The Impact of Federal Character Principles on National Integration in the Selected Federal Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria

The complexity of Nigeria’s multi-ethnic and multi-religious nature as well as its political history before and after independence makes it increasingly necessary for country to identify a workable formula for the peaceful coexistence of its people. Principle of federal character is aimed at ensuring fairness and equity in the distribution of public posts and socio-economic infrastructures among the various agencies of government including higher education institutions in the country. The aim of this study is to investigate the level of compliance with federal character principles as well as analyse the factors hindering strict adherence to these principles in the federal higher education institutions situated in Adamawa state. A descriptive survey design was adopted in which 123 staff of the selected institutions was used as research subjects. The collected data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics with help of SPSS version 23. Findings of the study reveals that there is a high level of awareness of the principle of federal character among employees of federal institutions. There seems to be strong and general acceptance amongst scholars that the whole essence of the establishment of the federal character principles as a policy is to ensure equitable distribution of governmental activities and employments in the country. However, the practical implementation and interpretation of this policy is far from it main objectives. Among the factors hindering strict adherence to these principles include ethnicity, tribalism, external influence, favouritism and to a considerable extent corruption. Looking at the factors that affect the smooth implementation, enforcement and strict compliance with the federal character principles in the federal institutions, we recommend that relevant provisions of the constitution should be amended so as to make all the key policy actors to implement the federal character principles in tertiary institutions across Nigeria. Also, strict adherence to policy guideline and implementation plans as spelled out in the Act establishing the federal character principles must be clearly followed in order to end inequality and marginalisation. Finally, an enforcement unit of the federal character principles should be strengthening in order to carryout it duty of ensuring equitable distribution of employment and fairness and sanction should be carryout on those institutions that violate any part of the principles.