Abstract
The problem of federalism and the
associated crises of national integration in Nigeria raise serious alarm. The
situation attracts growing interest and concern. The crises are very severing
such that they culminate in a strong force being mounted on the federation with
tendency to disintegrate the country. The works addresses this phenomenon by
investigating and analysing the problem. Documentary research method is used in
gathering and analysing data. So textbooks, journals, periodical publications
by related government agencies formed necessary source of our data while we
employed system theory for pour analytical framework. The work identifies the
method of revenue allocations as the major factor responsible for the crises of
national integration in the Nigerian federalism. It concludes that in face in
this problem, harmonious unification or integration cannot take place,
political system cannot successfully adapt to both internal and external
environment such that the survival of the system is difficult. The work recommends among others that
federalism is the ultimate solution to the problems of national integration, so
federal character and other related approaches should be effectively enforced.
Again the current unjustifiable method of revenue allocation should be reformed
to reflect justice, equity and fairness.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter One: Introduction
1.0
Introduction 1
1.1
Statement of Problem 2
1.2
Objective of Study 4
1.3
Significance of Study 5
1.4
Literature Review 6
1.5
Theoretical Framework 13
1.6
Hypotheses 15
1.7 Method of Data Collection/ Analyses 16
1.8
Limitation of Study 17
1.9 Conceptual
Definitions 17
Chapter Two: Revenue Allocation and the Problem of National Integration
in Nigeria Federalism
2.0 Revenue Allocation and the Crises of National
integration In Nigerian Federalism 20
2.1
Resource Allocation 20
2.2
Northern Domination and the
Bogey of Power Sharing 24
2.3
Inequality created by
Ethnicity 27
2.4 Structural imbalance and the issue of Restructuring 30
Chapter Three: Federalism and the
Problem of National Integration in
Nigeria
3.0
Federalism and the problem of
National integration 33
3.1 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) 34
3.2
The Federal character Principle 37
3.3
The Creation of States 39
3.4
The Mass Mobilization for
Social Justice, Self Reliance and Economic Recovery (MAMSER) 43
Chapter Four: Religious and Ethnic Loyalties and National integration
4.0 Religious
and Ethnic Loyalties and National integration 46
4.1 Inter
ethnic Rivalries and National integration in Nigeria 46
4.2 Religious Loyalties and National
integration 48
Chapter Five: Summary /Conclusion and Recommendation
5.1
Summary 51
5.2
Conclusion 53
5.3
Recommendation 54
Bibliography 57
Journals/ Articles Newspapers/ Magazines
Chapter One Introduction
The crises of
national integration in Nigeria are very severing such that the Nigerian
federation is at its collapsing point. The heterogeneous nature of the country
combines with the improper mode of the country’s formation gave rise to
antagonistic and integrative processes.
Nigeria as a country
came into corporate existence in 1914, as a result of the fusion between the
northern and southern protectorates by the British. National integration is the
ultimate goal to be achieved in a multi ethnic country like Nigeria for there
to be any reasonable development,.
According to Chime,
[1971.50], national integration is a process of cohesion between two or more
social units, whereby these units come together to constitute a political whole
which include among other things the joining of various parts of society into a
functioning whole, the growth of obedience and loyalty to its pars and the
emergence of shared national values. It follows, that Nigeria would have
received national unity where obedience and loyalties to the Nigerian state,
transcend loyalties to its parts. Thus conceptualization implies social equality
of citizens.
Federation is a
system of government adopted to enhance national integration in Nigeria; it is
also a form of government that defines the relationship between component parts
assumed to have the potential for integrating diverse cultural societies. The
religions rather engage in ethnicity, political struggle by social classes,
religious conflict etc, which culminate in the crises of national integration
that reached climax during the period of the attempted succession and civil
war.
1.1 Statement
of Problem
Nigeria is
essentially a plural society, its component groups are separated apart from
each other by significant differences of language, ethnicity, and cultures of
Nigeria created differences in attitude, outlook and character.
Faced with these
problems, Nigeria adopted federalism as a means of achieving its much needed
goal of national integration. In essence the federalism so adopted is expected
to reduce the immensely aggressive inter ethnic competition and tension, allay
the usually alleged fear of domination, bringing government nearer to the
people and give the different groups more opportunities, thereby integrating
the country.
Federation requires
decentralization of power among the component units. It also requires that no
component unit should be as large in size as to eliminate others. The case of
Nigeria shows that power is concentrated in the central government. On the
other parts, there exist structural imbalance between the northern, the east
and west of Nigeria. This situation therefore by majority, political power is
proportionately in favour of the north above other religions. The issue of
revenue allocation in Nigeria is not without its own problems. As if all these
problems are not enough for Nigeria federalism, the issue of on shore offshore
dichotomy and equally the alarm raised about the marginalization from all
religion in Nigeria are by setting the unity of the country.
We can
summarily state the under following as our research questions.
1.
Is the method of revenue allocation the major
factor responsible for the crises of national integration in the Nigerian
federalism?
2.
Could the practice of true federalism in Nigeria
alleviate the problem of national integration?
3.
Could religion and ethnic loyalties be a major
challenge in national integration in Nigeria?
1.2 Objectives
of the Study
The
research is set out to among other things
1.
To find out the relationship between revenue
allocation and national integration in Nigeria.
2.
To discover if the operation of true federalism
in Nigeria could help in tackling the problems.
3.
To inquire into the impact of religions and
ethnic loyalties and national integration in Nigeria.
1.3 Significance
of the Study
It has become
obvious that Nigeria cannot make any meaningful progress in the absence of
unity. Some founding fathers of Nigeria adopted federalism as a pragmatic
instrument for the achievement of the goal of national unity. The rationale was
to see if there could be unity in diversity which means that there could be
ways of bringing diverse ethnic groups into a modern nation. However, amidst
all the efforts, the goals of national integration are not yet possible owing
to the numerous problems inherent in Nigeria federalism.
It is therefore the
task of this work to contribute in no little measure to the solution of the
problem of national integration. Apart from thus, the work will equally add to
the volumes of research materials available for further work on federalism and
national integration in Nigeria.
1.4 Literature
review
Much work has been
done on the subject matter federalism and its relation to national integration.
Most of the scholarly works were unable to give a comprehensive analysis of
Nigerian federalism and how it affects national integration. Though some of
them made very relevant scholarly contributions to knowledge from which a
number of conclusions can be drawn.
Federalism as has
been adopted in Nigeria found its way into our political arena during the colonial
era. The concept is closely related to the various social based on
coordinative, rather than sub coordinative relationship. It emphasises
partnership among parties of equal claims to legitimacy who seek a common
social order.
Jinadu says that it is usually built as a form
of government and constitutional structure deliberately designed by political
architects to cope with the different task of maintaining unity, while
preserving diversity,
Jinadu, [1979:15].
Speaking about
Nigeria federalism two schools of thought emerged on its evaluation. The first
school comprising of the nationalist believed that British imposed federalism
on Nigeria in order to maintain the neo colonial control of the country after
the lowering of the mantle. Chief Obafemi Awolowo, a convinced federalist
described the British imposed federal structure as an abominable destructive
and divisive British heritage, Awolowo, [1968:69]. They also believed that the
colonial power made sure that there was enough structured imperfection left
behind to bedevil inter ethnic relations after independence. However, this view
of imposition held by this school is not exactly objective as Nigerians
involved gave consent for her to become a federal state.
The second school of
thought is of the opinion that historical and geographical factors determine
the political evolution of Nigerian federalism. Nigeria being a large and
culturally variegated country could not have been governed for a long time from
one centre Akinyemi, [1979:91]. This view is not quite correct, as it is time
that factors of history and geography more than anything else determines the
constitutional evolution of Nigeria.
