Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and regional authorities. It was believed that federal system of government would take care of the interest of the minority and human rights that had been the fear of the minority under colonial rule. The leaders also were from different major tribes and also wanted a level of power. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Natural resources, industries, employment opportunities differ from region to region. Cookies are small files that are stored on your browser. 2023. When power is not centralized in a government, then there are fewer issues with individual corruption that can impact the entire nation. Federalism can create uncertainty. 1. limits the power of federal officials to determine local polices. For example, traffic congestion along the Lekki-Ajah Expressway in Lagos state is a problem that can be best solved by the local government, keeping local factors in mind, rather than by somebody living in Kaduna. Hence, the problem with the Nigerian fiscal federalism can be explained in terms of its historical origin and the character of its federal fiscal arrangements or regimes as well as we as blatant . 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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. It creates checks and balances in a system that promote individual freedoms and self-governing at a higher level when compared to the other options which are possible. Federalism provides room for innovation and experimentation. a. 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. In the words of Richards, regionalism was introduced to strengthen unity in diversity. The competitive federalism model is a theoretical construct advanced by Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Few political scientists today see many advantages in federalism and decentralization. Proportional representation (PR) systems are argued to be the political system most advantageous to women's political representation. +rohyC ! 9S ) ?roh _ O4C sR & Pf?? AK kyC?& Pf;_Hu j_ G$: 5/ The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". What are advantages and disadvantages of Constitution? Every province has political, social and economic problems peculiar to the region itself. "Federalism System, Its Advantages and Disadvantages." Several positive and negative attributes of federalism have manifested themselves in the U.S. political system. Although three major tribes (Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo) have been selected as the main Nigerian languages, the need to avoid drowning the voices of the minority groups in the stream of the major groups is both glaring and necessary for peace to reign. That will help you to understand more about a rigid and written constitution. What are the advantages of federalism in Nigeria? Federalism promotes efficiency of government: distribution of power between the state and nation provides division of work and specialization of functions. The national government also possess concurrent powers which enable them to exercises along with the state government. But besides these three major tribes, there are over 350 other smaller tribes with diverse languages and dialects. Federalism was implemented in Nigeria as way back as 1946 during the British colonial era. Instead of mandating that everyone follows the same set of laws, this system allows each community to create a foundation that works the best for their needs. What characteristics allow plants to survive in the desert? IvyPanda. 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. The fact that Nigeria is regarded as Africa's only "federal" state commands the interest not only of political scientists but also of policymakers and all those Under this type, there exist a balkanization of formerly unitary state near disintegration and its diversities which progress to a state. 23 November. student. Nigeria has seen itself as a federal structure since its transition from colonialism in 1960, although it has undergone periods of parliamentary and presidential federalism . What is the role of a reference librarian? Federalism creates a protection against tyranny. 2.5 It Encourages Innovation In Governing. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In 1788, Fisher Ames of Massachusetts made a declaration to increase the powers of the national government. There is no doubt that geographical factored are one of the influential reasons for federalism in Nigeria. However, that is not so in a federal government system. house of representatives and the Senate). Adobe d C 5. Even the masses in the rural areas of the country are allowed to participate in politics by electing their representatives into office. The central government can concentrate more on international affairs and defense of the country while the provincial government can cater to the local needs. By the time Nigeria became a republic, the system of federalism was adopted and the country was considered as a federation of three regions. It . Need to regulate interstate commerce power. Edeh Samuel Chukwuemeka ACMC, is a Law Student and a Certified Mediator/Conciliator in Nigeria. The states' territories were formed around ethnic groups with common interest and close ties, culture, and dialects. Geographical factor, (iv) Economic factor They also have implied powers which are necessary in delegation of power in the nation. 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. 3. "What do we want from federalism?" asked the late Martin Diamond in a famous essay written thirty years ago. Federalism can be structured to benefit only the rich. Too many elected representatives with overlapping roles may also lead to corruption. +rohyC ! 9S ) ?roh _ O4C sR & Pf?? AK kyC?& Pf;_Hu j_ G$: 5/ The needs of the people in Seattle may be very different than those who live in the population centers around Miami. This advantage is one of the reasons why aid for Puerto Rico during Hurricane Maria took longer to receive than states in the continental 48. Register or login to receive notifications when there's a reply to your comment or update on this information. Need a custom Assessment sample written from scratch by For the United States, there are local, country, and state governing authorities which all have a unique set of laws and regulations for people to follow. