Anatomy of Nigerian Federalism: A Reflection of the Nagging Challenges and Prospects from A Cultural Relativist Perspective

Article Sidebar
View PDF
Published: Aug 30, 2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.46404/panjogov.v2i2.3237
Keywords:
Anatomy, Cultural Relativism, Nigerian Federalism, Stomach Infrastructure, Democracy

Main Article Content

Chioke, Stephen Chinedu
Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.

Abstract

There is a dearth of reliable literature that appropriately coined and conveyed the conceptual framework of federalism, scarcity of reliable information that analytically x-rayed the structural arrangement of Nigerian federalism, and challenges militating against the expected gains of federalism and the prospects thereof. The paper relied on qualitative methods like document analyses, personal experiences, key informant interviews, and discussions in generating relevant data that were thematically presented and resultantly analyzed using content analysis. The results show that there are works of literature that wrongly conceptualized federalism. Police brutality, political godfatherism, corruption, secession, revenue allocation problem, sectionalism, and conflicts were among the predominant challenges facing Nigerian federalism. Furthermore, the results show that sustainable development and efficient service delivery are part of the prospects. The paper concluded that many Nigerians do not have an adequate understanding of the nitty-gritty of federalism. As a corollary to this, destructive tendencies have troubled Nigerian federalism, making the center epileptic. The study for policy and practice implies that Nigeria, the largest populated country of Africa, has continued its federalist operations on the side of very low cohesion and unification of existing ethnic groups.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Article Details

How to Cite
Chioke, Stephen Chinedu. (2021). Anatomy of Nigerian Federalism: A Reflection of the Nagging Challenges and Prospects from A Cultural Relativist Perspective. PanAfrican Journal of Governance and Development (PJGD), 2(2), 232-256. https://doi.org/10.46404/panjogov.v2i2.3237
Issue
Vol 2 No 2 (2021): PanAfrican Journal of Governance and Development (PJGD)
Section
Articles
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Author Biography

Chioke, Stephen Chinedu, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.

Stephen Chinedu Chioke has B.Sc and M.Sc in Public Administration, PGDE, Diploma in Theology and Full Member of the Institute of Professional Managers and Administrators of Nigeria (MIPMA). He is on the verge of concluding his Ph.D. in Public Administration at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Nigeria. He has a special research interest in Public Policy, Education, Local Government, Governance, and Politics. Consequently, he has published and unpublished articles to his credit and is an article reviewer.

References

Abdul R. M. (1986). The national question and radical politics in Nigeria. Review of African Political Economy. 13(37): 81-96.
Akpotor, S. A. (1995). The dynamics of federal character in Nigeria: A polity in transition self-reliance, politics and administration in Nigeria.216.
Amah, E. I. (2017). Federalism, Nigerian federal constitution and the practice of federalism: An appraisal. Beijing Law Review (8): 287-310.
Chikendu, P. N. (2002). Introduction to political science. Enugu: Academy Publishing Company.
Chioke, S. C & Mbamalu, K. U. (2020). Human resource planning and organizational performance: A philosophical approach. International Journal of Management, Social Sciences, Peace and Conflict Studies (IJMSSPCS). 3(3): 387- 398.
Chioke, S. C (2020a). The trouble with godfatherism in Enugu State from 1999 – 2019: diagnosing the gargantuan enigma and the escape route thereof. Journal of Public Administration and Governance Research. 3(1):277–300.
Chioke, S. C. (2016). The impact of treasury single account on the administration of state and national bureaucracy: A study of Nigerian Immigration Service, Enugu State Command. M.Sc. Thesis submitted to the Department of Administration, Faculty of Management Sciences. National Open University of Nigeria.
Chioke, S. C. (2017). An overview of bureaucracy and treasury single account in an era of economic change. Journal of Research in Science and Technology Education. 7(2):1-13.
Chioke, S. C. (2020b). Corruption and sustainable national development: The underlying implications and overarching consequences. Kobia International Journal of Education Humanities and Social Science 1(1):49-62.
Chioke, S. C. (n.d). Government, politics, and administration in Nigeria and beyond: Past and present issues. Unpublished paper.
Creswell, J. W. (1998). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five traditions. California: Sage Publications.
Dauda, B. (2020).Transactional politics: The manifestations of the challenges of ‘infrastructure of the stomach’ and ‘infrastructure for the stomach’ in Nigeria. Journal of Contemporary African Studies. 38(3):366 -380.
Ewuim, N. C. (2008). Succinct approach to government: A comparative analysis. Awka: Mount Carmel Printing & Publishing Ltd.
Heather, C. (2011). The impact of political corruption on social welfare in the federal republic of Nigeria. Department of Political Science University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida.

Idike, A. N. A. (2014). Democracy and the electoral process in Nigeria: Problems and prospects of the E-Voting Option. Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (AJHSS). 2(2): 133-141.
Ilufoye, S. O (2009). Political corruption in Nigeria: Theoretical perspectives and some explanations. The Anthropologist 11(4):281-292.
Kalu, O. U (1978). Precarious vision: The African’s perception of his world in Kalu, O. U (ed.). Reading in African humanities, African cultural development. Enugu: Fourth Dimension Publishing Co. Ltd, 37 – 44.
Leke, S. (2013). Is Local Government Federating Unit? The Nation Newspaper. June 18, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
Maduabum, C.P. (2008). The Mechanics of Public Administration. Lagos: Concept Publications Ltd cited in National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) (2014), course guide on “Ecology of public administration” course code: PAD 803, Lagos: National Open University of Nigeria.
Mgbenkemdi, E. H. (2015) Godfatherism: Life and survival in Nigeria society: A psychoanalytic approach. Global Journal of Applied, Management and Social Sciences (GOJAMSS). (9):9–19.
National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) (2014), course guide on “Ecology of public administration” course code: PAD 803, Lagos: National Open University of Nigeria.
Oboli, H. O. N (1965). Beginning geography in Eastern Nigeria. Ikeja: Longmans, Green & Co. Ltd.
Ojukwu, C. (1989). Because I am involved. Ibadan: Spectrum Books Ltd.
Okafor, R. C & Emeka, L. N. (2004). Concept of culture in Okafor, R. C & Emeka, L. N (eds). Nigerian Peoples and Culture. Enugu: Nigerian Generation Books.
Ola, R. F. (1995). Nigerian political system: Inputs, outputs and environment. Benin City: Ambik Press.
Rotimi, S. (2010). The Nigerian federal system: Performance, problems and prospects. Journal of Contemporary African Studies. 28 (4):459-477.
Sapru, R. K (2013). Administrative theories and management thought (3rd ed). Delhi: PHI Learning Private Limited.
Udenta, J. O. E (2004). The Nigerian perception of his/her world of shibboleths, Manichaeism, colonial mentality. In Okafor, R. C & Emeka, L. N (eds). Nigerian peoples and culture. Enugu: Nigerian Generation Books.
Ufot, B. I. (1991). Federalism in Nigeria: The crucial dynamics. The Round Table. 80(318): 191-207.
Ukeje, I. O. (2006). The challenges of effective leadership in Nigerian public administration: (A case study of Obasanjo administration 1999-2006). Unpublished B.Sc Project). Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria.