ABSTRACT
Inclusivity in a federal polity heralds the participation of all sections of a plural society in the policy-making process, to encourage equitable representation and promote diversity. The paper delved into the Nigerian federal system and examine its correlation with inclusivity in the country’s governance system. It hinges on qualitative method for data collection. It relied on both primary data from the interview techniques and secondary data emanating from journals, government, and development partners’ reports and employed the realistic group conflict theory as a framework of analysis. The paper reveals that the Nigerian constitution enshrined the federal character principles aimed at promoting a non-discriminatory governance and a sence of belonging amongst divergent people in the society. The Nigerian governance system under successive administrations still grapples with the challenge of building trust, and the inability to create a society known for equity, social justice, and inclusive governance. In another sense, the inaction of government to promote inclusive growth orchestrated a wide gap between the rich and the poor. The analysis contends that a diverse society that pervades discrimination, prejudice, inequality in the distribution of resources, and the non-guarantee of equity, social justice, and equal treatment of all culminates in divisive elements. This corroborates with the realistic group conflict theory which attributes ethnocentrism to the unequal distribution of resources. It, therefore, recommends the need for political elites to redefine governance and strive for a cohesive society where the prosperity of all its members and the upholding of ethnic justice and non-discriminatory governance is ensured.
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