NIGERIAN FEDERALISM AND THE ISSUE OF RESTRUCTURING (A CASE STUDY OF SELECTED POLITICAL PARTIES IN ABUJA)

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Nigeria, a politically arranged country, is the product of British experiment in political cloning. In fact, the British themselves only came to understand the eccentricity of the territory after the acquisition. The situation is however worse for Nigerians. For some, it was, accidental while for some others, it was involuntary and eternally traumatic.

However, for all of them, it was a forced brotherhood and sisterhood which has defied as it were, all known formulas for nation building. In fact, an eminent Nigerian political actor described the product of the experiment as ‘a mere geographical expression’ Awolowo (1947) another equally prominent actor described it as the ‘mistake of 1914” [Paden, 2011] while the First Prime Minister, Tafawa Balewa told the Legislative Council in 2009 that “Nigerian unity is only a British intention for the country [Federation of Nigeria, 2009].

Thus, the political history of this 1914 geographically created entity has been dominated by efforts at fashioning a system that has the potentials to approximate the people’s wishes and desires, to no avail.

The attraction for federalism in Nigeria borders on its perceived integrative tendency, which makes it capable of serving heterogeneous societies. In the words of Roberts and Simbine (2013) when socially and culturally distinct people find themselves together in the same polity through circumstance of history, to live peacefully together and govern together, they have to strike a balance, which must be acceptable to all the parties involved.

Federalism is the system which shares power in such a way that each recipient unit assumes a separate existence and commands relatively exclusive authority over some clearly specified sphere of state activity, in principle, ensures such a balance.

However, in spite of its integrative tendency, Odukoya and Ashiru [2007] are quick to point out that federalism does not necessarily possess the magic wand or formula that instantaneously resolves the problems and contradictions of heterogeneous societies. Rather they argue that the socio-economic and political specificities of different societies, coupled with constant and continuous engineering, re-engineering and adjustment is needed, if the goals of federalism is to be achieved.

Since independence in 1960, the country has been faced with the problem of representational equity which ordinarily is expected to be contained by the practice of federalism. The Nigerian situation is such that the desire for organizational institutionalization and coherence under a federal governance model which is globally assumed as a potent remedy for rhythmic dislocations and disruptions is yet to be accomplished and fuelling persistent calls for the redesign of the federal practice.

At the dawn of Nigeria’s second republic, Bolaji Akinyemi, Dele Cole and Walter Of Onagoro [1979] the editors of an important work published in Nigeria, Readings on Federalism, that brought together in one volume views of leading scholars in Comparative Federalism worldwide averred in its preface, that “Federal states are continually engaged in the process of reviewing their federal systems in order to retain their relevance to their societies”.

They also added, perhaps for effect, that “the need to review federal systems should not be seen as a sign of weakness” because, whereas federalism “promises that federal institutions may be designed to meet the particular needs of the communities establishing them; the promise is often honoured more in its breach than in its delivery”.

Interestingly, almost six decades after independence, federalism’s minimalist promissory note to permit the people of the union, their own nationalism and self determination is highly endangered in Nigeria.

This is fundamental because of the absence of the civic political culture that is germane to the workings of conceptual phrases that scaffolds a federal system such as ‘existence of relatively independent centres of power’, ‘inter-governmental relations driven by partnership’, ‘local people deciding on local priorities’, etc thus fuelling ceaseless agitations for restructuring.

It is in light of this, that this paper examines the entire gamut of the practice of federalism in Nigeria. In specific terms, it interrogates the interface of the federal principle and federal practice in Nigeria.

The rest of the study looked at the age long rivalries between Nigeria’s ethnic nationalities and the renewed ethno-national agitations. This research work also considers the desideratum of political restructuring in Nigeria.

1.2. STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

As a system of political arrangement, federalism has endured as one of the most preferred form of governmental authority in the modern world. Its attraction borders on its perceived integrative tendency that serves heterogeneous societies well in situation of crisis. In Nigeria, attempt at integrating the various nationalities towards mutual accommodation and national consciousness provided the incentive for its adoption.

The viability and potentials of sub-national entities as co-ordinate spheres of authority and development was equally undermined, as they became mere appendage of the central government. The eventual outcomes were a general sense of alienation, frustration, insecurity and subjugation. The necessity of harnessing and integrating the country’s diverse indigenous experiences into the governance framework becomes fundamental for proactive and positive civic engagement.

Despite possessing significant natural resources endowment, being Africa’s leading economy and most populous nation, Nigerians are neither happy nor content with the current political structure, the 1999 Constitution as amended and virtually all the institutional governance at the federal state and local levels.

Today, more powers had been concentrated at the centre manifested in a federal government assumed ever more powers and responsibilities, took the biggest chunk of national revenues (Now about 53percent) at the detriment of other tiers.

The state of national dissatisfaction for a variety of reasons amongst devolution of powers, to sub-national, fiscal federalism, citizenship matters, federating units, local government autonomy, resource control, power sharing, derivations principle has led to strident calls from virtually all segments of Nigeria for restructuring.

1.3 AIMS OF THE STUDY

The major purpose of this study is to examine Nigerian Federalism and the issue of restructuring in Nigeria. Other general objectives of the study are:

1. To examine possible ways of restructuring Nigeria for true federalism.

2. To examine the factors affecting incessant agitations for restructuring in Nigeria.

3. To examine the process of restructuring Nigeria for good governance.

4. To examine the benefits of restructuring Nigeria.

5. To examine the relationship between restructuring and economic development.

6. To suggest possible ways of strengthening stability in a restructured Nigeria.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What are the possible ways of restructuring Nigeria for true federalism?

2. What are the factors affecting incessant agitations for restructuring in Nigeria?

3. What are the processes of restructuring Nigeria for good governance?

4. What are the benefits of restructuring Nigeria?

5. What is the relationship between restructuring and economic development?

6. What are the possible ways of strengthening stability in a restructured Nigeria?

1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

Hypothesis 1

H0: There is no impact of federalism and restructuring in Nigeria.

H1: There is a significant impact of federalism and restructuring in Nigeria.

Hypothesis 2

H0: There is no significant relationship between restructuring and economic development in Nigeria.

H1: There is a significant relationship between restructuring and economic development in Nigeria.

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study will help the researchers to have insight into the various factors that have led to the serious agitation by regions and ethnic groups in the country. The perceived level of injustice and inequality witnessed by some regions and ethnic groups that have led to serious agitations for the calls for restructuring; thus enable the researchers to proffer solutions the resulting problem in Nigeria.

It will be of immense benefit to the government since it highlighted the challenges on issues which will enable the government to make appropriate adjustments that would douse the tensions and check the threat to national unity, while serving as a valuable tool for future research.

The study will assist all the stakeholders in Nigeria to appreciate the need for the widening of the political space through integration and accommodation of the views and opinions that will enhance true federalism.

1.7    SCOPE OF THE STUDY 

The study is based on Nigerian federalism and the issue of restructuring in Nigeria, a case study of selected political parties in Abuja.

1.8 LIMITATION OF STUDY

Financial constraint– Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint– The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Federalism: Is the mixed or compound mode of government, combining a general government (the central or ‘federal’ government) with regional governments (provincial, state, cantonal, territorial or other sub-unit governments) in a single political system.

Its distinctive feature, exemplified in the founding example of modern federalism by the United States of America under the Constitution of 1787, is a relationship of parity between the two levels of government established. It can thus be defined as a form of government in which there is a division of powers between two levels of government of equal status.

Restructuring:  Bringing about a drastic or fundamental internal change that alters the relationships between different components or elements of an organization or system.