Ethnicity is one
concept that cannot be over looked in the discussion of the structure of
Nigerian federalism and national integration as a whole. It has been defined as
the social phenomenon associated with interaction among members of different
ethnic groups refer to social formation distinguished by the communal character
of the boundaries of which their common factors may be language, culture or
both, Nnoli, (1973:58). Nigeria is one country that comprised various ethnic
groups with physical or different backgrounds, ancestry and tradition. Nnoli
goes further to mention some characteristics that distinguish one from
ethnocentrism which simply connotes pride in ones group, a hampering that makes
the members of the group inward looking.
According to him,
ethnicity exists in a political society consisting of diverse ethnic groups. It
is also characterized by a common consciousness of being one in relation to the
other groups. Impulsiveness can be sighted as an attribute of ethnicity which
says, is normally accompanied by nepotism and corruption. Conflict is also seen
as important aspect of ethnicity.
As he says, it is
inevitable under conditions of inter ethnic competitions for scarce valuable
resources particularly in a society where inequality is accepted as natural and
wealth is greatly exchanged.
Several efforts have been made to adjust these
social abnormalities and as Ibrahim Babangida said from anthropological and
sociological viewpoint, Nigeria is a complex country, therefore nation building
in Nigeria context must be of necessity because it is a complex and expensive
enterprise.
Eleigwa, (1995:5),
Nnoli 1978, also believed that the recovery of Nigeria will not be an easy
task. He says adequate solution to the ethnic problems of Nigeria must stern
logically from rigorous scientific analyses of the causes of the emergence and
persistence and growth of ethnicity in the country. Ojukwu in his lecture,
towards a greater Nigeria, said that national integration cannot be achieved by
giving setaceous speeches; rather appropriate steps will include de emphasising
tribe and ethnic origin in all official documents that no Nigeria should offer
instability whatsoever.
However Ema Awa,
[1976] has noted that federalism involves corporation between the two levels of
government and such cooperation increased in scope and quantity as the
federation matures. Bargaining also assumes more important as the federation
becomes more highly developed. As he further explained, there are always some
conflicts in the relation between the regions and federal government and among
the regions and themselves.
After going through the available literatures
on federalism it was observed that the writers made relevant contributions,
they did not give a comprehensive analysis of the problem of Nigeria federalism
as they affect national integration. Sequel to this, in exploring the meaning
of federalism, the issue of national integration must inevitably arise. In line
with this, it became germane to review the contributions made by some scholars
on
national integration.
Duuelger defines national integration as
building up solidarity and breaking down antagonism among the people in a
political system. It refers specifically to the creation of a sense of
territorial rationality which overshadows parochial loyalties.
Chime sees national
integration as a process of cohesion between two or more social units whereby
those units come together to constitute a political whole, which can in some
cases be described as community.
Ali Mazrui in his
book cultural Engineering and nation building in East Africa 1902, sees
national integration as the process of merging sub going entities into a shared
sense of national consciousness.
In the same vein De
Uree also defines integration as the combination and autonomous social and
political problems arising among its members, for controlling their behaviour
and the processes occurring among them, for keeping peace among them and or
mobilizing their power or resources for making collection decision and as a
result of all things, acting as a new unit with respect to its social or physical
environment. Prior to these definitions, integration will be conceived as the
process of increasing a social or political system capacity based on decision
making process.
National integration
is relation to national development. It usually constitutes a platform for
national development. Development can only be achieved in an atmosphere of
cooperation and unity.
Where everybody feel
a sense of belonging and wants to contribute his own quota to the development
of national goal.
According to O. Aboyade
in his book, issues in the development of tropical Africa (1976:16), he
observed that development is essentially a continuous process of generating and
more efficiently allocating resources for achieving greater social satisfying
ends. While political development relates to the overall capacity of a people
to govern them efficiently, this ability to govern relates to the capacity to
extract resources, make and regulate behaviours. It also means the ability to
resolve societal problems and manage conflicts.
If the society is able to do all these
things mentioned, it will certainly lead to economic development for that
nation.
Conclusively, after
going through the available literatures on federalism and national integration,
it was observed that some of them were able to explain to an extent the
feasibility of achieving national integration. However in this study, we shall
attempt to explore the suitability and adaptability of federalism to the
excruciating task of building a coherent nation out of desperate and
antagonistic people in Nigeria.
