The Agitation and Clamoring for Restructuring of Nigeria Federation
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The objectives of the study are;
- To examine the need for political restructuring of the Nigerian state.
- To ascertain the benefits of restructuring in Nigeria.
- To assess the impact of restructuring on National unity.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION
The term “federalism” has come to mean different things to different people across time and space. While some see it as the answer to the challenges pose by the plural nature of their society, others see it as the limitation to their progress and development. This has created an issue for scholars in the field of political science as they attempt to capture all the nuances of the concept and present an empirical dimension of it. Early attempt at defining the concept has been met with criticism from within and outside the domain of political science. This was due to the normative and philosophical contents of these definitions which made it difficult in applying it across most countries desiring to seek union within diversity. Burgess (2006:1) argues that “while such a thing as federal theory does exist, there is, as yet, no fully fledged theory of federalism. At best there is partial theory based on rigorous conceptual analysis and the pursuit of terminological precision. At worst there is crass empiricism rooted in the failure to develop concepts and define the key terms”. This brings to question the notion of ‘true federalism’ been championed among the political class in Nigeria as a means of restructuring the country. Their argument is premise on the restructuring of the country’s federal arrangements by allocating more powers to the federating units and reducing the overbearing dominance of the centre. This does not have any theoretical bases as most of such people take their facts from the practice of federalism in the United States of America ignoring the peculiarities of the Nigerian society. In order to avoid the pitfalls associated with those who have a voice but lack an in-depth knowledge of the subject, this present discourse is an attempt at providing a conceptual clarification of the concept of federalism. This will be followed with a discussion of the contemporary major works done on federalism, notably the works of K.C Wheare, William Livingston and William Riker. While this is not an exclusive list of the works done on federalism, the intention is to put in proper perspective the principles guiding federalism. The next section will focus on the practice of federalism in developed and developing countries with the intention of identifying similarities and differences. Thus aiding our understanding of what makes a federation successive or fail.
UNDERSTANDING RESTRUCTURING
It is the act of re-organizing the legal, ownership, operational or other structure for the purpose of making it more manageable or better organized for its present needs.
Restructuring in this context is corporate restructuring which means constitution that will support good governance, respect for citizen, equity and equality (Folajoba, 2017; www.coe.int.democracy-goodgovernance).
To some scholars restructuring connotes a deliberate and planned change (Hallinga, 1997; Lam 1997; Denharh and Denhart, 2002). To them, any intervention which fails to produce fundamental change in the public is not restructuring. To this end, restructuring is a systematic intervention aimed at improving the structure, operations system and procedures to enable its transformation as a multifaceted agent of change, and as a veritable instrument of social cohesion and socio-economic development (Nkwede, 2013).
The concept restructuring is a process, in the case of a nation-state, that requires its citizens to take a closer look at the national edifice or, better still, the state of the nation with regard to how to address structural deformities, if any. Be that as it may, whatever may be structured deformities of the Nigerian nation-state would have to be put in their proper historical perspectives by looking, first, at the structure used for governance in a multinational society; and, secondly, the constitutional provisions underlying that structure (Yaqub, 2016).
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research method
This study adopted the qualitative research method. The qualitative research method has some features, For example, generate results that have not been determined in advance, collect evidence and generate results that are applicable beyond the immediate limits of the study. Furthermore, an attempt is made to understand a particular problem or research topic from the point of view of the local population concerned. Qualitative research is particularly effective for obtaining specific information on culture regarding the values, opinions, behaviors and social contexts of particular populations.
Research design
The study used a content analysis research design. Analysis of contents – it is a method of research for the study of documents and communication of artifacts that can be texts in different formats, images, audio or video materials. Sociologists use the content analysis for the study of communication patterns that are repeated and systematized.
CHAPTER FOUR
DISCUSSION AND REVIEWS
Introduction
In this chapter, we reviewed the opinions of scholars and notable persons as regarding the subject of restructuring. Our focus is to specifically answer the research questions raised in the beginning of this study by sampling the views, opinions, and beliefs of academic and non-academic personalities.
The Need for Political Restructuring of the Nigerian State: Analytical Discourse
According to Ideobodo at al. (2018), over the years, and more recently, many Nigerian scholars, elites and scholars have protested that their voices have become deafening in everyone’s ears. Why are they crying? Restructuring! Many questions have been asked and people tend to seek a justification for which the country’s political structure needs to be restructured. Others claim that those who demand political restructuring do so for the sake of their own interests. Hence, the latter address the former as the sub-optimalists of the current political structure – federalism. However the case may be, one thing sacrosanct is that Nigerian federalism is observably on paper, as in practice what the country has at best is pseudo-federalism since there exist ill-federalist practices within the federalism operational. Little wonder, Oruebor (2015) referred to the Nigerian political structure as the feeding bottle federalism. Some of these ill-federalist practices are outlined below in question format as a catalyze-able justification for restructuring the political structure of the country so as to move it from being the so called “feeding bottle federalism” to a more advances, better and improved political structure that would be able to accommodate the varying interests of all the ethno-regional groups and levels of government, getting them satisfied and bonded together in unity without any form of marginalization or agitation for secession.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
The objective of this study was to assess the agitation and clamoring for restructuring of Nigeria federation. In the preceding chapter, some relevant information collected for this study was presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, we focus on summarizing the study, drawing a succinct conclusion and highlight possible restructuring tips.
Summary
Restructuring had become the buzz word in the political landscape with political and non-political actors pushing forward their ideas of the word that was not too long ago, an anathema to many state actors. Given the view of some that Nigeria is presently a federation, it is not surprising that different political actors would give different perspectives to the concept of restructuring. While some of the calls have primordial and political undertones, a lot of the calls are anchored on well-established premise of ensuring the socio-political survival of the country. This study was on the agitation and clamoring for restructuring of Nigeria federation. In the third chapter we adopted the content analysis kind of research design and in the fourth chapter; we were able to gather views and opinions that provided answers to the study’s questions.
Conclusion
Findings revealed that there is no consensus on the principles of federalism which brings to question the clamour for a return to ‘true federalism’ in Nigeria. What exist are principles that work better in a particular environment and could not be generalized to all federations. As Burgess (2006:1) noted, “To understand federalism and federation fully and to comprehend its many faces, then, would be impossible. It has therefore a certain elusive quality about it”. The import of this statement is that we cannot fully understand the dynamics of federalism. At best, new issues that arise in federations are address by contemporary measures that may not have bases in ‘traditions’ of federalism. The emphasis therefore is how these measures address issues inherent in plural society than on whether they deviate from the foundational principles of federalism. In the words of Riker (1969 cited by Burgess, 2006:38) federalism was “no more than a constitutional legal friction that could be given whatever content seemed appropriate at the moment”.
Recommendation
The present political arrangement whereby so much power is concentrated at the federal and state levels is unnecessary. A natural realignment of political authorities is the answer to realizing peaceful coexistence. There has to be a conscious transfer of power from the centre to other levels of governments for effective administration of all units. Restructuring should be geared towards solving the leadership problem in Nigeria. Real attention should be given to good governance which would lead to poverty reduction and better distribution of wealth affecting Nigerians, and not necessarily the divisibility of the country, which is not feasible or viable. There is need for attitudinal re-orientation. Thus, commitment to the unity, indivisibility and progress of a new Nigeria through effective governance is very essential as well as jettisoning corruption, hunger and poverty.
However, restructuring is a complex issue which must be handled in such a way to accommodate and reflect the wishes and aspirations of everybody concerned. As a nation state, restructuring efforts should be geared towards creating a system that will make Nigeria work despite her diversity.
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