Civil society and federalism in Nigeria

Abstract

In the last two decades, Nigeria's federal system has come under enormous stress and pressure, with the Nigerian state sliding into apparent crises, anarchy and disorder. A xenophobic consciousness and sense of group insecurity have fuelled an unprecedented level of communal, ethno-regional and religious conflicts in the country. Thus agitation for the restructuring or redesign of the Nigerian federal system has become heightened, with the civil society being a key agency of the discourse. The article examines the intervention of the civil society in the federal discourse in Nigeria. It argues that there is no consensual view by civil society organisations on the modalities and details of federal restructuring in Nigeria. Spatial location, interests and orientation of the different civil society organizations are some of the factors that shape their differing positions on the future of Nigerian federalism. Positions articulated range from a loose federal arrangement to a confederacy, balanced federal system and centrist federal arrangement. However, the convergent, but notable point for many of these groups is the inviolability of the Nigerian state and the need to maintain the corporate existence of the country in spite of the trails and travails of Nigeria's federalism.