This was due to several reasons such as: Dye, Thomas. Another major reason why federalism was adopted in Nigeria is the multiple ethnic backgrounds in Nigeria. Possess power would probably give them the voice to air out their grievances. in or register, Sometimes, there can be overlapping of work and subsequent confusion regarding who is responsible for what. Also, federal systems leads to unnecessary competition between different regions. Federalism as a system of government which is meant to help to advance good governance and development of a multi-ethnic and big country like Nigeria. Federalism can be inefficient. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Rather there has been more challenges than benefits of this federal system. If the desire to remain separate does not exist, the the association will not be federal but unitary with some delegation of powers to local government. 6. Take for example, in the Nigerian case of Attorney General of Federation v Attorney General of Abia and others (2002) 3 NCLR 1ar p 54, the issue of resource control in a true federalism was the bone of contention in that matter. Since Nigeria is a heterogeneous nation and Federalism is more practicable in such kind of nation, it is an ideal system of government. While formulating policies, local needs, tastes and opinions are given due consideration by the state governments. However, it is also fact that since independence Nigeria has promulgated several constitutions and that if Nigeria wanted an alternative system of government, she could have opted for it. Unfortunately, since the formation of Nigeria and adoption of this system of governance in the country has not seen much effect of federalism. So majority if not all of them were in favor of a federalist system of governance. 6. Nigeria's independence was gotten and founded on the basis of a federalist system of Government. We do hope that you find this article helpful. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. There are several pros and cons of federalism to consider when looking at it as a political system. This post will give you some insight into why federalism was adopted as the system of governance in Nigeria. The federal system makes decision making more complex and difficult. The full explanation of Nigeria's federalism. Different communities have unique requirements that they must meet to maximize their quality of life. These include: 1. The history of Ijaw, Edo, Igala, Yoruba, Igbo, Nupe and Hausa Kingdoms are enriched with social-political relationships that existed before the emergence of the white man. They are better suited to deal with the true things that need to be changed. ! Also see: Historical constitutional development in Nigeria explained. %PDF-1.5 The definition of federalism is straightforward: it is the federal principle or system of government. We utilize security vendors that protect and These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Also see: Differences between 1960 and 1963 constitution of Nigeria, reasons for federal system of government in nigeria. The Emergence of Nigeria as a political entity under colonial rule was not an easy affair. Although there are challenges to face in any type of government, most people who live in a federalist system say that they wouldnt change the structure whatsoever. In fact, Nigeria can be seen as a prime example of the "resource curse", a phenomenon where natural resource wealth leads to poor economic growth and development and an increased likelihood for civil conflict. Federalism encourages innovation in governing. Federalism can be defined as a system of government in which political powers of the state are shared between the central government and other component units. Live, Study and Work in Canada. It allows for popular participation in politics at every level of government. In other not to control only some parts of the big country, Nigeria, the colonial masters thought it wise to divide the country into different component units that will be represented in the government. Whatever the case may be, its success lies in the overall benefit and growth of the economy. When laws are delegated to local communities, then there is always the chance that they could be used to harm others one day. Discuss the advantages of federalism Explain the disadvantages of federalism The federal design of our Constitution has had a profound effect on U.S. politics. Required fields are marked *. Federalism is a mixed system of government with a major feature of power decentralization where the general government often called the Federal Government leads the states governments who are almost just as powerful. Federalism increases the level of participation by individuals. Federalism in Nigeria can be traced to Sir Frederick Lord Lugard, when the Northern and Southern protectorates were amalgamated in 1914. And even now we can see the population of Nigeria compared to other countries in Africa. ensure the integrity of our platform while keeping your private information safe. New York: Harper & Row, 1984. November 23, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/federalism-2/. Different states also have different laws making it hard to enforce law on visitors who had moved in the state. Nigeria is quite a big country with an area of 923,768 km2. The U.S. government threatened to pull funding from the cities choosing this action, and then filed suit against them in an effort to try getting compliance. The governmental powers are shared between the federal government and the thirty-six state governments. Nigeria as a result was divided into three provinces. Thus, federalism seemed to be the only option left for Nigeria because it allows for popular participation in government. 