True Federalism Only Can Save Nigeria

“Whether Nigeria likes it or not, it's only True Federalism that will make her strong, stable and United Nation”
- Anonymous.

A true federalism or a federal country is a system of government consisting of a group of states which have their own government to decide their own affairs, and are controlled by a single national government which makes decisions on foreign affairs and defense. OR a union of states, groups, etc in which each subordinates its power to a central authority.

This system was given to Nigeria during her independence as per the 1960 independence constitution and the 1963 Republican Constitution. The true fiscal Federalism as enshrined in the aforementioned constitutions played out well when the regions retained 50% of what they produced gave 30% to the federation account and 20% to the Federal government for her activities including foreign affairs and defense.
At the end of the month 30% in the federation account was shared to the component regions. This system really served Nigeria well until 1966 when the military intervention took place, and the eventual 30 months civil war that ended in 1970. Quite unfortunately for Nigeria, the military “Khaki boys” played down on the significance of True Federalism and in order to favour where the then rulers came from, they decided to hold fast to the present wishy washy federal structure as per the component states now, but with the resources centrally controlled/strangulated by the federal government. A federal system whereby the resources of the country are shared monthly to the component units as per the formula most suitable to the central government very unheard of in any democratic settings across the world. This type of federation as practiced now by Nigeria which could well be described as “Feudalistic Federation” tends to feudalize the States and makes them very redundant perpetually picking up crumbs from the federation account table in the name of allocation. Recently there have been clarion calls from the government to revisit the issue of the true federalism for this country. It is in deed time the federal structure as practiced in Nigerian is well defined and practically expressed because the present federal outfit as executed is a misnomer and only on paper and has lots of disadvantages viz: the resources are controlled by the central government who does the sharing to the component states;, it deprives the resources-producing states of their income to the advantage of those without adequate resources, since the state have no economic power, they are over dependent on the federal government for every thing; indeed, since the state cannot express their economic strength, they are reduced to beggars; with the unitary federation such as ours, the economically weak states are always piggybacking on the backs of viable states, these weak states become redundant and enjoy the status quo and very satisfied going to Abuja to pick up monthly allocation cheques mindless of the fact that they should source for their independent sources of making money.

Our type of federation makes the central government very strong, powerful and domineering and the state too weak almost always reduced to status of vassal states and incapable of developing their individual uniqueness, interest and concerns; it makes the federal executive council too powerful while the national assembly (senate and house of representatives) and the judiciary are yet to developed Federal system e.g. during the recent Yar'Adua health saga that rocked the country, a few federal EXCO members with Turai formed themselves into a cabal just to perpetuate their interest in the guise of protecting the president, and it took the national assembly strenuous efforts to make Jonathan Acting President which saved Nigeria the big embarrassment that nearly rocked the boat. Furthermore, our type of federation makes issues like appropriate resource control by the component units in the federation including the off-shore/on-shore dichotomy in the Niger Delta still not satisfactorily resolved; without true Federalism, no electoral reforms will work because candidates for elective offices must depend on the strong central government for their tickets instead of the weak states they come from.

Without true federalism the question of who controls the police in the states will always crop up e.g in Anambra State in 2003 when a detachment of the police attempted to remove a sitting governor; without being a full-fledged federation, it will be difficult for Nigeria to become a nation, no wonder myriads of problems are afflicting her, hence the struggling stunted growth and development. The benefit of true fiscal federalism is indeed enormous for everybody has stake in the system devoid of colour, religion, creed, etc of U.S.A, Switzerland, Canada et al. Also all the federating states stand to contribute effectively to the system in all fields of endeavour. It is true fiscal federation that will make Nigeria a full-fledged federated Nation, for it will usher in a sense of belonging, enduring peace tranquility and foolproof development. True federalism will certainly solve the majority/minority controversy and for sure will scale down corruption a hydra-headed problem that has been the undoing of this great country for sometime now. Whether Nigerians like it or not, it's only true Fiscal Federalism that will make her a strong, stable and united nation, failure to do this will spell disastrous consequences for Nigeria. The sooner the better. May God help Nigeria.