Building social cohesion through the single-tier multi-purpose local government system in 21st century Nigeria: insight and opinion

Abstract

The subject of social cohesion is one that is of primary importance in a country like Nigeria with a pluralistic and multicultural society with people of diverse ethnic origins and who identifies with different religions. This study titled “Building Social Cohesion through the Single-Tier Multi-Purpose Local Government System in 21st Century Nigeria: Insight and Opinion assessed the possibility of building social cohesion in Nigeria, through single-tier multi-purpose local government system. Crosssectional survey research design was employed in this study. Fieldworks were carried out in six geopolitical region that make-up Nigeria. The study employed quantitative and qualitative mixed approaches. The primary data were presented and analyzed using frequency and percentage guided by the research questions while the hypotheses posed for the study were tested using simple linear regression analysis at 0.05 significant level. Logical argument and content analysis were also used for qualitative data. The finding of the study revealed that equity and social justice could be significantly promoted in Nigeria through single-tier multipurpose local government system nationwide. The study also revealed that national identity could be advanced to a large extent in Nigeria through single-tier multi-purpose social government system nationwide. Recommendations include the idea of returning to single-tier multi-purpose local government system nationwide. Beyond this, the way to begin to build real social cohesion in Nigeria is to manufacture consent and consensus. This requires a return to the foundations of Nigeria itself. We must return to the National Question of Uniformity and address it squarely if we are to achieve national unity, identity, and sustainable national integration. The study concluded that social cohesion requires a sense of common purpose and shared destiny. Each member or group of such a society, which may be diverse or heterogeneous, as Nigeria is, brings specific strengths or contributions to the larger mix. One good step towards building a social cohesive Nigeria society is through uniformed laws and structure which bring the single-tier multi-purpose local government system to light.