ABSTRACT
One of the greatest problems facing the Nigerian
polity is the issue of nationality question, especially as it concerns ethnic
representation. The Federal Character Principle was adopted to counteract this
issue. In this regard this work evaluated the extent to which the Federal
Character Principle has gone in the promotion of a sense of belonging for all
citizens in all sections of the country - paying particular attention to the
issues and challenges confronting the principle and its application in Nigeria.
The study centered on the Nigerian system - covering the administrative
processes, political appointments and school quota system. The secondary method
of data collection was adopted' most of the study materials are based on both
previous and ongoing researches in the field library sources, textbooks,
journals, conference papers, newspapers, magazines, and other study-guides
which were especially helpful. Data analysis was done using descriptive and
analytical method based on existing documentations and historical data. The
study adopted the integration theory as its theoretical framework because of
its relevance to the issue in focus. Tables and statistical data are also
presented where necessary. The study discovered that Federal Character
Principle has so far been unproductive in its function to promote national
integration and even national development. Finally, the study called for, among
other things, a redefinition of the country’s philosophies and values that will
be suitable and be in consonance with the peculiarity of Nigeria environment.
This will entail rethinking the Federal Character Principle to provide
practical solutions to the country’s overall question of national integration
and development.
Keywords: Federal Character Principle, Nationality Question,
Development, National Integration, Ethnic Representation.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
Contents: Pages:
Title Page … … … … … i
Approval
Page … … … … ii
Dedication … … … … … iii
Acknowledgement … … … … iv
Abstract … … … … … v
List of
Tables… … … … … vi
Table of
Content … … … … vii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study … … … 1
1.2 Statement of Problem … … … 5
1.3 Objectives of the Study … … … 6
1.4 Significance of the Study … … … 7
1.5 Scope of Study … … … … 8
1.6 Limitations of Study … … … … 8
1.7 Operational Definition of Concepts… … … 8
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Global Overview … … … 11
2.2 Perceptions of Scholars… … … … 15
2.2.1 Federalism … … … … 16
2.2.2 Federal Character Principle … … … 18
2.2.3 Federal
Character Commission … … 22
2.2.3.1.
Composition of the Commission… … 24
2.2.3.2
Functions of the Commission … … 24
2.2.3.3 Powers of the Commission … … 26
2.2.3.4 The
Enforcement Power of the Commission … 31
2.3 Gap in the Literature… … … … 33
CHAPTER THREE: HISTORICAL
OVERVIEW OF FEDERAL
CHARACTER PRINCIPLE
3.1 Evolution
of the Federal Character Principle … … 35
3.2 The
Principle and Practice of Federal Character in Nigeria:
A Case of Paradox … … … … 39
3.3 Applicability
of the Principle of Federal Character in Nigeria:
Special Focus on State Creation, Revenue Allocation,
and
Education Sector … … … … 45
3.3.1 Application
of the Principle of Federal Character in
State Creation… … … … 45
3.3.2 Application
of the Principle of Federal Character in
Revenue Allocation … … … 48
3.3.3 Application
of the Principle of Federal Character in
Education Sector … … … 49
CHAPTER FOUR: GENERAL ANALYSIS
4.1 Issues
and Challenges confronting Federal Character
Principle in
Nigeria … … … … 53
4.2 The
Implication of the Principle of Federal Character on
National Integration and Development … … 59
4.3 General
Appraisal of the Principle of Federal Character … 66
CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary of Findings … … … 75
5.2 Conclusion … … … … 79
5.3 Recommendations … … … … 81
BIBLIOGRAPHY … … … … 84
LIST OF
TABLES
Table 1:
Model for Admission into Universities … … 52
Table 2:
Empirical Indication of Power (Presidency) 1999 – 2015 … 71
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
of the Study
Federal
Systems all over the world are today increasingly seen as political
arrangements that afford an opportunity for the myriad diversities within a
political system to find legitimate expression (Okolo, 2014). Elazar (1993) has
rightly opined that the federal principle is intrinsically an expression of
political diversity and accommodation without in any way undermining the basic
commitment to the sovereignty of the nation.
