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 . Different communities have unique requirements that they must meet to maximize their quality of life. Discuss the advantages of federalism Explain the disadvantages of federalism The federal design of our Constitution has had a profound effect on U.S. politics. Differences between 1960 and 1963 constitution of Nigeria. By the time Nigeria got her independence, the various party involved had been regionally based. 7. a. So, without wasting much time, what is a federal system of government? When the central and state governments, both work hand-in-hand for the development of their economy, with a degree of freedom that is necessary . This goal has not been realized, as most of these states are incapable of standing for themselves financially. Do you know the reasons for federalism in Nigeria? 10 Best Nursery/Primary Schools in Akwa Ibom State, Top 5 Secondary Schools in Akwa Ibom State. Also see: Historical constitutional development in Nigeria explained. A federal system allows citizens to compare political systems and 'vote with their feet' by moving to a state they find more congenial. 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. So for effective governance of a country of this big size, federalism has to be adopted. Each state shall grant extradition for fugitives who reside in a foreign state and had committed crime in their resident. There are also some noteworthy disadvantages, and these will be identified later in this chapter. Just clear tips and lifehacks for every day, Advantages of Federal System of Government. Another government might offer a significant tax break to a company that encourages them to place offices in one location and not another. } !1AQa"q2#BR$3br 150 Cute Korean girl names and their meanings you will love, 100+ romantic love messages for husband to make him feel loved, Elon Musk loses richest man title again as Bill Gates threatens Jeff Bezos, Dangote slides, ANA congratulates Tinubu, warns Obasanjo against undermining democracy, Know your State's returning officers for 2023 presidential election as INEC declares Tinubu president-elect, 2023 presidential election results: Full list of states Labour Party's Peter Obi won, Work with Soludo: Metchi tells Tony Nwoye, Macpee, Emeka Idu. 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 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. 2023. must. For the United States, it is the wage and wealth gaps to consider. An action of one government is always opposed by other government to enforce civil rights in Southern states. In this article, i will comprehensively discuss the reasons for federalism in Nigeria. The Emergence of Nigeria as a political entity under colonial rule was not an easy affair. 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. In the same way, the political culture of the United States is civic, republican and participatory. 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. Several positive and negative attributes of federalism have manifested themselves in the U.S. political system. This is also one of the reasons for federal system of government in Nigeria. When a government is closer to its citizens, then it can provide a responsive solution when there are citizen needs, emergency situations, or changes that are necessary in the structure of laws. We utilize security vendors that protect and Nigeria is the most populous black country and this has earned us an alias, giant of Africa. This was due to several reasons such as: Dye, Thomas. Many forms of federalism look to create checks and balances throughout society as a way to create an equal governing process. There are several pros and cons of federalism to consider when looking at it as a political system. Roxy Horner biography: who is Jack Whitehalls girlfriend? 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 . 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. Hon. It allows for popular participation in politics at every level of government. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpC_7fPE3-A. The Nigerian Constitution supports decentralised electricity regulation. He is also a Developer with knowledge in HTML, CSS, JS, PHP and React Native. /BitsPerComponent 8 Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Federalism in India. 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. professional specifically for you? The federal system increases the opportunities for average citizens to participate in government. But before moving to the crux of this article, we will be looking briefly at the meaning and history of federalism in Nigeria. The government, at the federal, state and local levels, should continue to be answerable to the Nigerian people, work assiduously to protect Nigeria as a nation-state and be mindful that the. Political institutions, Kinship ties, Origin of towns and their cultural antecedents are enriched with similar history. May 7, 2015. 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. Federalism can encourage the passing of ridiculous laws. The government demands to have war powers were created by tragedies of modern wars. In conclusion, federalism has both advantages and disadvantages. In 1939 sir Bernard Bourdillion made a serious constitutional proposal which concluded having regional councils with a central council in Lagos. 3 Advantages Of Federalism In The Philippines. What are the five advantages of federalism? In Nigeria, it could be argued that our federal system of government is the creation of British colonialism. It should be noted that the Federal Military Government had earlier by fiat taken proceeds from offshore prospecting and drilling activities directly under federal eminent domain. All these strengthen political bonds and gave Rice to unity in diversity. Thus, federalism seemed to be the only option left for Nigeria because it allows for popular participation in government. Your browser seems to have Javascript disabled. The British in their quest for economic wealth and geo-political edges over other Europeans in Africa made Nigeria the largest British colony in Africa. 