The Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, Abubakar Sulaiman, has advocated for the adoption of fiscal federalism as a way to enable states to effectively manage and utilise their resources.
He made this known on Wednesday during the institute’s fourth public lecture held in Abuja, themed “Nigerian Federalism and the Paradox of Inclusion: Evaluating Federal Character and the Crisis of National Identity.”
Sulaiman explained that genuine federalism goes beyond simply sharing political positions, stressing that it involves decentralising authority and reducing excessive control at the centre. According to him, achieving true federalism requires a renewed social agreement built on justice, equity, and shared economic growth.
He reflected on Nigeria’s federal structure, noting that it was designed to accommodate diversity through constitutional evolution and reforms aimed at balancing unity with the country’s complex differences. However, he questioned whether the system has truly fostered inclusion or instead deepened divisions and weakened national identity.
Speaking on the federal character principle, he acknowledged that it was created to ensure fair representation and prevent domination by any group, adding that it has helped curb ethnic exclusion in some instances. Nonetheless, he argued that its implementation has often led to unintended consequences, including inefficiency and weakened national cohesion.
He cautioned that rigid quota systems that overlook merit can encourage mediocrity and reinforce ethnic divisions, further complicating efforts to build a unified national identity. According to him, identity-related challenges and calls for restructuring are partly driven by these systemic issues.
Sulaiman therefore called for reforms centred on fiscal federalism, devolution of powers, and a stronger social contract rooted in fairness and collective progress. He also reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to supporting lawmakers with research and policy ideas to advance these reforms.
In a related presentation, Iro Uke noted that Nigeria adopted federalism to manage its diverse composition but has struggled with consistent implementation. He pointed out that military rule introduced a highly centralised system, and although civilian governance returned in 1999, many of those distortions remain.
Uke urged the National Assembly to review and strengthen the legal framework guiding the federal character principle to ensure it promotes transparency, fairness, and balanced representation across the country.