This paper assesses Nigeria’s inter-governmental relations practice in its present context and the necessity for its restructuring. The paper proposes that the Nigeria’s federal structure is built on faulty foundation which is the 1999 constitution that was bequeathed by the Retd Gen. Abdulsalami led military junta, hence the persistent calls for a national sovereign conference, zoning of key political offices in the country, including the Presidency and currently the restructuring of the federal structure for socio-political stability.
This paper, which is essentially historical and descriptive in nature, utilizes data drawn mainly from secondary sources and analyzed using content analysis. The paper discovers that Nigeria’s federalism has failed to meet the requirements as prescribed by K. C. Wheare, as so much power is concentrated at the federal level while the state and local governments continue to exist as appendages which is contrary to the spirit of true federalism.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Conceptualizing federalism, Inter-Governmental Relations, and Restructuring
3. A Historical sketch of Nigerian Federalism
4. Inter-governmental relations and federalism
5. The Necessity for restructuring
6. Inclusive Authority Model as the Theoretical Framework
7. Conclusion and Recommendation
Objectives and Core Themes
This paper critically assesses the current state of inter-governmental relations in Nigeria, arguing that the nation's federal structure, rooted in the 1999 constitution, is fundamentally flawed and requires immediate restructuring to ensure socio-political stability, equity, and national development.
- The practice of fiscal centralism and its detrimental effects on sub-national units.
- The historical evolution and current challenges of Nigerian federalism.
- The necessity of constitutional re-engineering to address ethnic marginalization and economic inequality.
- The application of the Inclusive Authority Model to analyze power dynamics in Nigeria.
- Proposals for structural and political reforms to mitigate conflict and promote national cohesion.
Excerpt from the Book
A Historical sketch of Nigerian Federalism
Nigeria, a British make up in 1914, is still carrying and being weighed down by „burden of difficult history‟ (Unegbu, 2003; Oliver & Chandos, 1962). The atmosphere of Nigerian public/political discourse is presently clouded with calls/agitations/clamours for restructuring. Parceled in such calls and agitation’s cloud are fears, anxiety, hope, optimism, pessimism, threats, and illusions, among others. Ever since the involuntary amalgamation of various ethno-religious, geo-regional and political nationalities that made up the Nigerian entity on January 1, 1914, the country has been undergoing one critical socio-economic and political trial or the other. The issues and trends have been messy, characterized by uncertainty, conflicts (sometimes violent), controversy, compromise, and sacrifice.
In the 1960 Constitution, 44 items were on the exclusive list, while 28 were on the concurrent list. In the 1963 Republican constitution, the items on the exclusive list had increased to 45, while 29 were on the concurrent list – an increase of one each. By 1979 however, a shift of focus concentrated power at the centre, as the 1979 constitution had 67 items on the exclusive list, while only 12 were on the concurrent list. There was an increased in the 1999 constitution, with about 68 items reserved for federal legislative power on the exclusive list, while 12 items remained on the concurrent legislative list. The amendments to the 1999 Constitution to date have not affected the legislative lists. (Uzim e’tal, 2003 and Adekoya, 2016).
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Outlines the core problem of fiscal federalism in Nigeria and the resulting tensions between central and lower levels of government.
Conceptualizing federalism, Inter-Governmental Relations, and Restructuring: Defines key political terms and explores why restructuring has become a dominant issue in contemporary Nigerian discourse.
A Historical sketch of Nigerian Federalism: Traces the evolution of the Nigerian state from colonial amalgamation through various constitutions, highlighting the centralization of power.
Inter-governmental relations and federalism: Examines the interactions between different tiers of government and notes the duplication of institutional functions.
The Necessity for restructuring: Discusses the agitation for regional autonomy and the economic challenges inherent in the current political setup.
Inclusive Authority Model as the Theoretical Framework: Utilizes this model to explain the hierarchical, dependency-based power structure currently dominating Nigerian governance.
Conclusion and Recommendation: Summarizes the need for constitutional and structural change to foster national unity and development.
Keywords
Inter-governmental relations, Federalism, Restructuring, Nigeria, Fiscal centralism, Constitutional amendment, Political reform, Resource control, Ethnic diversity, Governance, Sovereignty, National integration, Secession, Social justice, Economic development.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental thesis of this research?
The research argues that Nigeria's current federal structure is based on a flawed foundation, primarily the 1999 Constitution, which has led to extreme centralization of power and necessitates comprehensive restructuring to ensure national stability.
Which central themes are explored in this paper?
Key themes include the failure of fiscal federalism, the historical centralization of state power, the impact of ethnic diversity on governance, and the urgent need for political and economic restructuring.
What is the primary objective of the study?
The primary objective is to evaluate the practice of inter-governmental relations in Nigeria and identify viable methods for restructuring the federation to resolve intractable socio-political and economic conflicts.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The study adopts a qualitative research method, relying on secondary data sources such as academic books, journals, official government documents, and reputable media reports.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body covers the conceptual definitions of federalism, the historical development of the Nigerian state, an analysis of the current power imbalance, and the theoretical framework of the Inclusive Authority Model.
How would you characterize this paper through its keywords?
The paper is defined by terms such as Federalism, Restructuring, Inter-governmental relations, Fiscal centralism, and Constitutional reform.
How does the "Inclusive Authority Model" describe the current Nigerian state?
It describes Nigeria as a system of "centralized federalism" where power is held at the center, and sub-national units (states and local governments) exist in a state of serial subordination and dependency.
What specific economic reform does the author propose regarding resources?
The author recommends moving resources like mines and minerals from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Residual List, granting regions greater control over their economic assets.
What is the author's stance on the 1999 Constitution?
The author views the 1999 Constitution as structurally defective, arguing that as an offshoot of military rule, it lacks the legitimacy required for a true democratic system and should be replaced.
- Citar trabajo
- Polycarp Munya (Autor), 2022, Restructuring Nigeria’s Inter-Governmental Relations Practice, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1216154