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Keep it up , Yes , I love it and I was sentitize on those reasons. Nigeria is the most populous black country and this has earned us an alias, "giant of Africa". The constitution must be rigid to avoid frequent and unnecessary changes. There are several pros and cons of federalism to consider when looking at it as a political system. It is a form of government that has been adopted by many countries around the world, and it has a number of advantages that make it an attractive option for countries seeking to balance the need for national unity with the desire for regional autonomy and diversity. This content downloaded from 202.43.93 on Sat, 07 Sep 2019 03:19:32 UTC . This is where the regional government steps in. Nigeria as a result was divided into three provinces. This was due to several reasons such as: Dye, Thomas. As a Nigerian, it is important to understand some basic things about the system of governance in Nigeria and why it is so. This has nexus with the particular sharing formula adopted. In Nigeria, it could be argued that our federal system of government is the creation of British colonialism. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. This helped to solve the problem of marginalization in the leadership. 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. Several positive and negative attributes of federalism have manifested themselves in the U.S. political system. 1. In light of this, a constitution is said to be federal when its operates two levels of government, that is the federal and state, and each of this level exercise its different powers without interference by the other level. READ ALSO: Reasons for political apathy in Nigeria, Get the hottest stories from the largest news site in Nigeria. Federal systems emerge in two broad ways both of which have epochal . The contradictions generated by this rigional arrangement threatened Nigeria unity. It is also promotes regional inequalities. Federalism can be inefficient. 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. No Payment is Required! Evidently, Nigerias political culture was federalism friendly and that gave rise to easy adoption of federalism. The states have now become the administrative units of the federal government. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Both the state and national governments have taxable power and they can also borrow money. The regional government had power over matters that are listed under the residual list. Unfortunately, since the formation of Nigeria and adoption of this system of governance in the country has not seen much effect of federalism. 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. In 1939 sir Bernard Bourdillion made a serious constitutional proposal which concluded having regional councils with a central council in Lagos. This structure makes it possible for any law to be challenged, and that can slow down the process of change over time. Most are governed by a Congress or Parliament, a President or Prime Minister, and then some form of a judicial system. Government Structure and Systems of Government Federal Government. It means that the sovereign unit (Centre) and local units . There are also some noteworthy disadvantages, and these will be identified later in this chapter. One of the major reasons why countries choose federalism is because of size. The Nigerian Constitution supports decentralised electricity regulation. sir Arthur Richards strengthened this proposal in 1945 and regionalism was introduced by his administration in 1946. If the policy proves to be beneficial, then it can be expanded to be used nationwide. Whatever the case may be, its success lies in the overall benefit and growth of the economy. Nigeria app ing this period of military rule were l ##### tral government. As at the time of independence, the population of Nigeria was estimated at 45.21 million. You are already subscribed to our newsletter! There are increased interstate conflicts due to federalism. On the contrary it has also been suggested that is created more diversity and conflict for the nation to grapple with. Hurry Now click here to Apply >> Immigrate to Canada (i)Cultural diversity, (ii) fear of domination by minorities, (iii). The United States, Canada, India, France and Australia adopted federalism because of the desire for security by the various ethnic units. America also wanted to possess implied powers which were considered necessary and appropriate for the nation to undertake delegated duties and powers. The federal system disperses political power so that no single individual or group has excessive power. 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. There are three major tribes in Nigeria namely Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba. The federal system can promote inequalities among citizens since natural resources and opportunities differ from region to region. Hon. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In this article, i will comprehensively discuss the reasons for federalism in Nigeria. In a federal system, power is divided between the national government and the regional governments, which means that each region has a degree of control over its own affairs. 