceived as the challenges of the nation's federalism. These are; elite interests, fear of domination, political idiosyncrasy among others. Devolution of power, review of revenue sharing, call for creation of states among others, were also identified as areas of contention in the struggle. The study adopted secondary method of data collection, and being a qualitative research, a descriptive analytical method was adopted. David Easton's systems theory was adopted. The analytical discourse, revealed that, there are calls for restructuring from all quarters. The study concludes that, restructuring Nigeria is imperative, and that, it must carry every quarter alone with high degree of equity; for that is one of the most possible way by which cooperation and trust; which are paramount for institutional and organizational progress and development can be obtained. Organizing a Sovereign National Conference SNC as a platform for discussion, local government autonomy, review of revenue sharing pattern, creation of more states, and making Traditional Rulers more relevant in the governing process were recommended.
Nigerian Federalism: The Quest for Restructuring
Jurnal Studi Pemerintahan
The quest for restructuring Nigeria’s federal system has been a frequent tune from most of her citizens. This challenge has created a wide gap in the federation which threatens the sovereignty of the nation. These agitations for secession/disintegration, and restructuring from different strata of the nation have constituted a major threat to Nigerian sovereignty. Hence, the study looks at the make or mar locus confronting Nigeria federal system. Primary and secondary data were used for this study; the primary data were gathered through the use of a questionnaire, while content analysis was used for secondary data. The study revealed some issues involved in the agitation for restructuring which includes among others, the secession of some federating units, the creation of additional states, corruption, leadership crises, and the poor state of the country’s economy. Hence, the study recommends that there is an urgent need to restructure Nigeria’s federalism structure, especially the c...
Nigerian morbid federalism and demand for political restructuring
African Journal of Political Science and International Relations
The foundation of Nigeria's problems lies in its historical development. This is linked to the swift design by predatory colonial masters aimed at achieving their political economy in colonialization of Africa. Sequel to the amalgamation of the southern and northern protectorates in 1914, Nigeria's minimal state has continued to witness serial and intractable agitations, political interplays and intrigues and aspirations of statesmen and nationalists turned into defensive, mutual distrusts and regionalized. The social formation was at disequilibrium, hence, heightening the rate of agitations from different quarters. More worrisome is ever increasing calls for reformulation and restructuring of ailing Nigerian federal practice characterized by centripetal forces. However, it is based on this backdrop that the paper sets to interrogate the organic composition of Nigerian federalism; constitutional conferences and logic of political restructuring and the implications of Nigerians' perceptive on restructuring question. Methodologically, the paper appropriated documentary method and data were ostensibly generated through secondary sources of data collection and analyzed in content. The theoretical framework of analysis for the study was adequately anchored on the classical political economy paradigm as pioneered by Karl Marx; and validated through the writings of Ake, Alavi and Ifesinachi. The findings of the study had significantly revealed that federalism in Nigeria is more or less a feeding bottle system. Also implicated is that Nigerian state has failed to foster social engineering and nation-building, thereby enhancing agitations for restructuring. The paper recommends the need to devolve powers to other tiers of government other than concentration of power at center.
The Nigerian State and the Quest for Restructuring: Implications for Democratic Consolidation
This study examined the current challenges facing federalism in Nigeria and how it had hampered unity and development. The origin of federalism in Nigeria was traced to Littleton constitution of 1954, which bestowed on regional governments powers to generate and utilize funds at their own discretion and then pay royalties to the central government. During this period (1954)(1955)(1956)(1957)(1958)(1959)(1960)(1961)(1962)(1963)(1964)(1965)(1966)(1967)(1968)(1969), each region was economically viable and was able to develop at their own pace. However, the problem with Nigerian federalism started when the military intercepted the first republic and introduced centralized federalism characterized with greater allocation of source of generating revenue to the central government, ethnic rivalries, secession threat, minority agitations, corruption and demand for state creation. All these problems had their roots on wrong application of the principles of true federalism. Based on these problems, this paper proffered redistribution of powers to enable each federating unit operates and develop independent of central government. Also, to redress structural imbalance that has encouraged sectional dominance and over dependence on the federal authority for revenue. To achieve that, the paper used thematic analyses as information were generated through the secondary sources. The paper found amongst others that, federalism in Nigeria exists only in paper and not in reality. We therefore, recommend for a total restructure of the entire geographical locations so as to accommodate the dissent tribes that is today, clamoring for independence.
Restructuring And Clamour For True Federalism In Nigeria: A Comparative Analysis
Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 2018
Federalism has been given several meaning such that the new lexicons on the subject in Nigeria are 'true' and restructuring. However, the concept has more of a normative dimension than an empirical interpretation. This makes it difficult to generalize across the various political systems that have adopted a federal system. The primary aim of federalism is to accommodate diversity in a single entity. The challenge however lies in the underlining principle of federalism that will be suitable in resolving salient political issues in these societies. The debate often has resolve around the ideal model of federal arrangement that is suitable across time and space. While there have been diverse perspectives of federalism and its operations, consensus on the ideal model is still lacking. Thus, bringing to the fore arguments that federalism is a means to an end and not an end in itself. Consequently, the issues that necessitate the adoption of federalism should be the emphasis of the principles of federalism and not the adoption of a model that may not adequately capture the peculiarities of those societies. This paper attempts a conceptualisation of the concept and makes a comparison of its practice in United States of America and Nigeria.
