NIGERIAN FEDERALISM AND THE CHALLENGES OF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

NIGERIAN FEDERALISM AND THE CHALLENGES OF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (A CASE STUDY OF NIGER DELTA)

ABSTRACT

Nigeria is one of those countries that operates a federal system of government alongside with the western world. Given the territorially delineated cleavages abounding in Nigeria and the historical legacy of division among ethnic groups, regions, and sections, the federal imperative was so fundamental that even the military government- characteristically Unitarian, hierarchical, and centralist- attached importance to the continuation of a federal system of government. While, the system benefit most western countries, the reverse is the case for Nigeria considering the high level of political instability, ethnic crisis, and ethno/religious crisis among others The reason this is not far fetch; Nigeria is operating a federal system in an awkward manner and this has made frictions and clashes possible which are currently posing a threat to her political development. To this end, this project seeks to analyze the Nigerian federalism, the effects of the system on her political and economic development of the country particularly the Niger Delta region and to proffer a plausible way forward to achieving a true federal arrangement. The Niger Delta regions are the oil producing regions of the south- south. The region has since the discovery and exploration of oil in Nigeria been the back bone of the country, contributing about 75% of the total revenue of the country. However, these resources have not translated into substantive meaning development for the region. The reason for this many believe is because the tax revenue sharing power has currently skewed in favour of the federal government to the detriment of the other tiers of government. This action has brought nothing but pain, tears, crisis and agitation for the people of the Niger delta as even multi- national companies in the region have also refuse to carry out their statutory social responsibility for their host community. The problem is made worst with the increasing rate of environmental and health dangers pose to the region, by the continuous exploration of their oil by multinational organization. In defense of their right, the indigenes of the region resulted to kidnapping and vandalisation of government property. Although, there is relative peace in the region, there is the need to examine the factors that gave room to the agitations in the first place.

CHAPTER ONE

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The distribution of resources among the various levels of government has never been easy and smooth, hence the contention and Nigeria is no exception (Okeke, 2004).The determination of what constitutes the federal revenue and how it should be shared among the component federating units in Nigeria lie at the center of most, if not all national conflicts. This is why scholars and researchers of National Political Issues have upheld that Revenue allocation in Nigeria has generated a lot of controversy in recent times ( Ugwu and Eme (2012). The practice of federalism in Nigeria has elicited several reactions and thus generated critical debates by both scholars, politicians, journalists, commentators and more particularly the oil producing communities of the Niger Delta Region (Philips and Akpokighe, 2014).The issue of Nigerians federalism and resource management particularly in the Niger delta is as old as country itself. Since amalgamation, there had never been any national conference in the country without these two issues gearing up.The nature of Nigerians federalism is one that has placeda lot power and authority in the hands of the center, thus creating a lot of imbalance and crises between the sharing and controlling powers of the central and its other coordinating unit (such as the states and the local government) in regards to so many issues including resource management and control, revenue derivation, population, development, education, local government control among others. These items of dispute are mostly contained in the concurrent list. The case of Niger Delta literally comes to mind when the dispute between federalism and Resource management is been discussed.

The Niger Delta is one of the regions in the south South which comprises of state such as Bayelsa, Ondo, Rivers, Cross rives, AkwaIbom, delta state, among other state. Since the discovery of oil in Olibri in 1958, the Niger delta has been the financial backbone of the country, providing about 90 percent of the GDP of the country’s economy. Ironically, these resources has not transformed into any meaningful development for the region. The reason is mostly based on the nature of Nigerians federalism, which concentrates excessive powers in the hands of the center at the expense of states and other coordinating unit, plus the inequitable distribution, together with the lack of controlling power of their resources by the region, as well as the poor management of the resources by the exploiting companies and by the controlling powers. Undoubtedly, the recurrence and re-escalation of conflict in Niger Delta over resource control has a significant relationship with the nature of Nigerian federalism. This is why the entity Nigeria is often constructed to be an error of judgment or at best at conception of the colonial master to promote their pecuniary interest.

This project therefore seeks to examine among other things, the Nigerian federalism and its challenges of resource management, using the Niger delta region as a case study, the various attempts made by the Nigerian government at resolving these often emanating national dispute. Attempts will also be made at recommending possible solutions towards reducing disputes that often arise from resource management and control in the region.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

True federalism is a system of government that deals with the independence of the centre and its coordinating units. This independence includes in areas of resources control and management, financial autonomy, among others.

Nigeria is one of the countries practicing federalism in the world. The nature of Nigerian federalism is one that encroaches on some of the basic principles of a true federal state which includes but not limited to ; non-dominance of the coordinating units buy the central government, financial autonomy of states, independence of the coordinating units to make key decisions, among others. This has thus generated a lot of argument among scholars and has even resulted into crises particularly in the Niger Deltal region of Nigeria that has produced about 75% of the country’s total earning but are not benefiting from the goodness of their resources.

This project therefore seeks to examine the sociopolitical and economic implication of the crisis on the Nigerian state, the outcome of the crises, its effects on the culture and way of life of a once peaceful and hospital people of the South-South among others.

1.3 OBJECTIVES THE STUDY

The major objective of this project is to examine the nature federalism in Nigeria and the challenges of resource management in the Niger Delta region. It will alsoseek to examine among other things, the following:

1. The various attempt made by different government at resolving resource control and management dispute.

2. It seeks to explain the crying of marginalization in the Niger Delta and the responses to the agitation.

3. To recommend possible solution aim at ensuring effective resource management between the center in Nigeria and its cording state units.

TOPIC: NIGERIAN FEDERALISM AND THE CHALLENGES OF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Format: MS Word

Chapters: 1 - 5
Delivery: Email

Number of Pages: 75

Price: 3000 NGN

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