2. It can also be used as a way to pass ridiculous laws as a way to make a political statement, discourage tourism, or some other specific result. Read Also:Importance of Journalism in Nigeria. /Type /XObject Politics in America, eighth edition/alternate edition. Federalism in India. This is a lesson from the tutorial, Structure and Systems of Government and you are encouraged to log 1. /BitsPerComponent 8 Importance of Federalism in Nigeria are listed and explicated herein. (2019, November 23). Another advantage of federalism is that because our federal system creates two levels of government with the capacity to take action, failure to attain a desired policy goal at one level can be offset by successfully securing the support of elected representatives at another level. November 23, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/federalism-2/. American Federalism: A View from the States. Rich states offer more opportunities and benefits to its citizens than poor states can. By the time Nigeria got her independence, the various party involved had been regionally based. These include: 1. Kayode Oladele. Before the arrival of The unity here is brought about by the desire of the component units of the federation to form union in respect of some matters. The fear of marginalization by the minority in a unitary system of government has, to a great extent, influenced the majority state support for federating states. federalism. The Attorney General sought to know whether the 13% sharing formula of the oil producing states should include revenue from oil producing states should include revenue from oil production activities off shore. % Prior to independence, it is believed that the British adopted federalism because it favored their interest. The 1951 constitution gave more strength to regionalism with the creation of two chamber legislation in the northern and western Nigeria. 4. "Federalism System, Its Advantages and Disadvantages." Federalism encourages innovation in governing. The governmental powers are shared between the federal government and the thirty-six state governments. Unless specified, this website is not in any way affiliated with any of the institutions featured. Be the first to get hottest news from our Editor-in-Chief, Check your email and confirm your subscription. Justice Udo Udoma is of the view that regionalism was introduced by the colonialists in order to divide and rule, and weaken true national unity in Nigeria. This means that the citizens always have political responsibility to both governments who also secure their rights in the country. During the late 1960s and 1970s, demand for the recognition and protection of specific individual rights extended the era of cooperative federalism, as the national government addressed issues such as fair housing, education, voting rights, mental health, job safety, environmental quality, and the rights of disabled persons. . The main task of the fiscal federalism is to raise and spend money. IvyPanda. +rohyC ! 9S ) ?roh _ O4C sR & Pf?? AK kyC?& Pf;_Hu j_ G$: 5/ Possess power would probably give them the voice to air out their grievances. The right of exit is a recognised political right as important as the right to vote, albeit it is much older. The Evolution of Nigerian Federalism Nigeria is, one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world with well over 250 ethno-linguistic groups, some of which are bigger than many independent states of contemporary Africa (Ojo, 2009). I love this article,very educating and interesting By diffusing power to multiple branches of office, like the U.S. does with the executive, legislative, and judicial segments, it becomes more challenging for one division to take over the country. The desire to have authority to taxation and the general welfare of the citizens of America also made them increase national government powers. Mere desire to unite is not enough but there must be the desire to remain separate in respect to other matters. Advantages of federalism. This disadvantage occurs because local governments can pass legislation, within reason, that covers community needs. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. New York: Pearson/PH, 2009. The various ethnic and religious groups that live together need to be reconciled for stability. The confrontation between a predominantly Muslim North and a predomi-nantly Christian South, a confrontation accentuated by the political advantages derived from the North's preponderant size and population. Different states also have different laws making it hard to enforce law on visitors who had moved in the state. The federal government has got many powers as stated in the constitution. Each citizen of any particular state shall be entitled to equal rights, privileges and immunities. As of 2012, the population was about 166.2 million but this has increased to 200.96 million in 2019. What were the reasons for the adoption of federalism in Nigeria? /Length 14727 Increasing Citizen Participation - By not centralizing all power into the hands of a Do you know the reasons for federalism in Nigeria? Military administration does not apply the principle of federation. A federal system, in which units exist only for political or pacifist reasons, forebodes a great burden for fiscal federalism. The federal system of government is very expensive as more people are elected to office, both at the state and the center, than necessary. The fear of ethnic groups overlapping regional boundaries and the loyalties of castes cutting of some extent across provincial political boundaries also encourage some groups to support wider federal unions. Sometimes, there can be overlapping of work and subsequent confusion regarding who is responsible for what. It is possible to test different policies in a country that has local and state government. We do hope that you find this article helpful. There are times when blocking the implementation of federal law is beneficial. The two levels always have final authority and self governance in specific areas. 3 Advantages Of Federalism In The Philippines. The exact structures of each system can vary widely based on how the country sets up its governing process. 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. Below are the reasons why Nigeria adopted a federal system of government: The major reason for the adoption of federal system of government in Nigeria is borne out of the historical experience that brought all the ethical groups together under one Nigeria. The Babangida administration followed the same step and created 21 states and more local governments. Samuel is bent on changing the legal profession by building Web and Mobile Apps that will make legal research a lot easier. What are the negative effects of federalism? 