Federalism in Nigeria – Problems, Prospects and the Imperative of Restructuring
IJASSH, 2018
Across the globe, Federalism has emerged as one of the most preferred form of government based on its integrative capability to approximate the heterogeneous political life of multi-ethnic and multi-linguistic societies. However in the Nigerian situation, the practice of federalism has remained a foreboding nightmare due to the skewed nature of federal practice which has led to serious contestations among the constituent nationalities thus resulting in endless tinkering and attempts at dissolution. The problem Nigeria has had to grapple is how to secure an efficient central government that would help preserve national unity while allowing free scope for the diversities of the multi-ethnic and multilingual constituent units. Despite the expansion from the colonial federal legacy of three political regions to a union of 36 states and 774 Local Governments, pressures for fundamental federal reforms have remained a persistent, intense and divisive feature of contemporary Nigerian politics. Thus, the paper utilized secondary (including historical) sources of data to show that notwithstanding the existence of other forms of logic, the main drive towards political restructuring in Nigeria is the recognition that existing state institutions, particularly at the center, are inadequate to apprehend, comprehend and resolve emerging challenges. It concludes on the note that the ability of Nigeria's post-civil war federalism to prevent state disintegration or a recurrence of large-scale ethno-secessionist violent movements has waned considerably, thus, the center would not hold much longer except the polity undergoes political, economic, structural and functional restructuring.
Federalism, Democratic Governance and the Issues of Restructuring in Nigeria
Nigeria has a long history of federal-democratic experience in Africa faced with many challenges such as prevalent insecurity, economic downturns, ethnic rivalry, corruption, minority outcry, as well as poor state of governance, which are duty bound on government to act swiftly and manage. Therefore, restructuring the federal system in the country is a reality check, in which the need for its call could be used to make a point in order to address the many factors that pose threat to the practice of democratic governance and sustenance of federal system of government in Nigeria's Fourth Republic. The objective of this paper is to interrogate the issues of restructuring federalism and justify its inevitability in the country. The theory of government which seeks to explain government as institutional activity is adopted as the framework of analysis. Documentary sources of data collection in which information are sourced from books, journals and government publications including constitution are employed. Thematic analysis is adopted in the paper and found out the unanswered questions which make issues of restructuring contentious in the country. It concludes that restructuring federalism in Nigeria is a timely exercise for the survival of the country as an indivisible political entity and recommends for the culture of patriotism on 'Country first' as imbibed and institutionalized in developed and some developing countries should be introduced and practiced in the country. Therefore, for having 'Nigeria first' in all ramifications-political, social, economic and administrative spheres would help to manage conflict, promote national integration and enhanced the practiced of democratic governance. By so doing, Nigeria will be a better place for Nigerians and the future generations.
Asian Social Science, 2018
Evidence abound that Nigeria"s form of federal system has been grappling with serious working and institutional challenges. The paper interrogated contending issues ravaging Nigeria"s federal polity with a clarion call for timely adoption of neo-federalism paradigm. It employed qualitative research method with classical model of federalism as framework of analysis. The paper established that Nigeria"s federal republic is associated with over-concentration of governmental powers at the centre, sectional domination of powers and political leadership, inept and corrupt leadership/bad governance, socioeconomic crisis, insecurity, corruption, favouritism and nepotism, problem of power sharing and poor implementation of federal character principle, which further heightened the delivery of socioeconomic services and democratic dividends to the people. It concluded that for Nigeria"s federation to stand the test of time and overcome myriad problems it is currently facing, embracing the neo-federalism paradigm is inevitable. Among recommendations proffered include devolution of powers, adequate provision of sustainable security, and election of dedicated, committed and visionary leadership at all levels of government with the ability to drive the economic blueprints of this nation towards greatness, provide essential needs for the citizenry and promote good governance.
NIGERIAN FEDERALISM: AN OVERVIEW OF ITS IMPERATIVES AND IMPEDIMENTS
Journal of International Studies, UUM, 2021
This article provides an overview of Nigerian federalism in relation to the imperatives and impediments of its practice, which it has been grappling with since the constitutional enactment of the system in October, 1954. This study utilized qualitative research method by way of analyzing historical archives and documents, including secondary data sources. Historical documentation method was used as the principal analysis tool in this study. The study found that federalism remains the most viable system for Nigeria based on the past and present experiences amongst the former Nigerian military regimes, politicians, British colonialists, nationalists and founding fathers of the Nigerian state. However, there has yet to be a nationally accepted arrangement to be used in operating the country's federal system. This is based on the heterogeneous nature and character of the Nigerian state. There are, however numerous impediments to the effective and efficient practice of federalism, including prolonged military rule, manipulation of religious differences and regional diversity, revenue and resource allocation politics and conflict, including poor intergovernmental relations. Thus, the search for a viable federal arrangement and its advancement continues to be explored.
An Evaluation of the Origins, Structure and Features of Nigerian Federalism
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to examine the origins, structure and features of Nigerian Federalism. The paper traces the origin of Nigerian federalism to colonial insinuations of conquest and divide and rule. Colonialism began with the reorganization and fusion of territories known as amalgamation between 1861 and 1914, an act which was not meant to nurture a federal idea. The finding of this paper reveals that, Nigerian federalism is a child of necessity rather than a colonial intention for the country. The colonial conquest had altered the symbiotic and inter-group relationships that had existed and persisted between the diverse cultures and people. This was replaced by enmity, divisions and hatred with strong sense of sectionalism, ethno-religious, tribal chauvinism and geographical polarizations. Ever since 1914 to date, the structure of Nigerian federalism has dramatically transformed from the level of provinces and regions to the current structure of 36 States and 774 Local Government Areas as well as the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The challenges that are facing Nigerian federalism are; revenue sharing formula among the tiers, state creation, resource control and power sharing. The paper utilizes the secondary source of data and analysis of documents as its methodology. The paper concludes that Nigerians have recognized the significance of the federal system of government and opt for its preservation, because it encourages unity in diversity among the 250 ethnic groups that make up the federation.