The Prospect of Proportional Representation of States: A Study of the Nigerian Defence Academy

Abstract

Nigeria is country with 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with an unequal population among them. However, the same numbers of slots are allocated to the state in all public institutions without any regard to population sizes of the states. This system creates a feeling of marginalization and domination especially from the states with larger population who are left with higher number of unemployed due to this system of allocation to the states. With such feelings, it became imperative to find out if there is justice in the treatment of un-equals equally by allocating the same number of slots to all the states regardless of population density? The objective is to suggest on a more equitable formula for the allocation of slots to all the states and the FCT. To achieve this objective, a one-on-one semi-structured interview was conducted on 15 respondents who are critical to the research area. The findings have revealed that proportional representation of states where by the actual population size of each state will determine the number of slots allocated to that state is appealing and also has the capacity to alleviate if not eliminate the feelings of marginalization and domination expressed across the country.

Keywords: Consociational democracy, proportional representation, federal character principle, marginalization, domination.