True Federalism and Sustainable Development in Nigeria (A Discourse on National Question and/or National Maladies)

27 Pages Posted: 7 May 2015

See all articles by Chukwunonye Akujuru

Chukwunonye Akujuru

University of Calabar (UNICAL), Department of Public Administration; Port Harcourt Polytechnic

Newman Enyioko (PhD)

Medonice Consulting and Research Institute

Date Written: May 3, 2015

Abstract

Federalism is often regarded as the appropriate governmental principle for countries with huge ethno-cultural diversities. Nigeria, with over two hundred and fifty ethnic groups inherited a federal system from Britain in 1960 and successive governments have attempted, with varying degrees of sincerity and commitment to operate federal institutions that can accommodate the country’s ethnic, cultural, religious and linguistic diversities and nurture a sense of national unity. However, the leaders of these governments, at all levels, have failed to fulfill their obligations to offer good governance anchored on equitable political arrangements, transparent administrative practices and accountable public conduct. Indeed, failure to encourage genuine power sharing has triggered dangerous rivalries between the central government and the thirty six states governments over revenue from the country’s oil and other natural resources. The defective federal structure has also promoted bitter struggles between interests groups to capture the state and its attendant wealth; and facilitated the emergence of violent ethnic militias, while politicians exploit and exacerbate inter-communal tensions for selfish reasons. Thus, communities throughout the country increasingly feel marginalized and alienated from the Nigerian state. These writers contend that the deeply flawed federal system in Nigeria constitutes a grave threat to national integration, stability and development; and that unless the government properly engages the underlying issues of resource control, power sharing, equal rights and accountability, the country will face an internal crisis of increasing and dangerous proportions. This paper seeks to examine “True Federalism and Sustainable Development in Nigeria (A Discourse on National Question and/or National Maladies)”.

Keywords: Nigerian Federalism, National Question, State Creation, Sustainable Development

Suggested Citation

Akujuru, Chukwunonye and Enyioko, Newman, True Federalism and Sustainable Development in Nigeria (A Discourse on National Question and/or National Maladies) (May 3, 2015). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2601963 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2601963

Chukwunonye Akujuru (Contact Author)

University of Calabar (UNICAL), Department of Public Administration ( email )

PMB 1115
Calabar, Cross River State
Nigeria

Port Harcourt Polytechnic ( email )

Rumuola
Port Harcourt, Rivers State
Nigeria

Newman Enyioko

Medonice Consulting and Research Institute ( email )

2 Oromerueximgbu Street
Total Village, Aba Road
Port Harcourt, South-South 234
Nigeria

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
660
Abstract Views
2,841
Rank
73,474
PlumX Metrics