Nigeria
happens to be one of the most prominent federal systems in the world today.
Nigeria’s population is estimated at 181 millions (CIA 2015). The country has
between 250 and 400 ethnic groups depending on the criteria used. A total of
374 ethnic groups were identified by Otite (1990). These ethnic groups are
broadly divided into ethnic “majorities” and ethnic “minorities”.
The majority
ethnic groups are the composite Hausa-Fulani of the North with Muslim majority,
the Yoruba of the South-West, and the Igbo of the South-East with Christian
majority. Against the backdrop of this ethno-religious composition, political
issues in Nigeria are seen from their ethno-religious perspectives, thereby
giving credence to ethnic and religious jingoists and war lords. Political
offices and appointments are seen as battle fields among the various ethnic
groups, where the battles must be fought with all the available weapons a group
can muster (Obi and Obiekeze, 2004) and (Suberu and Diamond, 2004).
Another area
of inequality in the polarization process is the tension and fears in the North
that the more educated South would dominate state institutions as well as the
concerns in the Southern part of the country that the more populated North
would have an edge in the electoral contest. The zero-sum nature of political
competition among the elites precipitated a bloody civil war between 1967 and
1970. According to Orji (2008) in Bello (2012), the soul-searching that
followed the civil war reflected in the quest for elite’s consensus on how
Nigeria should be governed to ensure political stability and fairness in the
distribution of resources among the various ethnic groups that make up the
country.
Economic and
structural inequalities are other features of Nigerian national life. For
example, in l986 tol990, 70% of the registered companies in Nigeria were
located in the southwest, with 16% in the three northern zones and l4% in the
two other southern zones (Hamalai, 1994). By 2001, 46% of the industries
located in the northern zones had closed down as a result of infrastructural
and macroeconomic difficulties; de-industrialization, associated with economic
liberalization, has disproportionately affected the north (Adamu, 2003).
Another index of economic inequality is preponderance of Lagos in banking
operations. Lagos accounted for 48% of all deposits and 69.96% of all loans in
2006, while the three northern zones combined accounted for only 10.75% of
deposits and 8.6% of loans (Soludo, 2007).
Structurally
embedded social inequalities correspond to the educational and economic
inequalities (Stewart, 2008). Within the context of widespread national
poverty, it can be rightly argued that extreme poverty and ill-being are a
distinctly northern phenomenon. The ten poorest states are in the northern
zones, while the ten with the lowest poverty levels are in the southern zones
(Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2001). Central Bank of Nigeria data suggest that
between 1980 and 2004, poverty increased from 13 to 35% of the population of
the south-south, l3 to 27% in the south-east, and 13 to 43% in the south-west.
Over the same period, in the north-central, poverty ballooned from 35% of the
population to 72% in 2004. In the north-east, it went from 36 to 72%, while in
the northwest the trend was from 38 to 71% (Soludo, 2007). Access to social
amenities like education, sanitation, and health services closely correspond to
the poverty trends. For example, in 1995, while 29% of new born in the
south-west were not immunized, the corresponding figure for the north-west was
66%. In the north-west only 25% of pregnant women used clinics compared with
85% in the south-east (FOS, 1995/ 1996). Similarly, the maternal mortality rate
in the north-east is 93.9% higher than the level in the south-west (Galadanchi,
2007). In fact, these systematic and overlapping inequalities made Nigerians
born into different ethno-regional groups to expect very different qualities of
life and thus, materially undermine the basis for a common citizenship,
The problem
of acrimonious existence among the diverse groups and interests in the
federation of Nigeria, leading to mutual distrust, suspicion, and
inter-communal conflicts, has become perennial and endemic in the nation’s body
politics and has militated against the political stability of the country since
independence. The fear of domination of one ethnic group or section of the
country by another, the national question of who gets what (when and how), and
how the national wealth should be shared, constitute a major factor of this
problem, As a result of this mutual suspicion existing among the various social
groups, whatever the issue at hand in Nigeria is, the patterns of reaction to
it will always be determined by geo-political as well as religious
considerations. This situation seriously hampers efforts at national unity as
it applies to the building of a united Nigeria out of the disparate ethnic,
geographic, social, economic and religious elements or groups in the country
(Agbodike, 1998), (Gamberi, 1994), and (Kurfi, 1998).
Among the
measures put in place and constitutionally guaranteed as a recipe for national
integration is the doctrine of Federal Character. The principle of federal
character was formulated and put into use by successive governments in Nigeria
to address and hopefully mitigate the problem of diversity so as to ensure a
peaceful, stable and united Nigeria. As Ojo (1999) persuasively explained,
Federal character principle as an integrative mechanism is defined as fair and
effective representation of the various components of the Federation in the
country’s position of power, status and influence. He however observed that the
principle of federal character touches an array of problems in the political
process which includes ethnicity, the national question, minority problem,
discrimination based on indignity, resources control, power sharing, employment
and placement in institutions among others. It provides a formula for
participation in the governance of the country in such a way that a single
section of the country will not dominate another or a segment dominating the
rest. The basic assumption, as noted by Ojo (1999) is that, if every segment of
the Federation participates in governance, there would be almost equality in
the country in the scheme of things and expectedly, it will engender a sense of
belonging and national integration.
It is
against this background that this research sets out to examine the expediency
of the federal character principle as an integrative mechanism with a view to
highlighting the issues and challenges affecting its application,
implementation and functionality in the Nigerian polity.
1.2 Statement
of Problem
Nigeria is a
multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-religious state with a substantial
population being adherents of Islam (Muslims), Christianity (Christians), and a
host of indigenous religions (Okolo, 2014). Across ethnic lines, Nigeria is
characterized by three major divides - Igbo, Hausa, and Yoruba - with hundreds
of minor ones. In spite of these differences in orientation, culture, and
belief system, the British colonialists unified the various peoples under one
single administration in 1914. This so-called union has been described by a
foremost Nigerian political scientist as a “forced brotherhood or sisterhood”
(Ayoade, 1998). This unholy marriage has left the country constantly embattled
with the challenges of accommodating diversities, fostering inclusiveness, and
promoting national unity amongst the diverse ethnic groups that make up the
Nigerian nation-state.
Nigerian
policy makers have, in a bid to tackle the above challenges, established the
principle of Federal Character in the constitution of 1979, and have continued
to operate the principle, However, certain problems still need to be addressed
with regards to the application and functionality of this principle. It is to
this end that this work asks the following questions:
1. What is the extent to which the Federal
Character Principle has gone in unifying the diverse polarities in Nigeria?
2. What degree has the Federal Character
Principle gone in solving issues of developmental imbalance, fear of dominance,
and suspicion between and among various groups in Nigeria?
3. What are the issues and challenges which
militate against the effectiveness of Federal Character Principle?
4. What are the political implications of
the principle and practice of federal character in the Nigerian polity?
1.3 Objectives
of the Study
The
followings are the research objectives:
1. To access the extent to which the
Federal Character Principle has gone in unifying the different polarities in
Nigeria.
2. To find out the degree to which the
Federal Character Principle has gone in solving issues of developmental
imbalance, fear of dominance, and suspicion between and among various groups.
3. To identify the issues and challenges
which militate against the effectiveness of Federal Character principle.
4. To find out the political implication of
the Federal Character Principle in Nigeria.
1.4 Significance
of the Study
The study is
significant in several ways.
Firstly, it
strives to respond to one of the most critical problems bedeviling the Nigerian
society - the issue of national question. It is also timely and relevant
because today, the country is sharply divided along ethnic and religious ties.