1.5 Theoretical Frameworks
Theoretical
framework is indeed very useful in a research work in the sense that it
enhances its internal activity. With this in mind, there are lot of theories
used in the field of political science for research analysis; however, we will
adopt the system theory by David Easton.
This theory is seen
by scholars among who is Ifesinachi as a set of related elements and
interrelations among them, which are disintegrated from those elements not in
the system by ambiguous analytic boundaries. The theory explains the component
of the system made up of groups, persons or areas where the frequency of a
particular pattern of interaction falls to an observable degree.
Interdependence is the uniting force in the system; this is because stability
and subsequently growth can only be achieved when all the components of a
system work together.
As a way of using
the system theory by David Easton to analyse this work, Easton, [2002], defines
a political system as that system of interacting in any society through which
binding or authoritative allocations are made and implemented.’[Easton in Okere
2002:98] this implies that an organization interacting with an environment,
influencing it and being influenced by it and there also many interacting
internal parts which constitutes parts of the arranging that the society
employs in formulating and pursuing its collective goods [Almond and
Powell 1980:4].
The three vital
components of Easton definitions of political system constitute authoritative
allocation, values and society.
At this point, it becomes necessary to
make a brief application of this theory to the Nigerian political scene, before
and after independence. The theory would be employed in this study because in
Nigeria, like any other third world federative system, the power to allocate
the resources available in the country is essentially concentrated at the
central government, [federal level] that is the hierarchy of authority [federal
level, state and local government], with the central government sitting on top
of other levels in the allocation of revenues. This is basically due to the prolonged
military rule in the country, and this has been one of the banes. For the
country to experience genuine unity and subsequently development, all the
groups and cleavages have to come together since no part of the system can
function effectively and maximally without depending on the other components.
1.6 Hypotheses
It is necessary to
formulate some guiding hypotheses. The hypotheses thus raised are.
1.
The method of revenue allocation tends to
constitute the major factor responsible for the crisis of national integration
in the Nigerian federalism.
2.
Federalism in Nigeria could help in talking the
problem of national integration.
3.
Religious and ethnic loyalties are major threats
to national disintegration.
1.7 Methods of Data Collection/ Analysis
In this study we
adopted the use of secondary source of data as the main method. This is
justified due to its intrinsic values. For any research to be meaningful,
reliable and scientific fact and ideas must be supplemented with empiricism.
Secondary
materials like textbooks, research papers, government
publications, newspapers, magazines etc
will be seriously put into use.
1.8 Limitation of the Study
The basic problems
which were encountered during this study were the scarcity and inaccessibility
of materials. However the study was successfully done because of the extra
efforts made to get more resources and procure the materials for analyses.
1.9 Conceptual Definitions
In this study, some
key concept will be used. Some of these concepts include national integration
and federalism.
I. National integration
National integration
involves the existence of national consciousness, which is the feeling of
individual or group identity within the nation state as the only political unit
through which their collective interest can be realized.
National integration therefore involves patriotism which a
call for supreme scarifies on the part of the entire citizenry for the whole
country if the need arises.
II. Federalism
Federalism
means an arrangement whereby powers within a multinational country are shared between a federal or
central authority and a number of regionalized governments in such a way that
each unit, including this central authority exist as a government separately
and independently from the others.
Division of power
among the levels of government by the constitution is explicit. The centre and
the component unit [regions, states] have defined spheres of authority, powers
and shared among the levels of government which are coordinates. Powers shared
among the various levels could be categorized as exclusive list, concurrent
list and residual list.
A. Exclusive list
Subjects on this
list are reserved for the centre [federal government] examples here are,
defence, internal affairs, national currency, immigration, maritime activities,
aviation, etc.
B. The Concurrent List
Subjects here are to be exercised both by the federal and
the state. Example includes agriculture, health, commerce, education, works
etc.
C. Residual List
This comprises functions to be exercised by the state/ unit
government alone, example includes chieftaincy title etc.
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