NIGERIAN FEDERAL STRUCTURE: IMPLICATIONS ON NATIONAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Federalism is cognizant of the heterogeneity of a given society. Its intention is the unification of people within a basic structure which guarantees unity without sacrificing the distinct identity of the diverse units. It promotes socio-economic and political growth of a nation by according due recognition to special needs of its constituent units and giving recognition to other autonomy in certain matters. It ensures unity without erosion of the identity of the distinct populations. Federalism is a system of governance that recognises unity in diversity. Notwithstanding, there is no universally accepted superlative model of federalism. Every nation has to determine for herself the varying components of federalism that suited her peculiarities. Since independence, Nigeria has been faced with the challenge of a workable model of federalism. No thanks to over 230 different languages and diverse array of cultural values, mores, and systems, to evolve a workable framework that will reconcile the often conflicting interests of these constituents has been a seemingly intractable challenge; a challenge which constitutes the root of our socio-economic and political development as a people. This paper intends to interrogate this defiance.