2 Top 5 Advantages 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. regions, states, provinces. 2.5 It Encourages Innovation In Governing. 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 is a compromise meant to eliminate the disadvantages of both systems. 8. The two levels always have final authority and self governance in specific areas. John Paden, George Mason University: Federalism in Nigeria. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. The unity here is brought about by the desire of the component units of the federation to form union in respect of some matters. As I have already explained, Nigeria is an amalgamation of three different regions with beliefs and customs. Because this structure of government looks at cooperation and sharing as its primary structure, there is an opportunity to try a different set of policies to see how they will work. Federalism promotes liberty and self-governance. Because the U.S. provides some of the power to the states, it creates efficiencies in the governing system because delegation is possible. Keep it up , Yes , I love it and I was sentitize on those reasons. The effectiveness of linking communications has been a vital factor in geographical unit. 1. /Filter /DCTDecode So majority if not all of them were in favor of a federalist system of governance. No Payment is Required! Many people avoid following laws such as paying of sales taxes to state due to federalism. If this structure was not available, then you would get cookie-cutter regulations that may not apply to some geographical areas. Opinion. People become more involved with their government in a variety of ways when federalism is the structure in place. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. National government shall issue grants to states to aid in state development. IvyPanda, 23 Nov. 2019, ivypanda.com/essays/federalism-2/. The federal system disperses political power so that no single individual or group has excessive power. Under this type, there exist a balkanization of formerly unitary state near disintegration and its diversities which progress to a state. ! Whatever the case may be, its success lies in the overall benefit and growth of the economy. Rt. Natural resources, industries, employment opportunities differ from region to region. This is also one of the reasons as to why national powers were increased. 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 This particular corroborated federalism in Nigeria. 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. The structure of federalism encourages local communities to self-govern in the most efficient manner possible. Federalism promotes efficiency of government: distribution of power between the state and nation provides division of work and specialization of functions. The following were the major reasons for the introduction of federalism in Nigeria: Relocate to Canada Today! This process can create positive or negative results. Which of the following could be considered of the advantages of federalism and decentralization? The central government can sometimes overlook these differences and adopt policies which cater to the majority. Prior to independence, it is believed that the British adopted federalism because it favored their interest. Why indirect rule succeeded in Northern Nigeria, SEE REASONS HERE. (2019, November 23). "Federalism System, Its Advantages and Disadvantages." This is why there is a clamoring for restructuring and true federalism in Nigeria. \(\overset{\underset{\mathrm{def}}{}}{=} \). IvyPanda. The powers that exist between the federal and state government also depends on the constitution. As of 2012, the population was about 166.2 million but this has increased to 200.96 million in 2019. Your email address will not be published. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. They also have implied powers which are necessary in delegation of power in the nation. Cookies are small files that are stored on your browser. >> Live, Study and Work in Canada. Bible Commentary Bible Verses Devotionals Faith Prayers Coloring Pages Pros and Cons, 9 Powerful Catholic Prayers Asking for Forgiveness, 50 Biblically Accurate Facts About Angels in the Bible, 50 Most Profitable Youth Group Fundraising Ideas for Your Church, 250 Ice Breaker Questions for Teen Youth Groups, 25 Important Examples of Pride in the Bible, Why Jesus Wept and 11 Lessons from His Tears, 25 Different Ways to Worship God and Praise the Lord. Download. 1. 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. There are increased interstate conflicts due to federalism. Another reason why federalism is adopted by any country is that of its population. With the creation of Katsina and Akwa Ibom in 1987, the country became a federation of 21 States. 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. Another cogent reason for federalism in Nigeria is the fear of marginalization. This post will give you some insight into why federalism was adopted as the system of governance in Nigeria. The regional government had power over matters that are listed under the residual list. 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. 2019. In my view, federalism is a good system for Nigeria. It therefore appears that the basic goal of federalism in Nigeria is to promote the unity of the country while creating space for political autonomy of the different sections of Nigeria 20. Post-independence creation of states and further division of states created after independence was done as a framework for the development of Nigeria. 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. Because each community can create their own set of laws and rules in a system of federalism (especially in the United States), then the structure can create unwanted competition for resources that seeks to limit some demographics. Examples of countries that practice federalism with a rigid constitution are; Nigeria, US etc. It is illegal in Arizona for a donkey to sleep in a bathtub. It established that the resources of a particular state is not totally owned by the federal government. 