So, if the findings and recommendations of the research are studied and
adopted, it can go a long way in restoring democratic peace and unity in the
system. Secondly, the study delved deeply into identifying issues which
militate against integration and even national development which federal
character preaches. These issues include elitism, sectionalism, ethnocentrism,
etc. The study went further to suggest remedial measures that may be instituted
to tackle these issues.
Further, the
weaknesses discovered and identified will also help the government and policy
makers in future policy making processes. They may include, in subsequent
policy formulation, some measures to correct the weaknesses so as to strengthen
the system. In turn, the citizens will also benefit from the positive reforms
that will come from this study. In the long run, the whole country will enjoy
the positive outcome of the study.
Lastly, the
Study Will also be advantageous to the researcher as it will give him the
opportunity to contribute to the growing literature in the sub-discipline of
comparative federal studies.
1.5 Scope
of Study
This study
is strictly centered on the federal character principle as an integrative instrument
in Nigeria. It covers from 1999-2015.
1.6 Limitations
of Study
In the
course of this research, some constraints were encountered. These were majorly
in the areas of insufficient materials, finance and shortage of time. However,
these limitations were eventually overcome, hence the presentation of this
report.
1.7 Operational
Definition of Concepts
Federalism: This is defined as a system of
government in which there is constitutional division of powers among different
levels or tiers of government (usually, federal, state, and local governments).
In this system, the federal or central authority represents the whole and acts
on behalf of all in certain matters, especially in areas of common interest.
There also exists state/region or local authorities with powers of legislation
and administration within constitutional limits.
Federal Character: The Principle of Federal Character
is seen as an attempt towards integrating the various aspects of the Nigerian
federation. It is an effort to promote national unity, foster national loyalty,
and give every citizen of Nigeria a sense of belonging in the nation, through
fairness and equity in the distribution of public posts and socio-economic
infrastructures among the various federating units of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria. This is in view of the diverse ethnicities, cultures, and languages
which exist and whose desire is to nourish and harness the resources of the
land in enriching the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Federal Character Commission: The Federal
Character Commission (FCC) is a Federal Executive body established by Act No.
34 of 1996 to implement and enforce the Federal Character Principle. The
provisions of the 1999 Constitution in Sections 14 and 153 consolidated the
establishment of the FCC for operation in Nigeria’s democratic system.
Nation Building: Nation Building is quite ambiguous
a term to define. It connotes different strategies and processes of national
life which culminates into national development. More specifically, nation building
can be said to involve the processes of creating an integrating or unifying
ideology for a (new) state; forming the state into an integrated society in
practical terms; and establishing and maintaining functional state apparatuses.
Generally, it translates into the interconnectedness between identity building
and social integration which in turn guarantees national development.
National Integration: This is the
awareness of a common identity amongst the citizens of a country. It means, for
instance, in Nigeria, that though we belong to different ethnic nationalities,
religions, and regions, and speak different languages, we recognize the fact we
are one and see ourselves that way. This kind and process of integration is
very important in the building a strong and prosperous nation.
Ethnicity: This is seen as ethnic affiliation
or distinctiveness. An ethnic group is a category of people who identify one
another based on common language, ancestral, cultural, or national experiences.
It is primarily an inherited status. Ethnicity is loosely used synonymously
with nation; hence, it is defined by homogeneity.
Meritocracy: This trend emphasizes that power,
positions, and authority be vested in individuals based on ability. It is a
system of distributing opportunities and advantages to people on the bases of
their abilities and talents rather than other considerations such as class or
group privilege, seniority, or wealth. Advancement in such a system is based on
performance measured through examination and/or demonstrated achievement in the
field where it is implemented.
Mediocrity: This concept defines a quality,
ability, or achievement that is average or below average. More concretely, it
can refer to a person who does not have the (special) ability to do something
well. This has become a burning issue in extant literatures on issues of
adequate representation in relationship to performance in Nigeria’s political
and public lives.
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