FEDERALISM, RESTRUCTURING AND NATIONAL QUESTION IN CONTEMPORARY NIGERIA: THE WAY FORWARD

ABSTRACT This paper examined the issues in federalism, restructuring and national question in contemporary Nigeria, and the way forward.  It is evident that Nigeria as a Sovereign State no doubt a fortune country.  Although, the political history of the country is characterized by incessant violence, political  contestation precipitated to coups and countercoups, under-development, widespread poverty, mass unemployment and near collapse of social infrastructures to human survival, corruption and moral decadence and alarming problem of insecurity, as well as the threat to Nigeria’s federalism via true federalism and secession. “Pluralist theory” is adopted as theoretical framework in guiding the analysis of this work.  The paper critically reviewed the existing literature both conceptually, empirically and thematically and relied on secondary source of data and examination of official documents as its methodology.  Major findings has it that federalism is a solution to the centralization and concentration of powers which affects transparency in some homogeneous States. The paper concludes that the existing federal structure should be maintained as captured in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which emphasized on the diversity of the people and promote  sense of belonging, loyalty among all the people of the federation must be enforce.  And this has rhyme with our theoretical framework earlier discussed, that guide the analysis of this work. Keywords:       Federalism,  Restructuring,  National Question, Contemporary Nigeria