STATES’ AUTONOMY IN NIGERIAN FEDERALISM: DELIGHT OR AN ABERRATION?

Abstract

Nigeria operates a federal system of government wherein powers are shared between the Federal and State governments. The federal structure, enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and which has become a hallmark of successive Nigerian constitutions since 1951, allocates specific powers to the federal government while granting residual authority to the states. This division aims to foster decentralization, accommodate regional diversity, and promote effective governance. However, there exists challenges in the equitable distribution of powers between both levels of government leading to a continued clamour for more devolution of powers to the State governments. Using the doctrinal research method, this research delves into various factors influencing the degree of autonomy enjoyed by states, including political, fiscal, and socio-cultural dynamics. It analyzes the implications of state autonomy on governance, democracy, and national cohesion. The paper finds that more devolution of powers to the States is required to achieve a more balanced and effective federal system in Nigeria which can only be achieved through constitutional amendments and policy variations. It is thus recommended that more constitutional reforms further devolving powers to the states more particularly in the areas of security and fiscal autonomy would greatly help in facilitating a more balanced federal system.

Keywords: Federalism, State Autonomy, the Constitution, Governance, Fiscal Federalism, Democracy