Fiscal federalism, ethnic minorities and the national question in Nigeria: Revisiting the case of the Niger Delta People

Abstract

This study, using content analysis, examined the impact of fiscal federalism and the struggles of ethnic minority groups in the Niger Delta on the trajectories of the national question in Nigeria. It discovered a positive relationship between the changes in the fiscal structure and the aggravation of ethnic minorities’ struggles. It concluded that the interplay of these variables leads to the degeneration of the national question and recommended, therefore, the revision of the fiscal structure on which the Nigerian federal system currently anchors as a panacea for resolving the national question.

Keywords: Federalism, Fiscal federalism, Ethnic minorities, National question, Niger delta peoples, Nigeria