reasons for the adoption of federalism in nigeria pdf
The effectiveness of linking communications has been a vital factor in geographical unit. It is our pleasure. The states were later increased to 30 states. A Policy Brief examining the actors, factors and dynamics of the agitations, questioning if the current agitation is another flash in the pan and if current responses are adequate to address the agitations for secession of Biafra from Nigeria. Mainly of telling who is who in a given society. or this it really helped me, Your email address will not be published. >> We hope to seeing you again on other posts of interest. Rather there has been more challenges than benefits of this federal system. Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. Reasons for Federalism 3.1 Reasons for a federal order rather than separate states or secession 3.2 Reasons for preferring federal orders over a unitary state 4. To know more about various aspects of federalism in Nigeria ,you may read from . Federalism: Federal Features in the Colonial State." A chronology of critical events in Nigeria's political development from the adoption of a federal system in 1954 to the present is provided in Table 1. After nearly three decades of cumulative military rule, the country returned to civilian governance in 1999 under a presidential system of government. +rohyC ! 9S ) ?roh _ O4C sR & Pf?? AK kyC?& Pf;_Hu j_ G$: 5/ The Babangida administration followed the same step and created 21 states and more local governments. /F4 15 0 R For a better explanation of the theory of federalism, I highly recommend that you watch the video below. Since a strong bond links the process through which constitutions are produced and their degree of acceptance and effectiveness, questions over the Constitutions legitimacy prompted parliament to amend it in 2010. Also, Read: Bad Leadership Causes, Effects And Solutions In Nigeria. REVENUE ALLOCATION IN NIGERIA: NEED FOR REFORM? History of federal system of government in nigeria. There are three major tribes in Nigeria namely Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba. The Legacy of Biafra: An Investigation into trauma as National Identity Fragmentation, Under Reconstruction: Ethnicity, Ethnic Nationalism, and the Future of the Nigerian State, ETHNIC SCHISM IN NIGERIA: A SOCIO-LITERAY STUDY OF CHINUA ACHEBE'S THERE WAS COUNTRY. Federalism is a method of segregating powers so that the central and local governments are each within a domain, harmonizing and autonomous. To learn more, view ourPrivacy Policy. To avert this domination, states unite to form a strong, virile and stable union capable of withstanding external attacks. From that date, the concept of federalism incorporated the idea of patterned contact at two levels: at the governmental level between the participating units, and among the citizens of these different units (Dare, 1979:26). Such arrangement would inter alia breed neglect, frustration and aggression; no thanks to the red-tape inherent in unitarism. By way of conclusion, it is imperative to know that the reason why Nigeria is still practicing federalism today is because the system seems to be suitable for our political value and culture. we are proud to nigeria our inherited country,god bless nigeria. Nigeria is a plural society of over 250 tongues and tribes. Just very few words have evoked much more controversy in the discus of politics than the word, federalism. Reasons for a state to adopt a federal system include the need to reflect linguistic, economic and cultural differences of a population, especially one that is concentrated geographically. $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ? This has nexus with the particular sharing formula adopted. In developing countries like India, Iraq and Nigeria, federalism has either failed to close developmental gaps and ethno-communal tensions among various states or, more worryingly, in some. 3 Reasons for federal system of government in Nigeria 3.1 1. It allows for popular participation in politics at every level of government. /ProcSet [/PDF /Text ] Before the amalgamation of the Northern Protectorate and the Southern Protectorate in 1914, there was nothing like Nigeria. Matters, enumerated in the exclusive list are selected for the federal authority, while matters that fall within the concurrent list are selected for the federal government, and the regions. 19 more states were created in 1976 in order to score more political advantage by the Murtala-Obasanjo regime against those that favor General Yakubu Gowon. That notwithstanding, The origin and concept of federalism boasts of a very popular definition by an American scholar, K.C. The main goal of the Convention was to revise the Articles of Confederation, the agreement that governed the 13 colonies and was adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, shortly after the end of the Revolutionary War . 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. In Nigerian democracy, there is a federalist system of government. We can offhandedly list all of the reasons for the adoption of federal system in Nigeria. Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation 2023, Bscholarly LLC. By the time Nigeria became a republic, the system of federalism was adopted and the country was considered as a federation of three regions. "There are reasons why some nation-states opt for federalism. So for effective governance of a country of this big size, federalism has to be adopted. This duplicity of government is not alien to a federal structure as identified, except that in the Nigerian case, there is ineffable strife for dominance. Dual federalism was dominant from the 1790s until the 1930s. The leaders also were from different major tribes and also wanted a level of power. Have you ever wondered why Nigeria is practicing a federal system of government and not any other system? More so, the colonial masters with the Richards Constitution in 1947 launched Nigeria onto the path of the present federal system of government via the regionalization of the country. What is federalism? federalism, a heavily coercive effort by a nondemocratic centralizing power to put together a multinational state, some of the components of which had previously been independent states. Under this type, there exist a balkanization of formerly unitary state near disintegration and its diversities which progress to a state. By using our site, you agree to our collection of information through the use of cookies. i dont have my first school leaving certificate. There must be a formal decision of government powers by the constitution between the federal and state government. Federalism is a system of government where there are a decentralization power and autonomy of governance to the regional or federated states that share sovereignty with the Federal Government. Required fields are marked *. The powers that exist between the federal and state government also depends on the constitution. This is also one of the reasons for federal system of government in Nigeria. It represents a synthetic between two perspectiveneess; one is that politics of the United States should produce the good commonwealth and the other is that the principal task of politics is to create an open political market. Prior to independence, it is believed that the British adopted federalism because it favored their interest. June 1,2022 However, that is not so in a federal government system. Also, Read: Local Government In Nigeria : Definition, Functions, And Importance. Besides this desire, there was also the presence of certain socio-economic conditions (Babalola, 2013 . Promoters of the idea were of the view that the Federalism in Nigeria refers to the devolution of self-governance by the West African nation of Nigeria to its federated states, who share sovereignty with the Federal Government . Peter W I L F R E D Naankiel, FRED EKPE F. AYOKHAI, Covenant University Journal of Politics and International Affairs, African Journal of Political Science and International Relations, African Journal of Governance and Development, Calabar Journal of Politics and Administration, International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Research, International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development, Under Reconstruction: Ethnicity, Ethnic Nationalism, and the Future of the Nigerian State, Institutional Engineering and the Survival of Nigerian Federalism, " Managing a Plural Society : the Boomerang Effects of Nigerian Federalism' Journal of Commonwealth and Comparative Politics , 27, 1-2 (July 1989), 218-245, An Historical Interrogation of Federalism berlin, THE PRACTICE OF TRUE FEDERALISM IN NIGERIA AND THE NIGER DELTA QUESTION, "The dawn of constitutionalism in Nigeria in Mbondenyi, M. K., and Ojienda T. Be the first to get hottest news from our Editor-in-Chief, Check your email and confirm your subscription. Full History of Nigerian Federalism. Another major reason why federalism was adopted in Nigeria is the multiple ethnic backgrounds in Nigeria. Payment Details. Trouble for INEC staff who violated Electoral Act during presidential polls as c 53 things to do with your boyfriend: fun ways to spend time together, Presidential election: Jack-Rich salutes Tinubu, Shettima over victory, Maritime workers hail Supreme Court over old naira notes, says cargo can now leave ports, Dating apps in Nigeria: best applications to help you find the one. 33 The Marriage Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990, sec 18 specifically stipulates: "If either party to an intended marriage, not being a Consent widower or widow, is under twenty-one years of age, the written consent of the father, or if he be dead or of unsound mind or absent from Nigeria, of the mother, or if both be dead or of unsound mind or absent from Nigeria, of the . Book excerpt: Defensive Federalism presents an original contribution to the field of federalism and multinational democracies, exploring the concept of defensive federalism as a protection of self- government against the "tyranny of the majority". By every political barometer, this is a thought-provoking account of the Nigeria-Biafra political imbroglio. Consequently, the economic condition was one of the reasons that led to the adoption of federal systems of government in both Nigeria and South Africa. /F1 6 0 R To learn more, view ourPrivacy Policy. It forays into the inherent issues underlying the Biafran movement and the ways in which those issues, as well as Biafran agitation, are inimical to Nigeria's development. And this is one of the factors responsible for the adoption of federalism in Nigeria. The proximity of the tongues and tribes in Nigeria made it possible for the adoption of federalism in the country. Political institutions, Kinship ties, Origin of towns and their cultural antecedents are enriched with similar history. /Type /XObject There is no doubt that geographical factored are one of the influential reasons for federalism in Nigeria. Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link. Many Nigerian ethnic groups began to agitate for their own states. It submits that the problem with constitutionalism in Nigeria is poor leadership and poor implementation of the Constitution. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In federalism, there is accountability, there is transparency. But nigeria today became the proudable and bearable country, Also see: Differences between Cross-offers and counter-offers, five reasons for the adoption of federalism in nigeria. It will schock you to know Nigerias adoption of federalism was also in the interest of the leaders. The federal system adopted in 1954 comprised a national government and three regional governments: Eastern, Northern, and Western. For this alone, one thinks in consonance with the conviction of dominant scholarship, that such clustering and bundling of diverse identities in an amalgamative sense, in the case of Nigeria, is too, an irreconcilable British experimentalism of the federal principle. @VF:8=|@5&/1df gbjtCoy(L5A,JCI1/'5DT8`A!UY*&wTN5[v;KXvH* 5:>}W^Bp_ ;R!&L %s\q'(], Another cogent reason for federalism in Nigeria is the fear of marginalization. V(B8eDK@sx AK hG~ u;6DV,pwP# _ O4C sR 8_yC ! 9S ) ?roh _ O4C sR & Pf?? AK kyC?& Pf;_Hu j_ G$: 5/ 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. It is on this footing, herewith, that one can properly understand the rational for, and theory of federalism, what and why certain trends theme up federal-state relations in Nigeria, and the features of federal-state relations in Nigeria. examines the question on why federalism has not succeeded in managing and accommodating diversity in Nigeria. In examining post-independence constitution-making in Nigeria, this chapter finds that military rule blighted Nigerias capacity to respond appropriately to the challenges of federalism. In Nigeria, there are different and distinct ethnic groups brought together by colonization. There was just the Northern Protectorate and the Southern Protectorate. And this is one of the factors responsible for the adoption of federalism in Nigeria. Regrettably, this system is founded on a militarily-conceived constitution lacking a fully enforceable bill of rights and clear governmental functions. Federalism in Nigeria refers to the devolution of self-governance by the West African nation of Nigeria to its federated states, who share sovereignty with the Federal Government. Therefore, the problem with federalism in Nigeria is the mix-application or non-application of this clause especially as it has to do with power distribution (Awa, 1977). ICT services have help in the improvement of the markets, reduction in transaction costs and increase . This was many times more the population of most African countries then. It concluded that the interplay of these variables leads to the degeneration of the national question and. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. 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. The paper begins by placing the question in an historical context examines its different phases and characters. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Reasons for the Adoption of Federalism in Nigeria. Put differently, revenue sharing has become a recurrent crisis factor in Nigeria. It also shows the growth rate as an engine to the development of economies of developing countries like Nigeria in this 21p century. However, where there is a conflict of authority between the federal government and regional government, the federal authority supersedes. Another factor that prompted the adoption of federalism in Nigeria is the fear of insecurity and the desire for union. Federalism did not return to Nigeria until after his death. This has led to a deep sense of alienation and politics of ethnic identity. It was subsequently, not until after the American constitution of 1787, that a new concept of federalism was introduced. The benefits of federalism are that it can encourage political participation, give states an incentive to engage in policy innovation, and accommodate diverse viewpoints across the country. ff>qsfN? In 1939 sir Bernard Bourdillion made a serious constitutional proposal which concluded having regional councils with a central council in Lagos. The political parties involved in the first republic were more formed on a regional basis. Here, both the majority and minority are represented in the government. More importantly, certain heavy but blurred (or fluid) terminologies that define or designate Nigerias