JOURNALS

ABSTRACT

This paper discusses the Niger Delta Question in the light of myriad of issues bothering Nigeria's fiscal federalism. Given the view that the Niger Delta question has continued to defy all panacea adduced for its resolution, there arises the need to go beyond the rhetoric of marginalization of the region to an examination of the causes of the region's economic challenges and social malaise. These challenges can best be explicated within the purview of the perceived imbalance in Nigeria's fiscal structure. More so, aside the investigation of the fiscal relations among Nigerian governments, this study also attempts a history and discourse on the politics of revenue allocation in Nigeria. This study employed the thematic and analytical methods of historical research. The themes studied herein are presented in chronological order. The inter-disciplinary approach was utilized in the collection data. This study observes that that the imbalance and inequity in the fiscal regimes of the Nigerian state are the reasons for the myriads of challenges confronting the Niger Delta people. This study recommends a total and comprehensive restructure of Nigeria's fiscal relations to reflect what obtains in other functional federal systems. This is because a restructured system will reflect on the fiscal regime of the Nigerian state so as to protect the interests of all federating units. This will also permanently proffer solution to the Niger Delta question thereby promoting equity, peace and national cohesion.