7. We use cookies and similar technologies to ensure our website works properly, personalize your browsing experience, analyze how you use our website, and deliver relevant ads to you. In summary, we use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. +rohyC ! 9S ) ?roh _ O4C sR & Pf?? AK kyC?& Pf;_Hu j_ G$: 5/ There are natural disasters, national welfare aid distributed to the states for authorization, public education resources, and many more benefits or circumstances where someone must navigate each level of government to find the results they want. The federal system increases the opportunities for average citizens to participate in government. Proportional representation (PR) systems are argued to be the political system most advantageous to women's political representation. What Countries Use Federalism? The Evolution, Development and Practice of Federalism in Nigeria Charas Madu Tella, Ahmed Wali Doho, Aliyu Bapeto Abstract Federalism is a political philosophy in which members of a group are . The first military head of state was dethroned for adopting unitary system of government yet successive military administration in practice follow unitary principle instead of federal system. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Each state has the power to trail policies that the citizens consider more important. /Filter /DCTDecode National government shall issue grants to states to aid in state development. This process can create positive or negative results. So for effective governance of a country of this big size, federalism has to be adopted. Some choose to use a central system of government that regulates the entire country. For the United States, it is the wage and wealth gaps to consider. Federalism therefore involves the linkage of individuals, groups and policies in lasting but limited union in such a way as to provide for the energetic pursuit of common goals while maintaining the respective integrities of all parties. Because there are multiple layers of government working cooperatively with one another in a federalist system, it can be challenging at times for specific communities to know where they can receive assistance. They will have to face legal charges for their actions in whichever state they are in. What is causing the plague in Thebes and how can it be fixed? Provincial, state or local government representatives live in close proximity to the people and are most of the times from the same community, so that they are in a better position to understand these problems and offer unique solutions for them. Central Versus Provincial So, without wasting much time, what is a federal system of government? Federalism was further adopted because the developed countries from which Nigeria borrowed democracy practice federalism. The competitive federalism model is a theoretical construct advanced by As at the time of independence, the population of Nigeria was estimated at 45.21 million. States also engage in economic competition which causes economic warfare amongst them. The Pros of Federalism. Other forms of government do not offer such an opportunity. %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz Abacha regime, added more states making Nigeria a federation of 36 states and Federal capital Territory at Abuja. The national government is also entitled to forming treaties and conducting foreign policies. There are several pros and cons of federalism to consider when looking at it as a political system. Under this type, there exist a balkanization of formerly unitary state near disintegration and its diversities which progress to a state. (2019, November 23). Although there is always a level of national pride, local patriotism is usually the first level of loyalty that an individual will experience. V(B8eDK@sx AK hG~ u;6DV,pwP# _ O4C sR 8_yC ! 9S ) ?roh _ O4C sR & Pf?? AK kyC?& Pf;_Hu j_ G$: 5/ History of federal system of government in nigeria. Resource control: History of federal system of government in nigeria Few political scientists today see many advantages in federalism and decentralization. This allows the central or federal government to share governmental powers between the central or federal government and the components regions, state, etc. Hon. There are other political systems the country could have adopted but because of some reasons which I am going to share with you today, federalism seemed to be the best idea. What are the advantages of federalism in Nigeria? There are three major tribes in Nigeria namely Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba. Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and regional authorities. In conclusion, federalism has both advantages and disadvantages. The Founders of this country identified several reasons for creating a federalist government: To evade tyrannical rule 2.5 It Encourages Innovation In Governing. It was under the 1954 constitution that federal system of government was fully adopted. The top 1% of income earners own a majority of the wealth increases experienced since 2009. