International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) |Volume VI, Issue VIII, August 2022|ISSN 2454-6186

Restructuring of Nigerian Federation: Insights on Political, Security and Education

Asmau Isyaku Dutse¹, and Ismail Bello^2
1Department of Political Science, Faculty of Arts and Social Science, Federal University Dutse Jigawa State, Nigeria
²Department of Political and Administrative Studies, Kampala International University Kampala, Uganda.
²Department of International Relations and Diplomacy, Baze University Abuja, Nigeria.

Abstract: The study examined restructuring of Nigerian federation taking cognize of the insights on political, security and education. Restructuring is posited as the reconfiguration of the country and devolution of powers, resources to the constituent units. This study discusses restructuring of Nigeria’s federation with insights on political, security and educational restructuring as dimensions for true federalism. The methodology used include secondary data sources that was analysed using content analysis. The findings shows that there is need for re-configuration of the country and devolution of powers to the constituent units in order to improve the political, security and education fortunes of Nigeria. The paper submits that too much powers are concentrated in the federal government, while the state government has usurps that power of local government which is supposed to cater for the grassroots. The study recommends among others that the constitutions should be amended to make way for the devolution of powers, empowerment of the state and local government.

Keywords: Federalism, Politics, Education, State Government, Local Government, Nigeria

I. INTRODUCTION

Since the beginning of this political dispensation known as “fourth republic” in 1999, numerous pressure groups and ethnic regions have been clamouring for resources control, equal distributions of natural resources and equal political representation in Nigeria. The call for restructuring have geared up multiplicity of descriptions and ideas on how to achieve a long-desired “true” federalism, that will reflect egalitarian society with high sense of belonging in all geopolitical zones in Nigeria. Conversely, there is no doubt that Nigeria’s present structure need restructuring in some aspects of our national wellbeing. However, the willingness and processes remain bigger challenged to the various arms of government. Babalola and Onapajo (2019) posits restructuring as reconfiguration of the federal structure in order to allowed for more material opportunities and equitable distribution of power. In the definition of Najakku (2016) affirmed restructuring as the re-organization and re-arrangement of the system of resource control and distributions by the various levels of governments and regions for fostering national unity and development. While, Ahmed, Norafidah and Knocks (2017) claimed that restructuring could be seen as re-configuration of the country and devolution of powers to the

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