Federalism and National Development in Nigeria: An Assessment of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Administration

Abstract

The background to this study comprehensively captured the usefulness and unavoidability of social relations to human existence. Hence, it impressed that the desire to live in a society where the socio-economic needs, rights and privileges of humans who are drawn from diverse ethnic and socio-cultural affiliations are advanced and protected, gave rise to the formation of a sovereign union. Using the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan as a case study, this research work holistically appraised the impact of federalism on national development in Nigeria; it investigated the extent to which some inherent problems in Nigerian federalism impinged on the successful realisation of national developmental objectives in Nigeria during the period under study and beyond. The study developed two research questions bordering on what constitutes the problems of Nigerian federalism as it pertains to national development, as well as the strategies to combat them. The study was anchored on the theory of Distributive Justice by John Rawls. The study adopted the review research design. The source of data for this study was exclusively the secondary source, using the instruments of textbooks, journals, official documents and internet materials. The study equally used the content analysis method for data presentation and analysis. At the end of the study, it was revealed that problems associated with agitations and complaints over revenue sharing formular, agitation for state autonomy, resource control, etc. constituted the problems of Nigerian federalism as they pertain to national development during the administration of former President Jonathan. The study therefore recommended among other things for an improved regional autonomy to achieve a maximum degree of widespread national development.