Comparative Analysis of the Functionality of Federalism in the Promotion of Unity in Diversity in Nigeria and Ethiopia

The general understanding of federalism as a veritable tool of unity in diversity is both held and believed by the Nigerian and Ethiopian governments. While this understanding has been applauded, the practical achievement of the much-expected unity in diversity largely depends on the functionality of federalism in Nigeria and Ethiopia. Indeed, much attention has been paid to the utility value and what federalism can offer, whereas its functionality towards the realization of the widely recognized ends is hardly examined. Drawing on a systematic qualitative method, the paper comparatively analyzed the functionality of federalism in Nigeria and Ethiopia. The findings expand knowledge on the dimension of the functionality of federalism in Nigeria and Ethiopia. It also revealed that political leaders in Ethiopia complied more with constitutional provisions of federalism than their counterparts in Nigeria. It concluded that effective leadership, the careful and equitable allocation of resources, and the continuous strengthening of intergovernmental cooperation, all of which together are indispensable for transforming the theoretical promise of "unity in diversity" into a lived reality in Nigeria and Ethiopia.