Revenue Generation, Fiscal Federalism and the National Question in Nigeria

Abstract

Revenue generation is concerned with all financial incomes of government that include the greater part of its proceeds that are related to monies generated in the economy while fiscal federalism are monetary principles and general framework designed for assigning functions to the different levels of government through appropriate fiscal tools for carrying out those functions. In present-day Nigeria, there are political values peculiar to federalism that could assist the political leadership to find solution to some of the sweltering national question. The essence of this treatise is to assess revenue generation, fiscal federalism and the national question in Nigeria. The objective of the study is to ascertain whether the current revenue generation and allocation formula and the fiscal system have impact on the issues raised in relation to the national question. The method used in collecting data was through secondary sources obtainable from reading relevant literature, like academic journals, textbooks and e-resource materials from internet. Data was analyzed and presented through expository and descriptive approach. Finding from the study showed that there is over centralization of the fiscal policies. Nigeria’s federalism seems not to have addressed the issues that have emanated from the agitators of the national question. It is recommended that Nigeria’s fiscal system be reformed to meet up with challenges brought about by the imbalance in the provision of developmental projects to the different sectors of the economy which has led to the disharmonious agitations from the various regions of the country consequent from dissatisfaction with fiscal federalism.

Keywords:  Revenue Generation, Fiscal Federalism, National Development, National Question, Nigeria