Table of Contents

Environmental Issues and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Nigeria

Niger Delta Region: The Need for a Pragmatic Approach

Kelly Ejumudo; Zephaniah Osuyi Edo; Lucky Avweromre

and Jonathan Sagay …………………………………………………………………………………………………………       1- 21

Law of Armed Conflicts and Regulation of Weapons of Mass Destruction:

A Subject of Controversy

Nwanolue, Bonn Obiekwe Godwin and Victor Chidubem Iwuoha.…………………………………..  22-32

An Analysis of Trip Generation and Vehicular Traffic Pattern in Akure Metropolis Ondo

State, Nigeria

Awoyemi, O. K.; Ita, A. E;  Oke, M. O., Abdulkarim, I. A. and Awotayo, G. P………………………      33-43

Urban Transportation Challenges: The Impact of the Lagos Brt-Lite

Yaqub J.O.; A.O. Olateju and B. Aina.,…………………………………………………………………………….             44-51

Language, Literature and Communication: Challenges for National Integration

and Globalization

Ayaka Rigima Obadiah……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..      52-57

Nigerian Environment and the Challenges of Implementing the Child Rights Law:

 A Case Study of Akwa Ibom and Cross River States

 Ukpong J. Sunday; Ayo S. Ikpan; Ekong A. Edet, and ⁴Isong, H. Emmah …………………………..     58-64

Good Governance and Credible Elections in Nigeria

Beetseh, kwaghga,………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….                65-72

Theoretical and Conceptual Perspectives of Federalism: The Possible Contribution

of Federal Structures to a Resolution of Contemporary Political Problems and

Contending Issues in Nigeria

Abdur-Rahman Olalekan Olayiwola…………………………………………………………………………………………     73-103

THEORETICAL AND CONCEPTUAL PERSPECTIVES OF FEDERALISM: THE POSSIBLE

CONTRIBUTION OF FEDERAL STRUCTURES TO A RESOLUTION OF CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL PROBLEMS AND CONTENDING ISSUES IN NIGERIA

Abdur-Rahman Olalekan Olayiwola

Department of Political Science

Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria

E-mail: nusramurana@yahoo .co.uk

ABSTRACT

The debate on Minorities, Federalism and Politics in Nigeria has continued unabated. The result of many disputes about Nigerian Federalism, ethnic minority-majority contradictions, possible solutions to inclusive state and sustainable national development, is, arguably, what the French call a ‘dialogue of the deaf, where nobody hears the other side’s argument. This paper examines the theoretical and conceptual perspectives of Federalism and the possible contributions of Federal structures to a resolution of contemporary political problems and contending issues in Nigeria as far as minorities-majorities relations are concerned. The paper begins with a theoretical exploration of the Federal Government conceptualization and practice generally and particularly in Nigeria. It examines the contending issues in Nigeria and notes that minorities have not been treated fairly under the Nigerian Federal Structure, The paper notes that since 1954 when the minorities in the country first bombarded the colonial government with an avalanche of requests for the creation of autonomous divisions in order to ensure equity and justice in an unfolding Nigerian Federal Structure, the demands for the creation of additional states and localities have become a fad. Yet, empirical indications abound to confirm that minorities in Nigerian federalism have suffered tremendously from structural imbalance, political power, economic development, domination, distribution of power and resources, participation in nation’s affairs, allocation of development projects, provision of amenities, and appointment into key political offices to mention just a few. Attempts have been made by successive governments – both civilian and military to address the minorities question, fear, dissatisfaction and agitations. Such attempts have included Federal Character or quota system provided for by the 1979 and 1999 Constitutions as amended. The experience of ethnic minorities world wide has also shown that several approaches can be adopted to manage the problem. These include assimilation, ethnocide, genocide, constitutional safeguards, reversal of status and territorial solution, which otherwise is known as, state and locality creation. How best can the minorities-majorities issues be addressed in Nigerian Federal Structure? What are the contending issues relating to minorities-majorities relations in Nigeria and how best can they be tackled? This paper attempts some answers. The paper concludes by making recommendations including;

1. That the Nigerian Constitution should be further amended to guarantee a stronger constitutional provisions that will protect the rights of minorities and majorities.
2. That the Federal Character principle, quota system, rotation of political power among a
   host of other attempts to address the issue of minorities-majorities relations in Nigerian
   Federal Structure should be made justiciable so that rights provided for are capable of being enforced in courts of law.

That Nigeria must convene a National Constitutional Conference on the National
Question of minorities-majorities relations and make a collective national resolve to
make Nigeria work and decide once and for all either to live together or sink together.

• That the issues of religion, ethnicity, minorities within minorities, majority monopoly of
  power-political, economic, military, census manipulation, political intimidation, creation
  of more States and more Local Governments, and Revenue Allocation to mention just a
  few should be resolved.
• That we are running against time and time is of the essence. We need to move fast and now to avert terrible horrible ethnic cleansing incidents the type that occurred in Rftwanda and Bosnia and are currently happening in the Middle East and Palestine to mention just a few parts of the world.

GOOD GOVERNANCE AND CREDIBLE ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA

Beetseh, Kwaghga

Department of Library

Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi

beetsekwaghga@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The electoral process is an ideal and integral part of the democratic process, whether in developed or developing societies. A mat-functioning of electoral system inadvertently produces mat-administration. The mal-function of electoral system is caused by the incident of leadership failure and political violence. In most developing countries, crisis of governance is usually the major problem because of the kind of people chosen into elective position. This paper however examines good governance and credible elections in Nigeria using relative deprivative rising expectation model and frustration aggression mode as it theoretical framework of analysis. The paper also examines credible elections as a determinant factor for good governance in any society. Critical analyses of African countries have clearly shows elections as selective and carry go process which in turn produces bad governance across all levels of government. The paper also recommended some remedies for credible elections such as review the structure, compositions operations and finding of INEC so that it can attain autonomy. INEC shoul develop a code of conduct for political parties and institutionalize continuous voter’s registration and make review at the local government level, INEC should develop and popularize a code of conduct for the security agencies’ security sector transformation is a vital component of democratic reform and is crucial to guaranteeing respect for civil rights. New standards of behavior should be set for all members of the security services, including an end to impunity and institutional cover-up. This could necessitate that the National Assembly make changes to existing statues. The government should provide security sector officials with contiuonous training in democratic values, while civil society should develop the capacity to monitor effectively the security agencies and their operations .For any credible elections; those mentioned above remedies must be implemented.