Thus, the failure of Nigerian federalism can be attributed to its' abundance and dependence on oil resources. Your email address will not be published. This means that the citizens always have political responsibility to both governments who also secure their rights in the country. The government demands to have war powers were created by tragedies of modern wars. 2.4 It Provides A Structure That Diffuses The Governmental Power. Nigeria is quite a big country with an area of 923,768 km2. States also engage in economic competition which causes economic warfare amongst them. Here, the Attorney General of the Federation Instituted the case to test the true position so that the federal government would be guided on the varying issues of derivation formula. The pros and cons of federalism provide evidence that it is usually better for a society and nation if there is a system of power sharing available for the government. 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. 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 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. 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. 1. V(B8eDK@sx AK hG~ u;6DV,pwP# _ O4C sR 8_yC ! 9S ) ?roh _ O4C sR & Pf?? AK kyC?& Pf;_Hu j_ G$: 5/ This has nexus with the particular sharing formula adopted. Figures are often tossed around about how much money we could save without it - $9 billion, $20 billion, or more. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. national: matters that affect the country as a whole (national security, promoting national economic prosperity) state: matters that lie within their region (education, healthcare, public safety, and other public services) Post-independence creation of states and further division of states created after independence was done as a framework for the development of Nigeria. Federalism provides a way for different groups of people in different parts of the country to live together. This process is usually a healthy way to help keep households safe no matter where they are in the country. The Pros of Federalism. Pillars of democracy: 7 Essential pillars of democracy. This is intended to improve supply of power. } !1AQa"q2#BR$3br In some areas where major communal or other social antagonism cuts across territorial boundaries, ranging through all the federating units, communities or classes have been driven to seek to protect or strengthen their position by inter-territorial union. This process also requires a lawsuit, which clogs up the judicial system with even more matters to discuss. If you answer to the above questions is no, then you lucky to be here. The full explanation of Nigeria's federalism. Rather there has been more challenges than benefits of this federal system. 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. In Nigeria, it could be argued that our federal system of government is the creation of British colonialism. This is where the regional government steps in. Federalism test policies and training of leaders. On the other hand, local governments have a comparative advantage in the supply of local public goods, particularly those for which there are no significant economies of scale and whose preferences differ spatially. Both the state and national governments have taxable power and they can also borrow money. Federalism in Nigeria is one of the most expensive. As of 2012, the population was about 166.2 million but this has increased to 200.96 million in 2019. In a federal system, power is shared by the national and state governments. Opinion. On the contrary it has also been suggested that is created more diversity and conflict for the nation to grapple with. When power is not centralized in a government, then there are fewer issues with individual corruption that can impact the entire nation. "Federalism System, Its Advantages and Disadvantages." It can also make the state governments selfish and concerned only about their own regions progress. Do you know the reasons for federalism in Nigeria? so that you can track your progress. In any consideration of Nigerian federalism, several issues call for attention. For example, pollution from a province which is promoting industrialization in a big way can affect another region which depends solely on agriculture and cause crop damage. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. One state might reduce their subsidy benefits to encourage people to move to a different state that offers a higher benefit. The federal system can promote inequalities among citizens since natural resources and opportunities differ from region to region. 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 database is updated daily, so anyone can easily find a relevant essay example. In conclusion, federalism has both advantages and disadvantages. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. The federal system makes government more manageable. What are the main functions of federal and state governments? 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. In many countries of the world, federalism has emerged as a means of accommodating the growing desire of people to preserve or revive the intimacy of small societies and the growing necessity for larger combinations to mobilize the utilization of common resources. The federal system increases the opportunities for average citizens to participate in government. Naturally, federal system of government has some distinctive features namely: 1. Have you ever wondered why Nigeria is practicing a federal system of government and not any other system? Many people avoid following laws such as paying of sales taxes to state due to federalism. 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. Thus, from 1914 to 1946, 1963, 1967, 1976, 1987 and 1993 the Nigerian Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dele Adeshina, does an in-depth analysis of Federalism in Nigeria, examining and comparing aspects of past Nigerian Constitutions from 1951 up to 1999, pointing out the . His answer was that federalism a political system permitting a large . 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. five reasons for the adoption of federalism in Nigeria explained. Before the arrival of People must stay in compliance with the laws that are in every layer of governing. Even the masses in the rural areas of the country are allowed to participate in politics by electing their representatives into office. Government Structure and Systems of Government Federal Government. 