By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Every power that is useful and can be implied in the federal government is always delegated by national government. In Nigeria, it could be argued that our federal system of government is the creation of British colonialism. READ ALSO: History of democracy in Nigeria from 1960. Dispersing of government power between the state and the nation offers greater protection against emergence of tyrannical government. 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. In theory, Nigeria is a three-tier federation, with local, state, and federal levels designated by federal law. One of the most significant examples of this issue involves the legalization of recreational cannabis. Here, both the majority and minority are represented in the government. The Benefits of Federalism. In my view, federalism is a good system for Nigeria. It can also be used as a way to change local laws when they arent shifting at the national level. Federalism is an efficient process. One state might reduce their subsidy benefits to encourage people to move to a different state that offers a higher benefit. Citizens of various provinces may have different aspirations, ethnicity and follow different cultures. But nigeria today became the proudable and bearable country, 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. All names, acronyms, logos and trademarks displayed on this website are those of their respective owners. The federal system makes decision making more complex and difficult. It is also promotes regional inequalities. 23 November. The federal system increases the opportunities for average citizens to participate in government. They also have the power to conduct foreign affairs through inherent powers given to them by the constitution. Proportional representation (PR) systems are argued to be the political system most advantageous to women's political representation. the country. There must exist supremacy of the constitution, which implies that laws passed by the authority in the federal arrangement, if contrary to the constitution shall be declared to be ultra votes. The USA and Canada were formed with the above interest at heart. Thus, from 1914 to 1946, 1963, 1967, 1976, 1987 and 1993 the Nigerian a. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Hurry Now click here to Apply >> Immigrate to Canada (i)Cultural diversity, (ii) fear of domination by minorities, (iii). Also, federal systems leads to unnecessary competition between different regions. This was many times more the population of most African countries then. Also see: Differences between 1960 and 1963 constitution of Nigeria, reasons for federal system of government in nigeria. THE BENEFITS OF FEDERALISM. 1 What are the advantages of federalism in Nigeria? Post-independence creation of states and further division of states created after independence was done as a framework for the development of Nigeria. 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. However, the practice of fiscal federalism in Nigeria is a negation of true federalism. sir Arthur Richards strengthened this proposal in 1945 and regionalism was introduced by his administration in 1946. This is because most people after they have committed a crime in a particular state, they escape and move to other states. Hon. 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. 2023. Federalism test policies and training of leaders. Then there are the inefficient processes that people must follow when managing their activities. 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. There can be a rebellion by a regional government against the national government too. What is causing the plague in Thebes and how can it be fixed? Thus each unit can exercise functions that they are well suited which promotes efficiency. Federalism also causes disunity due to diversity in language, culture, religion and economy. If you go to Colorado, then it is illegal to keep a couch on your porch. The database is updated daily, so anyone can easily find a relevant essay example. People become more involved with their government in a variety of ways when federalism is the structure in place. Do you know the reasons for federalism in Nigeria? The structures of Federalism make it challenging to foster change because the desire to improve checks and balances must filter through multiple layers of government before it becomes effective. /Filter /DCTDecode Too many elected representatives with overlapping roles may also lead to corruption. 1. Before the amalgamation of the Northern Protectorate and the Southern Protectorate in 1914, there was nothing like Nigeria. In Nigerian democracy, there is a federalist system of government. 2.5 It Encourages Innovation In Governing. We utilize security vendors that protect and Federalism allows national governments to fight the local ones. Don't want to keep filling in name and email whenever you want to comment? Parliamentary and Unitary system of government were in operation in Nigeria between 1914 and 1946. Federalism provides a way for different groups of people in different parts of the country to live together. We may share your site usage data with our social media, advertising, and analytics partners for these reasons. Federalism is a type of government in which the sovereign authority of political power is usually divided between two units. Nigeria became a federation of three regions in 1954 while today it is a federation of thirty-six states. Federalism System, Its Advantages and Disadvantages. $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ? Unfortunately, since the formation of Nigeria and adoption of this system of governance in the country has not seen much effect of federalism. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. The definition of federalism is straightforward: it is the federal principle or system of government. 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. Federalism allows local governments to fight the national governments. five reasons for the adoption of federalism in Nigeria explained. 7. 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. Federalism is allocation or division of power between the state and the nation. We're sorry, but in order to log in and use all the features of this website, you will need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Keep it up , Yes , I love it and I was sentitize on those reasons. This was due to several reasons such as: Dye, Thomas. federalism. Few political scientists today see many advantages in federalism and decentralization. The contradictions generated by this rigional arrangement threatened Nigeria unity. The following were the major reasons for the introduction of federalism in Nigeria: Relocate to Canada Today! Also see: Reasons why lawyers wear wigs to court, Origin and nature of federalism in Nigeria. The political parties involved in the first republic were more formed on a regional basis. 3. In 1939 sir Bernard Bourdillion made a serious constitutional proposal which concluded having regional councils with a central council in Lagos. 