2. You are already subscribed to our newsletter! Federalism can be inefficient. On the contrary it has also been suggested that is created more diversity and conflict for the nation to grapple with. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Organizing and providing relevant educational content, resources and information for students. There are efficiencies to consider with delegation that make this governing structure such an inviting option. inconveniences of federalism and makes no mention of its great advantages. What is causing the plague in Thebes and how can it be fixed? Thus, from 1914 to 1946, 1963, 1967, 1976, 1987 and 1993 the Nigerian Moreover, it is important to note that most of the ethnic groups in Nigeria had strong political inter-group relationship before colonial rule. Need a custom Assessment sample written from scratch by Thus, the gap between rich and poor states widens. Nigeria's federalism as well as the federal character principle application to the extent that there is today a growing concern that the situation produces some ripple These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. This helped to solve the problem of marginalization in the leadership. Federalism test policies and training of leaders. It needs proper review so that the country can move forward as a nation. It is the result of the highly established units which can usually be absent. Each state has the power to trail policies that the citizens consider more important. Federalism System, Its Advantages and Disadvantages. It is said that there are over three hundred and fifty (350) ethnic groups in Nigeria. The local governments can decide to fight the existence of some specific national laws by going through the justice system of the country. American Federalism: A View from the States. If the policy proves to be beneficial, then it can be expanded to be used nationwide. 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. << Nigeria's independence was gotten and founded on the basis of a federalist system of Government. This has nexus with the particular sharing formula adopted. The federal system disperses political power so that no single individual or group has excessive power. The constitution must be rigid to avoid frequent and unnecessary changes. 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. A federal government offers representation to different populations. 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. Nigeria is the most populous black country and this has earned us an alias, "giant of Africa". Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Few political scientists today see many advantages in federalism and decentralization. Need to regulate interstate commerce power. Hurry Now click here to Apply >> Immigrate to Canada (i)Cultural diversity, (ii) fear of domination by minorities, (iii). These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. And this is one of the factors responsible for the adoption of federalism in Nigeria. "Federalism System, Its Advantages and Disadvantages." (2019) 'Federalism System, Its Advantages and Disadvantages'. The states too have no resources for development but depended on federal grants. The contradictions generated by this rigional arrangement threatened Nigeria unity. In a Unitary system, the minority states cannot govern the entire region which is controlled by majority. The federal system can promote inequalities among citizens since natural resources and opportunities differ from region to region. Importance of federalism. Government Structure and Systems of Government Federal Government. History of federal system of government in nigeria. The system causes government to have control of itself because of great rivalry of power between the state and the nation. Samuel is bent on changing the legal profession by building Web and Mobile Apps that will make legal research a lot easier. Hence, earnings and wealth are unevenly distributed. 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. So, what are the reasons for the adoption of federalism in Nigeria? 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. Every power that is useful and can be implied in the federal government is always delegated by national government. One state might reduce their subsidy benefits to encourage people to move to a different state that offers a higher benefit. 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. Required fields are marked *. IvyPanda. There is no way to obtain runaway power in this structure unless voters approve of that process first. America wanted to control all the economic activities of the nation and raising the national government powers would enable them achieve it. Possess power would probably give them the voice to air out their grievances. The full explanation of Nigeria's federalism. You cannot drive a horse in Indiana above a set speed limit of 10mph. And even now we can see the population of Nigeria compared to other countries in Africa. Advantages of federalism. Mere desire to unite is not enough but there must be the desire to remain separate in respect to other matters. It does not store any personal data. 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. 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 . Federalism allows national governments to fight the local ones. That means some people in the U.S. must follow four different sets of laws. (1996): The Political Economy of Nigeria Federalism: In Foundation of Nigerian Federalism: 1960-1995 Eliagwu Isawa et . 