SOCIAL JUSTICE, FEDERAL CHARACTER AND TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE IN NIGERIA: THE NECESSITY FOR LEGAL COMPROMISE

Abstract

Government is a necessity as man cannot fully realize himself except within an ordered society1. The federal character and social justice principles are incorporated into the Nigeria Constitution to ensure national unity, loyalty and prevention of predominance of persons from a few States or ethnic or other sectional groups in the government of Nigeria or any of its agencies.2 Has the federation maintained any standard in relation to these two principles? Have these constitutional provisions been explored without limitation or in all fairness to her component units in promotion of her unity? Are there options open to the federation in the coming general elections to ameliorate any effects of the nature of implementation of federal character and social justice? The work focuses on reviewing the social justice provisions in the constitution in the face of federal character and further examines whether social justice application in the form of transitional justice will be panacea to the social unrest in the politico-legal milieu in Nigeria. The work found that fair exploration and application of these two basic constitutional principles will engender peace and security and provide a platform for negotiating the continued mutual co-existence of the ethnic nationalities within the federation.