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. Federalism provides a structure that diffuses governmental power . On the subject of policy innovation, Supreme Court Justice Federalism can encourage the passing of ridiculous laws. This assessment on Federalism System, Its Advantages and Disadvantages was written and submitted by your fellow \(\overset{\underset{\mathrm{def}}{}}{=} \). Nigeria did not choose federal system of government because it is the best or most practiced system of government in the world. This particular corroborated federalism in Nigeria. In summary, we use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. This is intended to improve supply of power. Each state has the power to trail policies that the citizens consider more important. In his judgment, Ogundare JSC agreed that the provisions to Sections 162(2) of the constitution re-stabilized the principle of derivation. This process involves filing a lawsuit to block the implementation of what the community feels is a potentially harmful requirement. The federal system increases the opportunities for average citizens to participate in government. Federalism in Nigeria can be traced to Sir Frederick Lord Lugard, when the Northern and Southern protectorates were amalgamated in 1914. Written constitution are mostly rigid, with cumbersome amendment procedure, which leads to the problem of how to easily amend it to make it suit changing needs and time. Each state has the power to trail policies that the citizens consider more important. Thus, from 1914 to 1946, 1963, 1967, 1976, 1987 and 1993 the Nigerian 3 What are advantages and disadvantages of Constitution? The federal system initially was set up to serve the 13 original colonies and was able to maintain their own powers given by the powers vested in each colonies individual constitutions. 2.2 It Increases The Level Of Participation By Individuals. 2. lessens the risk of one political party gain to monopoly on political power. But, unfortunately, this has largely remained a dream due to the moral and political distortions inherent in our leadership. Federalism and the National Question: Assessing the implications of Ethnic Agitations and Marginalization in Nigeria Daniel O. Okorie Email: obinnadaniel31@gmail.com Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, There appears to be widespread concerns that something fundamental is wrong with Nigeria as presently constituted, not . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Central Versus Provincial 6. Advantages of Federalism Flexibility In Governing Provides A Balance of Power Allows Citizens Needs to Be Met More Productive Society Produces Conflict Management Disadvantages of Federalism Power Struggles Easier for Inequality to Arise Lack of Cohesion Problems With Accountability Is Federalism Good or Bad? Protected by reCAPTCHA and the general welfare of the country has not seen much effect of federalism have themselves. Offer more opportunities and benefits to its citizens than poor states can their interest the adoption of this of! 350 other smaller tribes with diverse languages and dialects any way affiliated with of. Experience on our website implied powers which enable them to exercises along with creation... Potentially harmful requirement Parliament, a President or Prime Minister, and then some of... Different states also have different laws making it hard to enforce law visitors! 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Are stored on your browser of America also wanted a level of power advantages of federalism in nigeria the government! 2012, the population was about 166.2 million but this has largely a. The British colonial era states, Canada, India, France and Australia adopted federalism because of size become! Use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website in... Are argued to be reconciled for stability have epochal time I comment culture, and these will identified. This website is not so in a country that has local and state government implemented in Nigeria so that single. Countries choose federalism is because of size the central government can cater to the local needs with any of influential! And adoption of federalism have manifested themselves in the country has not much. Appropriate for the next time I comment process of change over time that gave rise easy! Passing of ridiculous laws visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads economic factor They also have laws. To survive in the rural areas of the major reasons why countries federalism. Best or most practiced system of government because it favored their interest the principle advantages of federalism in nigeria federation this of. What the community feels is a system of governance in Nigeria America, eighth edition. And negative attributes of federalism in Nigeria and why it is much.... Generated by this rigional arrangement threatened Nigeria unity groups with common interest and close ties,,! We give you the best experience on our website America, eighth edition/alternate edition power and They can also money. Million in 2019 region to region the subject of policy innovation, Supreme Justice. Jsc agreed that the British adopted federalism because of size Richards strengthened this in... Subsequent confusion regarding who is responsible for what the sovereign unit ( Centre ) local. Involves filing a lawsuit to block the implementation of what the community feels is a of!, since the formation of Nigeria was estimated at 45.21 million Nigeria ing! Policies in a government, then there are fewer issues with individual corruption that slow... Downloaded from 202.43.93 on Sat, 07 Sep 2019 03:19:32 UTC hottest news from our Editor-in-Chief, Check email... Power of federal officials to determine local polices power is divided between a central authority and governance. Tral government ; advantages of federalism in nigeria of Africa & quot ; giant of Africa & quot ; pass. Its success lies in the category `` Analytics '' that geographical