The Challenges of Regional Integration for Development in Africa: Problems and Prospects

Abstract

Greater African integration has long been a cherished but elusive Greater African integration has long been a cherished but elusive goal. Political leaders at official conferences and formal summits have long promoted the idea, although with only limited results on the ground. There is a renewed impetus to establish closer economic and political ties among the continent's numerous countries, based on a heightened appreciation of the need for regional integration and a clearer understanding of the past failures. Political liberation and de-colonisation was the rallying ideology upon which economic integration and unity, found eloquent articulation in the 1960's. With the independence of several African States and the subsequent establishment of a plethora of integrative mechanisms, all the Pan-African conferences were particularly unequivocal in their advocacy of freeing Africa in an all-round sense with an urge for economic cooperation as the basis of economic and political transformation. These efforts culminated to the formation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1963. Nevertheless, Africa has no positive integrative story to tell after several years of the OAU especially as the continent become threatened increasingly by its failure to cope with the challenges of development and globalisation. Thus, the current integrative reforms in the continental body constitute a response to the emerging global order. A conscious effort to expand economic and political space as well as the needed instrument to strengthen integration in Africa. This paper therefore, examines the current African integration efforts in the age of globalisation in a bid to show the current development and future challenges.

Redefining the Nigerian System of Government: The Error of a Copied Democracy without True Federalism

“…In addition to this, the components have equal level of autonomy within their respective boundaries and are subordinate to the central government-which distinguishes it from confederalism. Also, it is different from a unitary state in which there is devolution of powers as opposed to constitutionally established power sharing between the centre and the units (Olu-Adeyemi, 2017).…”

“…Hence, the country is to date left with the challenge of securing a central government capable of preserving national unity while making the country safe for diversity of language and ethnicity to flourish. This is in spite of the further decentralisation to a three-tier government whereby there are 774 local government areas in 36 states, representing the third tier (Olu-Adeyemi, 2017).…”

“…There is a measure of diversity in most societies. It is no wonder therefore, that all over the world, federalism has become one of the most preferred forms of government as it is favourable to the need to demystify the complex nature of multi-ethnic and multi linguistic societies (Olu-Adeyemi, 2017).…”

“…In his famous book, Federal Government, Professor K.C Wheare defined federalism or federal government as the method of dividing power so that general and regional governments are each coordinated and independent (Olu-Adeyemi, 2017). This conceptualization of federalism points to the indispensability of a structure that is made up of bi-cameral legislature, independent electoral system at each level, constitutional delimitation of powers among the tiers of government, two (or multi)-party system, a supreme court and many more.…”

“…This conceptualization of federalism points to the indispensability of a structure that is made up of bi-cameral legislature, independent electoral system at each level, constitutional delimitation of powers among the tiers of government, two (or multi)-party system, a supreme court and many more. According to K.C, federalism is not as institutional as it is a process, arguing that any given design no matter how effective, is merely a phase (Olu-Adeyemi, 2017). Federalism is therefore a political reality subject to evolution.…”