The Effect of Fiscal Federalism and Resource Allocation on National Integration in Nigeria: 2015 to Date. A Study of Zamfara State and Revenue Mobilization, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission, Abuja

Abstract

The issues of fiscal federalism and resource allocation have always drawn the attention of both politicians and members of the academic community. This is evident in the hullabaloo it has always created since independence which sometimes manifests in the form of violent agitations. This paper intends to analyze the effect of fiscal federalism and by extension, resource allocation on national integration in Nigeria from independence to the present time. Data for the study were sourced mainly from secondary sources which include journal publications, textbooks, and materials from the internet. The generated data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The theoretical framework adopted to explain the phenomenon was the game theory. The study discovered that there were a number of committees such as Hicks/Philipson Commission of 1951, Chicks Commission of 1953 etc. that were set up in the past to address allocation grievances but yet the main agitations which serve as threat to national integration still exist. The paper recommended for review of the current revenue allocation formula to ensure more allocations get to the states and local governments. It also recommended for the review of tax laws to give more tax jurisdictions to the states and local governments.