2.D - Advantages to Federalism. The states' territories were formed around ethnic groups with common interest and close ties, culture, and dialects. stream 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. This is why federalism is such a great advantage. << 3. Not only is Nigerias population compared to those of other countries, huge; but it is also growing daily. This helped to solve the problem of marginalization in the leadership. The two levels always have final authority and self governance in specific areas. By the time Nigeria got her independence, the various party involved had been regionally based. The federal system better tackles regional and local problems and needs. Again, in 1967 twelve states were created to appease the interest of those clamoring for states and weaken the geo-political holds of Biafra. Other forms of government do not offer such an opportunity. One of the major reasons why countries choose federalism is because of size. (2019, November 23). Federalism can be structured to benefit only the rich. A recent example in the United States of this advantage is the requirement to drug test working adults who receive welfare benefits. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". the country. Don't want to keep filling in name and email whenever you want to comment? Thus, the gap between rich and poor states widens. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Whatever the case may be, its success lies in the overall benefit and growth of the economy. There are some states which pursue policies which frustrate national policy because they cause them to sacrifice some of their interests to local interests such as segregation. It gives federal and state governments the authority to make laws that would improve power supply. A federal government offers representation to different populations. /Type /XObject America also wanted to possess inherent power to enable them conduct foreign affairs which inherently belonged to the nation. This was meant to re-establish proper rule and national governance. Division of work between the central and the regional governments leads to optimum utilization of resources. Download. The federal system disperses political power so that no single individual or group has excessive power. Politics in America, eighth edition/alternate edition. 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. Since Nigeria is a heterogeneous nation and Federalism is more practicable in such kind of nation, it is an ideal system of government. For the United States, it is the wage and wealth gaps to consider. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. +rohyC ! 9S ) ?roh _ O4C sR & Pf?? AK kyC?& Pf;_Hu j_ G$: 5/ The Hausa Fulani and the Minorities feared the domination of political powers by the Igbos and Yorubas. Evidently, Nigerias political culture was federalism friendly and that gave rise to easy adoption of federalism. 3 Advantages Of Federalism In The Philippines. This goal has not been realized, as most of these states are incapable of standing for themselves financially. Read Also:Importance of the Nigeria Foreign Policy. Most are governed by a Congress or Parliament, a President or Prime Minister, and then some form of a judicial system. 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. The powers that exist between the federal and state government also depends on the constitution. The Benefits of Federalism. s" 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. Differences between 1960 and 1963 constitution of Nigeria. Throughout history, it has been a political system where 2+ governments share authority over the same geographical area. There are times when blocking the implementation of federal law is beneficial. Nigeria as a result was divided into three provinces. Federalism creates a protection against tyranny. 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 . 2. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Read Also:Importance of Journalism in Nigeria. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Here lies the overiding importance of the two dates 25th February 2023 and 11th march 2023. This is IvyPanda's free database of academic paper samples. Federalism allows national governments to fight the local ones. Importance 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. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Federalism is a mixed form of government where there is a general government always known as the central or federal government and regional governments which could be provincial or states governments. For a better explanation of the theory of federalism, I highly recommend that you watch the video below. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Of course, with both pros and cons, fiscal federalism is a matter of study and debate for many economists. It also offers opportunity to test the courage of selected leaders and to prove whether they are responsible. He is also a Developer with knowledge in HTML, CSS, JS, PHP and React Native. Under this type, there exist a balkanization of formerly unitary state near disintegration and its diversities which progress to a state. Federalism makes it possible for some population groups to place the wants of the majority over the needs of the entire community. Citizens of various provinces may have different aspirations, ethnicity and follow different cultures. Thus, it is often said that only rich countries can afford it. 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 was implemented in Nigeria as way back as 1946 during the British colonial era. 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 Nigeria did not choose federal system of government because it is the best or most practiced system of government in the world. Every province has political, social and economic problems peculiar to the region itself. (1996): The Political Economy of Nigeria Federalism: In Foundation of Nigerian Federalism: 1960-1995 Eliagwu Isawa et . 1. Why indirect rule succeeded in Northern Nigeria, SEE REASONS HERE. It . Hence, earnings and wealth are unevenly distributed. This is also one of the reasons as to why national powers were increased. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. The federal system increases the opportunities for average citizens to participate in government. From the above explanation, one can rightly say that the constitution of Nigeria and United States of America are federal constitutions while the constitution of France and the Republic of Ireland are Unitary constitutions. Federalism is very important in Nigeria because of the size of our population. 4. This was many times more the population of most African countries then. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. 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. This means autonomous states or regions come together to form a larger [] Elected officials are closer to what a citizen is than a state official under this structure, which means people can visit a local office to express their opinions without a fear of judgment. federalism. Advantages of Federalism Federalism promotes unity: the system provides a united national government deal in matters such as finance, defence, regulation of business and foreign affairs. You are not allowed to sell the hair of a dog or cat in Delaware. Read Also:Importance of Indigenization in Nigeria. The state government has the mandate of conducting elections, establishing local government and rectifying and amending constitution The national government in American Federalism has delegation powers which are always given to them by the constitution. 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. 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. On the other hand; a constitution is unitary when there are created by the law made by the central legislature and their existence depends upon the government to control, supervision of the central government. Unless specified, this website is not in any way affiliated with any of the institutions featured. May 7, 2015. The regional government had power over matters that are listed under the residual list. Your browser seems to have Javascript disabled. 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. Cookies are small files that are stored on your browser. Thus, federalism seemed to be the only option left for Nigeria because it allows for popular participation in government. Others do not. 2.1 It Is An Effective Process. The reasons are not far fetch; the federal government, ever since the intervention of the military in government, has. This normally causes disintegration and internal conflicts among different states (Dye, 114). in or register, 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. What are the advantages of federalism in Nigeria? There are several pros and cons of federalism to consider when looking at it as a political system. 7. There are also some noteworthy disadvantages, and these will be identified later in this chapter. Federalism avoids single supreme national governance where there is only one authority. It means that the sovereign unit (Centre) and local units . Some governments are trying it, while others or not. Advantages and Disadvantages of Unitary System, Advantages and Disadvantages of Federal Government, Differences Between Unitary and Federal Government, Advantages and Disadvantages of a Confederal Government, Advantages and Disadvantages of a Republican Government, Characteristics of Monarchical Form of Government, Characteristics of the Presidential System, Differences Between Presidential and Parliamentary Systems, Continue With the Mobile App | Available on Google Play. In the EU, the members of the upper houses in the government are not elected or appointed, but they serve as delegates of their respective governments. 2023. Rights of the minorities are protected too. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. To avert this domination, states unite to form a strong, virile and stable union capable of withstanding external attacks. This process can create positive or negative results. All variables measure of fiscal federalism had a positive relationship with per capita income excluding revenue allocated to the LGA's, that of mortality rate had a negative relationship with the variables . An example of this disadvantage involves the decision by several local and some state governments to become sanctuary designations where law enforcement does not help ICE in the U.S. with immigration detainment. +rohyC ! 9S ) ?roh _ O4C sR & Pf?? AK kyC?& Pf;_Hu j_ G$: 5/ What Are The Advantages Of Federalism? The states were later increased to 30 states. Each state has the same level of self-governance. +roiF9_? AK ku nh4P9\ }}31Ik "V mk@G~ . The federal system disperses political power so that no single individual or group has excessive power. Some choose to use a central system of government that regulates the entire country. The Nigerian Constitution supports decentralised electricity regulation. 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. In a unitary constitution which opposes federal principles, everything belongs to the central government; the federating unit does not exist, let alone agitating for resource control. Federalism promotes efficiency of government: distribution of power between the state and nation provides division of work and specialization of functions. regions, states, provinces. /Width 371 Also, there was a demand for more local regions by all these ethnic interest groups which was what led to the creation of new states. Moreover, it is important to note that most of the ethnic groups in Nigeria had strong political inter-group relationship before colonial rule. In the same way, the political culture of the United States is civic, republican and participatory. 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. In summary, we use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Hawaii made it against the law to place a coin in your ear. You cannot drive a horse in Indiana above a set speed limit of 10mph. Federalism often protects the will of the majority at any cost. IvyPanda. Nigeria is the most populous black country and this has earned us an alias, giant of Africa. Proportional representation (PR) systems are argued to be the political system most advantageous to women's political representation. 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. 3. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. You can use them for inspiration, an insight into a particular topic, a handy source of reference, or even just as a template of a certain type of paper. /Subtype /Image Nigeria is currently made up of 36 states, with Abuja as the capital. professional specifically for you? 