Fiscal Decentralization and Economic Growth in Nigeria: New Evidences

Abstract

The debate regarding the role of fiscal decentralization in promoting economic growth and by extension, improving the wellbeing of the people, has been at the front burner in macroeconomic policy discuss. Studies have attempted to establish the direct interaction for most countries and regions, but not many conclusions have converged, hence necessitating this study. This study, therefore, re-examined the effect of decentralization on economic growth in Nigeria. Using fiscal decentralization data, (which included expenditures for national, subnational and local government) and other control variables, sourced from mainly secondary sources (World Development Indicators [WDI] and Central Bank of Nigeria’s [CBN] Statistical Bulletin various years) and employing basic OLS technique and Error Correction Mechanism (ECM), the results showed, amongst other issues, that fiscal decentralisation may not directly impact on economic growth, but the effects can be transmitted through efficient economic management process, which may be a product of effectively-managed fiscal decentralization processes. The study, therefore, recommended, amongst other things, that efficient systems should be promoted in the decentralization process to enhance economic growth. Viable human capital/infrastructure base should be built to drive as well as enhance productive fiscal decentralization, through strategic policies finetuning, and finally, check inflation and corruption, amongst other ills, if growth must be actualized and sustained.