Examination of Social Injustice in Nigeria and the Necessity for a Welfare System: A Rawlsian Approach

Abstract

As a nation, Nigeria is plagued by a series of ethnic and political crises. This is due to the amalgamation of different ethnic groups by the British in 1914. This has divided the country along ethnic lines and created inequalities between people. These inequalities create crises due to the unequal distribution of national resources. As a result, ethnic relations are also exacerbated due to the large ethnic groups in Nigeria. On the other hand, overlapping consensus, as described by Rawls, can be translated to a national consensus in a welfare society where there is constitutional protection for marginalized? ethnic groups through mutual understanding as well as a willingness to adjust positions to suit the needs of others. A just and fair welfare society must provide interethnic collaboration, peaceful coexistence, and healthy relationships in a multiethnic state like Nigeria, where there is division, animosity, unhealthy rivalry, and pronounced inequities between the ethnic groups.