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. So, our federalist form of government has several advantages, such as protecting us from tyranny, dispersing power, increasing citizen participation, and increasing effectiveness , and disadvantages , such as supposedly protecting slavery and segregation, increasing inequalities between states, states blocking national policies, and racing to the bottom in terms of how they treat their citizens. For the time being the focus rests on advantages. What are strengths and weaknesses of federalism? 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 . Among the merits of federalism are that it promotes policy innovation and political participation and accommodates diversity of opinion. 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. Federalism is allocation or division of power between the state and the nation. This process involves filing a lawsuit to block the implementation of what the community feels is a potentially harmful requirement. This article is licensed under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license. It is important to also reason that small states are prone to domination and sometimes control by the big ones. November 23, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/federalism-2/. Too many elected representatives with overlapping roles may also lead to corruption. Even when there is a significant majority of one party in the government (as the GOP encountered in 2016), it can still be difficult to create monumental changes that impact everyone. All names, acronyms, logos and trademarks displayed on this website are those of their respective owners. This is a lesson from the tutorial, Structure and Systems of Government and you are encouraged to log They also have implied powers which are necessary in delegation of power in the nation. 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. Increasing Citizen Participation - By not centralizing all power into the hands of a or this it really helped me, Your email address will not be published. By Federalism, we mean a system whereby constitutional powers are shared or divided between the central (Federal) government and the component states that formed the federation for the purpose of exercising these powers to develop their domain. Federalism increases the level of participation by individuals. But before moving to the crux of this article, we will be looking briefly at the meaning and history of federalism in Nigeria. Edeh Samuel Chukwuemeka ACMC, is a Law Student and a Certified Mediator/Conciliator in Nigeria. This structure made slavery and segregation a continuing issue in the United States until the 1960s. However, that is not so in a federal government system. It contains thousands of paper examples on a wide variety of topics, all donated by helpful students. house of representatives and the Senate). The federal system makes decision making more complex and difficult. Then there are the inefficient processes that people must follow when managing their activities. Federalism promotes liberty and self-governance. What characteristics allow plants to survive in the desert? Required fields are marked *. As at the time of independence, the population of Nigeria was estimated at 45.21 million. The governmental powers are shared between the federal government and the thirty-six state governments. 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. This regional arrangement gave rise to ethnic sentiment and political struggle for the center among the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria. Brazil is the only federation practising this form of federalism. It is illegal in Arizona for a donkey to sleep in a bathtub. 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. In the words of Richards, regionalism was introduced to strengthen unity in diversity. American Federalism: A View from the States. Nigerian federalism can be traced back to 1914 when the Northern and Southern protectorates were amalgamated because, during this period, the powers of government were shared between the central government headed by the Governor-General and the governments of Southern protectorates and Northern protectorates. Political institutions, Kinship ties, Origin of towns and their cultural antecedents are enriched with similar history. This allows the central or federal government to share governmental powers between the central or federal government and the components regions, state, etc. Six particular advantages merit some discussion here: 8. Federalism was the only solution to ensure peace and unity amongst the leaders and the citizens and that was why federalism was adopted into the Nigerian political system. Sometimes, there can be overlapping of work and subsequent confusion regarding who is responsible for what. The right of exit is a recognised political right as important as the right to vote, albeit it is much older. 7. % The effectiveness of linking communications has been a vital factor in geographical unit. It allows for popular participation in politics at every level of government. 2.3 It Creates Protection Against Tyranny. We may share your site usage data with our social media, advertising, and analytics partners for these reasons. The federal government in America has special authority to control interstate businesses and trade with the foreign countries. If you go to Colorado, then it is illegal to keep a couch on your porch. ensure the integrity of our platform while keeping your private information safe. Mere desire to unite is not enough but there must be the desire to remain separate in respect to other matters. This is so because where federal principles apply, the various ethnic groups that cannot or dont form majority to produce large part may have the opportunity of governing themselves within their federating unit controlled by them. 1 What are the advantages of federalism in Nigeria? If this structure was not available, then you would get cookie-cutter regulations that may not apply to some geographical areas. Also, federal systems leads to unnecessary competition between different regions. Here, both the majority and minority are represented in the government.
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