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. Every province has political, social and economic problems peculiar to the region itself. Fourthly, there shall be the existence of court to interpret the constitution as it applies to cases and conflicts among the tiers of government. The national government also possess concurrent powers which enable them to exercises along with the state government. It can also make the state governments selfish and concerned only about their own regions progress. Federalism was further adopted because the developed countries from which Nigeria borrowed democracy practice federalism. in or register, Here, both the majority and minority are represented in the government. must. 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. Presently, Nigeria has a strong center and a weak component. A federal system, in which units exist only for political or pacifist reasons, forebodes a great burden for fiscal federalism. This form of government will also make it challenging for a single branch of government to obtain complete control over the structure. } !1AQa"q2#BR$3br An action of one government is always opposed by other government to enforce civil rights in Southern states. At the same time, the accommodation of very diverse groups whose differences are fundamental rather than transient by giving them territorial power bases of their own has enhanced the ability of federal systems to function as vehicles of political integration while preserving democratic government. Each state will receive 22% to 28% funds annually to spend in development. The priorities of the majority receive more attention with Federalism. Most of the democratic countries in the world today use this method of governing, including Australia, Canada, India, and the United States. Federalism in India. Another important factor that necessitated federalism in Nigeria was the political culture of the country. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpC_7fPE3-A. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Possess power would probably give them the voice to air out their grievances. Hence, earnings and wealth are unevenly distributed. Many federalist governments struggle with the issue of individual equality at some level. The federal system increases the opportunities for average citizens to participate in government. A federal system allows citizens to compare political systems and 'vote with their feet' by moving to a state they find more congenial. There are those who purchase goods in neighbouring state to escape sales tax in a particular state. ! This has nexus with the particular sharing formula adopted. Unless specified, this website is not in any way affiliated with any of the institutions featured. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. This regional arrangement gave rise to ethnic sentiment and political struggle for the center among the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria. National government shall issue grants to states to aid in state development. 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. 2. This is also one of the reasons for federal system of government in Nigeria. 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. You are not allowed to sell the hair of a dog or cat in Delaware. 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. This was meant to re-establish proper rule and national governance. New York: Harper & Row, 1984. People feel close to their communities. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". 8. We do hope that you find this article helpful. Federalism was basically introduced to bring about peace and unity in the different regions of the country. This process can create positive or negative results. The desire to have war powers was also one of the reasons why national government power was increased since 1788. This is where the regional government steps in. The local governments can decide to fight the existence of some specific national laws by going through the justice system of the country. The competitive federalism model is a theoretical construct advanced by Different communities have unique requirements that they must meet to maximize their quality of life. 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. The Benefits of Federalism Among the merits of federalism are that it promotes policy innovation and political participation and accommodates diversity of opinion. For example, when typhoon Katrina hit Greater New Orleans, USA, in 2005, there was delay in the rescue work as there was confusion between the state governments and the federal government on who is responsible for which disaster management work. 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. This means that the citizens always have political responsibility to both governments who also secure their rights in the country. Possessing taxation power under the 16. 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. State governments have the freedom to adopt policies which may not be followed nationally or by any other state. Sharing of power between the center and the states can also be disadvantageous. 3 What are advantages and disadvantages of Constitution? 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 As at the time of independence, the population of Nigeria was estimated at 45.21 million. Nigeria did not choose federal system of government because it is the best or most practiced system of government in the world. Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and regional authorities. so that you can track your progress. 1. So, without wasting much time, what is a federal system of government? This normally causes disintegration and internal conflicts among different states (Dye, 114). 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. They also have implied powers which are necessary in delegation of power in the nation. %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz 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. John Paden, George Mason University: Federalism in Nigeria. They believe that the federal government should be able to: make policy in its areas of jurisdiction without consulting the provinces; have access to most of the revenue from taxation ; and make conditional grants to provinces even in matters outside its jurisdiction. 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 . This post will give you some insight into why federalism was adopted as the system of governance in Nigeria. Federalism can create uncertainty. The federal system makes government more manageable. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Each state has the same level of self-governance. There are several pros and cons of federalism to consider when looking at it as a political system. May 7, 2015. 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To store the user consent for the cookies in the world several reasons such as Dye! The following were the major reasons for federalism in Nigeria a way for different groups of in.