ETHNO-RELIGIOUS CRISIS AND NIGERIA’S FEDERALISM: A STUDY OF JOS NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, PLATEAU STATE

Abstract

Ethnic, political and religious crises are challenging Nigeria’s existence and its democracy. The issues at stake question Nigeria’s ethno-religious crisis and federalism: a study of the Jos North Municipality in Plateau State. The study adopts the survey design and the questionnaire was used as a tool to collect data. The analysis was performed using the simple percentage data analysis method. After careful analysis and interpretation of the data collected, it was found that issues such as the federal character, the quota system, and “indigenousness” that have entered the vocabulary and practice of federalism in Nigeria tend to generate ethnic, religious, and ultimately political tensions and instability. This calls into question the rationality of introducing the federal character principle in the first place. The research also shows that the federal character principle has had a negative impact on political, social and economic development in the Jos North Local Government Area. In the final presentation, the study recommends, among other things, strict compliance with the constitutional provisions on citizenship rights in relation to indigenous colonisation issues.