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Rights of the minorities are protected too. Present Nigeria was formed by the amalgamation of two regions which many see as a big influence in why federalism was later adopted by the British and later on by Nigerian leaders as at the time of independence. Differences between 1960 and 1963 constitution of Nigeria. The centralization of Nigeria's fiscal federalism began with the report of the Dina Commission (1968) which argued that an appropriate revenue allocation system should result in a more equitable distribution of revenue among the states to achieve a balanced development of the federation. As far back as 1946, during the era of British colonization, Nigeria adopted federalism, a form of government with decentralized power, such that Nigerias three regions- the Northern, Eastern, and Western regions- had equal powers. Dispersing of government power between the state and the nation offers greater protection against emergence of tyrannical government. advantages of federalism 1.people feel more involved 2.separation of power to help create checks and balance that are in play rather than let all one body hold all the power By the time Nigeria got her independence, the various party involved had been regionally based. Nigeria as a country occupies a large geographical area and what she has as singular states in Nigeria is the equivalent of the entirety of some other African countries. No Payment is Required! These structures can be challenging to change when there are some many obstacles that are put in the way thanks to the checks and balances of this system. But in Nigeria, The federal government controls about 80 percent of the resources in the country, leaving the state and local government at its mercy. Thats not to say that all actions are a disadvantage. Natural resources, industries, employment opportunities differ from region to region. Have you ever wondered why Nigeria is practicing a federal system of government and not any other system? Federalism is a type of government in which the sovereign authority of political power is usually divided between two units. sir Arthur Richards strengthened this proposal in 1945 and regionalism was introduced by his administration in 1946. Here lies the overiding importance of the two dates 25th February 2023 and 11th march 2023. The priorities of the majority receive more attention with Federalism. If you travel to almost any town, city, or village in the United States, then you will discover a different set of laws, rules, and regulations to follow. Many forms of federalism look to create checks and balances throughout society as a way to create an equal governing process. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. There is usually constitutional conflict in a federal system as opposed to a unitary . 6 0 obj Others do not. May 7, 2015. The Babangida administration followed the same step and created 21 states and more local governments. "Federalism System, Its Advantages and Disadvantages." Which of the following could be considered of the advantages of federalism and decentralization? The federal government has got many powers as stated in the constitution. s" Increasing Citizen Participation - By not centralizing all power into the hands of a It does not store any personal data. 1. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Several positive and negative attributes of federalism have manifested themselves in the U.S. political system. This has been the "Federalism System, Its Advantages and Disadvantages." Many Nigerian ethnic groups began to agitate for their own states. It is believed by many that this was one of the reasons why Nigeria adopted a federalist system. Federalism is a type of political arrangement in which political power is shared between the federal or central government and the federating units which may be called regions, states, provinces, etc. It is illegal in Arizona for a donkey to sleep in a bathtub. 6. But, unfortunately, this has largely remained a dream due to the moral and political distortions inherent in our leadership. Read Also:Importance of the Nigeria Foreign Policy. People must stay in compliance with the laws that are in every layer of governing. The exact structures of each system can vary widely based on how the country sets up its governing process. or this it really helped me, Your email address will not be published. Even the masses in the rural areas of the country are allowed to participate in politics by electing their representatives into office. Problems facing the legal profession in Nigeria, History of the legal profession in Nigeria, Problems of Local Government in Nigeria And Solutions, 5 important Characteristic of customary law, Sources of Nigerian Law: everything you need to know. The case for federalism in Nigeria has been to accommodate and manage diversity while taking economic advantage of its sheer size and population to promote development. Cookies are small files that are stored on your browser. IvyPanda. student. Several positive and negative attributes of federalism have manifested themselves in the U.S. political system. Also see: Reasons why lawyers wear wigs to court, Origin and nature of federalism in Nigeria. Need to regulate interstate commerce power. Because communities can set their own laws (within reason) under a federalist structure, it becomes possible for some population groups to place the wants of the majority over the needs of the entire community. The local governments can decide to fight the existence of some specific national laws by going through the justice system of the country. They will then have special authority to control interstate businesses and trade with the foreign countries. By and large, it is the nature of the relationship of the federal and state governments that determines whether a state is federal or unitary. 2 Top 5 Advantages Of Federalism. 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