federal principle, which are highly pertinent to coexistence, have yet compounded the theoretical and practical significance of federalism in Nigeria. welcome, and thanks for reading us. Also see: Differences between 1960 and 1963 constitution of Nigeria, reasons for federal system of government in nigeria. by the federal or any state government. REASONS FOR ADOPTION OF FEDERALISM According to IDEA (2015:3), federalism is adoption for the following reasons: Scale: This credited the operation of federalism to the adoption of democracy which allowed for citizens to participate directly in political life. Since 1954 successively Nigerian constitution had adopted the federal system of government without much emphasis on the unity or disunity it has accorded to Nigeria. Check your inbox to be the first to know the hottest news. five reasons for the adoption of federalism in Nigeria explained. Emphasis on indigeneity, the federal revenue allocation formula and the increasing formalization of the 'federal character' principle, to mention only a few issues, increase sources of tensions and potential conflicts. As I have already explained, Nigeria is an amalgamation of three different regions with beliefs and customs. 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. The paper contends that unitary federalism in Nigeria is an imposition and extension of colonial and military entrenched inequalities in the Nigerian state. Nigeria are typically inclined to the derivation principle, which is the process of distributing centrally generated revenue to constituent units with regards to the contribution made by a group to the country's more 12substantial income. Nigeria can be said to be operating the federal system of government, whereas in actual practice, the country is tending towards a unitary system. The logic for this call, nay, agitation for self-determination by this group is not faulty in itself except that the laws of the land; Nigeria 1999 Constitution (as amended) does not guarantee self-determination or secession by any group of the Nigerian political environment. Such an act has constituted to one of the major problems of federalism thereby militating against the development of the nation. However, the practice of fiscal federalism in Nigeria is a negation of true federalism. Government at different periods had set up commissions to advise on the acceptable revenue sharing formula, especially as it affects the three (3) tiers of government. So for effective governance of a country of this big size, federalism has to be adopted. Nigeria as a nation has succeeded in commanding influence among member states by the virtue of its size. and Democracy in Nigeria, ISSUES IN NIGERIAN FISCAL FEDERALISM; THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PRINCIPLE OF DERIVATION AND RESOURCE CONTROL. Federalism was implemented in Nigeria as way back as 1946 during the British colonial era. It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide Not minding the general relevance of these coinages, an arduous task lies in properly assessing their specific impacts in a given political enclave. Another important factor that necessitated federalism in Nigeria was the political culture of the country. Problems of Nigerian Federalism 1) Revenue Allocation: This has been a problem in Nigeria. You are welcome dear reader. Nigeria's founding fathers desired a federal political framework, believing that federal states have the structural capacity to accommodate diversity. Some of the reasons include preservation of identities. The Emergence of Nigeria as a political entity under colonial rule was not an easy affair. The current problems facing the Nigeria government and the Biafra separatist agitators originate in the causes and the effects of the Nigerian Civil war (06 July 1967-15 January 1970). This simply means that federalism in Nigeria provides accommodation, an institutional arrangement which gives the component units equal and coordinate jural status. Federalism shares power between the central and regional governments; thus promoting efficiency in service delivery and governance. Nigeria therefore falls into the latter because of the wide diversities. 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. This embodies ideas of promise, obligation, and undertaking; and consequently, the federal idea draws on collaboration, reciprocity, and mutuality. Nigeria did not choose federal system of government because it is the best or most practiced system of government in the world. Pls visit us again dear reader. Excellent, thanks a lot f As a Nigerian, it is important to understand some basic things about the system of governance in Nigeria and why it is so. Fear of insecurity and the desire for a Union Meaning of federalism? Instead of designing a government that should unite the different elements in Nigeria, the colonialists fully adopted federal stem of government in 1954 and created greater regional autonomy. Journal of public administration and Management Vol.6,No.12, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
Positive Messages From Teachers To Students During Covid,
Fazbear Ultimate Pill Pack Remastered Chasing Npcs,
Articles R