An Assessment of Social Structural Imbalance and Sustainable Development of Plural Society

Abstract

This study examines the factors responsible for social conflicts in Nigeria, a country with a plural society and a history of social injustice. The research explores how deprivation of rights, social discrimination, inequality, and imbalance in the social structure contribute to conflicts. The need for all citizens to benefit from a safe and pleasant environment, entails fair distribution of resources amongst the plural groups. The lack of it calls for sufficient public action and real danger for a social breakdown. The constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria 1999 advocated the principle of state social order based on the ideals of freedom, equality and justice. In furtherance of this social order, in 1996, federal character commission was established with responsibility to promote, monitor and enforce compliance with the principles of proportional sharing of all bureaucratic, economic, media and political posts at all levels of government. The social contract and social justice theories were the Theoretical frameworks. The study adopted a survey design method and interview were conducted in structured in-depth and key informant interviews with 200 respondents from different ethnic groups. Data collected through the interviews were analyzed using frequency tabulation, percentage, thematic summaries. There was selection of sample size from the population of the study. Findings from the study showed that, there are pervasiveness of political imbalance, which has led to one component unit being stronger than other parts of the plural segment. Consequent upon these findings, the study recommends a restructure where the federating units are equal in the natural opportunities and resource allocation. In conclusion, the research also suggests a revisit to the 2014 national sovereign conference as a way forward for Nigeria’s unity.