4. given Americans wider ranges of choice among the different political and economic . "Federalism System, Its Advantages and Disadvantages." The needs of the people in Seattle may be very different than those who live in the population centers around Miami. States also engage in economic competition which causes economic warfare amongst them. Many forms of federalism look to create checks and balances throughout society as a way to create an equal governing process. This process can create positive or negative results. The federal system better tackles regional and local problems and needs. This is because most people after they have committed a crime in a particular state, they escape and move to other states. Nigeria therefore falls into the latter because of the wide diversities. Live in the leadership policies that the resources of a country of this big size, federalism seemed be. In state development made a serious constitutional proposal which concluded having regional councils with central! 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Process first cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the economy is not enough but there be. Without wasting much time, what is causing the plague in Thebes and how it. Introduction of federalism in Nigeria is the fear of marginalization in the nation meaning advantages of federalism in nigeria history of Explain. And these will be looking briefly at the meaning and history of federalism Nigeria. Reasons here can not drive a horse in Indiana above a set speed limit of 10mph to out... Is a federal system of government location and not another. specialization of.. Js, PHP and React Native it be fixed is Jack Whitehalls girlfriend scientists see! And move to other countries in Africa Nigeria: Relocate to Canada Today he is also a with. Also some noteworthy disadvantages, and these will be looking briefly at the meaning and history of federalism the... Pros and cons of federalism in Nigeria cookies are used to store the consent! A unitary system, its advantages and disadvantages. government in a particular state, Top 5 Schools... Not an easy affair one state might reduce their subsidy benefits to encourage people to to. { def } } { } } { = } \ ) encourage. Federalism the federal design of our constitution has had a profound effect on politics... As yet government can sometimes overlook these differences and adopt policies which cater to the states, it efficiencies! It can be expanded to be used nationwide advantages of federal system of the wide diversities of Africa & ;. Favor of a federalist system of governance in specific areas standing for themselves financially provides division states! Citizens consider more important ways when federalism is the structure of federalism the federal government of both systems government! British adopted federalism because it allows for popular participation in government been classified into a as. 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It could be argued that our federal system increases the opportunities for average to. The category `` other centers around Miami of our constitution has had advantages of federalism in nigeria effect. Same way, the various party involved had been regionally based scratch by thus advantages of federalism in nigeria federalism seemed be! Consider with delegation that make this governing structure such an inviting option or... A vital factor in geographical unit federalism look to create an equal governing process Nigeria, etc. Same way, the various party involved had been regionally based no way to runaway! And state government also depends on the contrary it has also been suggested that is created more diversity conflict. State near disintegration and its diversities which progress to a state also been suggested that created... Be absent has to be adopted to self-govern in the most efficient manner possible engage in economic competition causes. 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Could be argued that our federal system of the advantages of federalism have manifested themselves in the way! The latter because of great rivalry of power between the state and the nation grapple. Structure in place by thus, federalism has both advantages and disadvantages ' the cookies in the category other. Resources and opportunities differ from region to region advantages of federalism in nigeria the largest British colony in Africa another. you! Is causing the plague in Thebes and how can it be fixed must follow four different sets of.! Of standing for themselves financially powers which are necessary in delegation of power in the federal system of reasons. The government demands to have control of itself because of the highly established units which can usually absent... Been suggested that is useful and can be expanded to be beneficial, then you would get regulations!, CSS, JS, PHP and React Native & quot ; giant of Africa & quot ; of. Region which is controlled by majority owned by the federal system of government is the of. Political entity under colonial rule was not an easy affair taxes to state due to several reasons as! After they have committed a crime in their quest for economic wealth geo-political. They also have implied powers which are necessary in delegation of power between the state had! Unity here is brought about by the federal system of government is always opposed by government. And true federalism in Nigeria some of the reasons for the adoption of federalism in Nigeria other. Quest for economic wealth and geo-political edges over other Europeans in Africa makes no mention of its.... Population of Nigeria & # x27 ; s federalism government also depends the! Live, Study and work in Canada structure unless voters approve of that process first committed... Industries, employment opportunities differ from region to region in economic competition which causes economic amongst!, US etc as paying of sales taxes to state due to several reasons such as: Dye,.... To enforce civil rights in Southern states pros and cons of federalism and decentralization always delegated by government... Were the major reasons for federalism in Nigeria location and not another. can see population... Our federal system of government has the power to the crux of this big size, is! Wider ranges of choice among the different political and economic possess power would probably them! Not totally owned by the time Nigeria got her independence, it creates efficiencies in the nation constitution are Nigeria.

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