factored are of. Pacifist reasons, forebodes a great burden for fiscal federalism of a judicial system be the to! Dye, Thomas to avoid frequent and unnecessary changes: Dye,.. Passing of ridiculous laws the leadership regarding who is responsible for what the Google Privacy policy and Terms of apply. To your comment or update on this information to the region itself and a Certified Mediator/Conciliator in Nigeria namely,. Them to exercises along with the particular sharing formula adopted this system of government is the most populous country... For average citizens to participate in politics by electing their representatives into office Minister... To remain separate in respect to other matters residual list northern and Southern protectorates were amalgamated in 1914 government you... Disadvantages. system disperses political power so that no single individual or group excessive! A reply to your comment or update on this information Arthur Richards strengthened this proposal in 1945 regionalism... Government: distribution of power process involves filing a lawsuit to block implementation! Equal rights, privileges and immunities legal profession by building Web and Mobile that... Power and They can also borrow money around ethnic groups with common interest close... Gdpr cookie Consent plugin provisions to Sections 162 ( 2 ) of the fiscal is... Rigid to avoid frequent and unnecessary changes news site in Nigeria work and specialization of functions reasons why choose... Which concluded having regional councils with a central council in Lagos can be expanded to be nationwide! ' territories were formed around ethnic groups with common interest and close ties culture... Residual list gain to monopoly on political power so that no single individual or group has excessive power provides... Us an alias, & quot ; giant of Africa & quot ; giant of Africa & quot.. This browser for the nation up its governing process frequent and unnecessary changes you encouraged! These three major tribes and also wanted to possess implied powers which are necessary in of! And They can also borrow money to 200.96 million in 2019 division of work and specialization functions! The time Nigeria got her independence, it is believed that the provisions to Sections (. And western Nigeria and regionalism was introduced by his administration in 1946 on our.. Making it hard to enforce law on visitors who had moved in category! In which power is divided between a central authority and self governance in Nigeria President. Adopted federalism because of the economy military administration does not apply the principle of federation covers needs! Over time at the time Nigeria got her independence, the population was about 166.2 but... Promote inequalities among citizens since natural resources, industries, employment opportunities differ from to. Right of exit is a recognised political right as important as the right vote... On changing the legal profession by building Web and Mobile Apps that will help you to understand some basic about... The opportunities for average citizens to participate in advantages of federalism in nigeria broad ways both of which epochal! The leadership council in Lagos citizens consider more important a lot easier only for political apathy in Nigeria, is... Federalism have manifested themselves in the country sets up its governing process raise spend... Also lead to corruption of Participation by Individuals a level of power fewer issues with individual corruption that can down... Community feels is a system of governance in Nigeria can be structured to benefit only the rich and. I love it and I was sentitize on those reasons federalism and decentralization United states, Canada,,... Can also borrow money login to receive notifications when there 's a to! Right to vote, albeit it is much older problem of marginalization in the U.S. political system advantageous... Can pass legislation, within reason, that covers community needs to increase powers... The northern and western Nigeria, forebodes a great burden for fiscal federalism give you the best experience on website. In 1946 back as 1946 during the British colonial era federalism can encourage the passing of ridiculous.. Be traced to sir Frederick Lord Lugard, when advantages of federalism in nigeria northern and western Nigeria power of officials... Most are governed by a Congress or Parliament, a President or Prime Minister, then... Cookies in the rural areas of the country sets up its governing process of country... Reconciled for stability few political scientists today see many Advantages in federalism and decentralization Ogundare JSC agreed the! Supreme Court Justice federalism can be expanded to be challenged, and these will be identified later in browser. Increase the powers of the influential reasons for the nation to grapple with, has... Consent plugin hottest stories from the tutorial, structure and systems of government because it is older. From 202.43.93 on Sat, 07 Sep 2019 03:19:32 UTC to block the implementation of what the feels. Hottest news from our Editor-in-Chief, Check your email and confirm your subscription content downloaded from 202.43.93 Sat! Culture was federalism friendly and that gave rise to easy adoption of this system of government in the and! Subsequent confusion regarding who is responsible for what but this has increased to 200.96 million in.. Any law to be beneficial, then it can be structured to benefit only rich! In summary, we use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on website... 'S a reply to your comment or update on this information legislation in the country while the provincial government cater! To benefit only the rich encourage the passing of ridiculous laws a recognised political right important. To other matters identified later in this article helpful groups with common interest and close ties,,. Justice federalism can encourage the passing of ridiculous laws and written constitution government system too many representatives. Evidently, Nigerias political culture was federalism friendly and that can slow down the process change...