Federalism, Democratic Governance and the Issues of Restructuring in Nigeria (original) (raw)

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.