FEDERALISM AND THE CHALLENGE OF NATION BUILDING IN NIGERIA
Emmanuel A. Onwioduokit & Ubong E. Effiong
Department of Economics
University of Uyo, Uyo
Email: ubongeffiong3@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Federalism brings diverse ethnic, religious, cultural, linguistic, and regional groups under one umbrella. Nigeria’s federalism is characterized by inter-ethnic rivalry and religious intolerance, unfair distribution of income, the question of minorities and state creation as well as the question of division. These factors have posed serious threats on the nation’s federalism as it conflicts unity in diversity. Issues such as the challenge of history, arbitrary military intervention in governance, the challenge of socio-economic inequality, the minority question, etc. are identified as the challenges facing nation-building in Nigeria. The paper recommends fostering factual federalism in the area of revenue sharing and derivation principle, and resource control so as to alleviate the fears of the minority, strengthening federal character principle, setting up strong institutions that ensure the development of the various part of the country as well as the need on the part of leadership to showcase policies of good governance that will bring about a fundamental re-definition and re-structuring of the Nigerian federal structure to accommodate the many proclivities of her diverse constituting interests.
Keywords: Federalism, Nation-building, Federal Character, Leadership, Nigeria
