five reasons for the adoption of federalism in Nigeria explained. This simply means that federalism in Nigeria provides accommodation, an institutional arrangement which gives the component units equal and coordinate jural status. Parliamentary and Unitary system of government were in operation in Nigeria between 1914 and 1946. But besides these three major tribes, there are over 350 other smaller tribes with diverse languages and dialects. 7 Topics Revenue Allocation in Nigeria | Week 9. It also decided that the Public . Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Federalism as a system of government has been approached with variegated definitions such that one might argue that there are much definitions of federalism as there are authors on the subject. The Political Economy and Un-ending Search, Agitation for Restructuring and Resource Control in Nigeria's Federalism: Issues, Perspectives and the Way Forward, Federalism, Military Legacies and the Restructuring Debate in Contemporary Nigeria, Federalism, Decentralisation and the Liberalisation of Business Environment in Nigeria, Hands Behind their backs: Making a case for a region-centred restructuring framework, Nigerian Pseudo-Federalism and the Agitations for Restructuring, The evolution of fiscal centralism and strong centre federalism in Nigeria An historical analysis, The Nigerian fiscal formulas and the agitations for resource control in the Niger delta region of. /Type /XObject More so, the colonial masters with the Richards Constitution in 1947 launched Nigeria onto the path of the present federal system of government via the regionalization of the country. The first military head of state was dethroned for adopting unitary system of government yet successive military administration in practice follow unitary principle instead of federal system. In this article, I will elucidate and discuss with references the reasons for the adoption of federalism in Nigeria. The constitution must be rigid to avoid frequent and unnecessary changes. Besides the Big Three Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba, there are other macro and micro ethnic minorities in the country. The origin of federalism in Nigeria can be traced to the colonial era. The 1951 constitution gave more strength to regionalism with the creation of two chamber legislation in the northern and western Nigeria. $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ? In order to examine these issues, this paper adopted qualitative research and intrinsic approach methodology, along with relative deprivation theory. ideology, federalism becomes the only solution to ensure peace and unity amongst the. Also, the adoption of the Littleton constitution of 1954 laid further credence to . Economic factors in adoption of federalism in Nigeria are not unconnected with the issues of resource control, wealth generation and redistribution, and income distribution. What are the reasons Nigeria adopted the Federalism system of government in Nigeria? The post war efforts for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of the Igbo secessionist into the post-civil war Nigeria through the (3Rs) policy of rehabilitation, reconstruction and reconciliation (the 3Rs) to promote national unity and nationalism have failed to yield desire result. Why do nations federate?, what are the factors or conditions to have necessitated the adoption of federalism?, how is a federation to be organized?, how is power to be shared between the levels of government in a federation?, is federalism a means to an end or an end itself?, why do some federations succeed and others fail?. Peter W I L F R E D Naankiel, FRED EKPE F. AYOKHAI, Covenant University Journal of Politics and International Affairs, African Journal of Political Science and International Relations, African Journal of Governance and Development, Calabar Journal of Politics and Administration, International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Research, International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development, Under Reconstruction: Ethnicity, Ethnic Nationalism, and the Future of the Nigerian State, Institutional Engineering and the Survival of Nigerian Federalism, " Managing a Plural Society : the Boomerang Effects of Nigerian Federalism' Journal of Commonwealth and Comparative Politics , 27, 1-2 (July 1989), 218-245, An Historical Interrogation of Federalism berlin, THE PRACTICE OF TRUE FEDERALISM IN NIGERIA AND THE NIGER DELTA QUESTION, "The dawn of constitutionalism in Nigeria in Mbondenyi, M. K., and Ojienda T. We appreciate you. (8 Best Paying Jobs), General consensus among our leaders when seeking independence from Britain. Nigeria is a plural society of over 250 tongues and tribes. For citation see: http://www.cejiss.org/issue-detail/biafra-s-resurgence-state-failure-insecurity-and-separatist-agitations-in-nigeria. Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation This is another reason for the adoption of federalism in Nigeria. 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. Promoters of the idea were of the view that the Differences between 1960 and 1963 constitution of Nigeria, Differences Between First, Second and Third Degree Murder, Best Lawyers In The World (With Pictures): Top 10 Most Popular, Factors that Limits Independence of the Judiciary in Nigeria, Statute of Fraud: Contracts Required to be in Writing, Advantages And Disadvantages Of a Limited Liability Company (LLC), Richest Christian Musicians In The World: Top 10 Wealthiest, Countries With The Highest Minimum Wage 2022: Top 13, Best Handworks/Skills To Learn In Nigeria 2023: Top 12 Most Lucrative, Richest Engineers In Nigeria 2022: Top 10 Highest Paid, Cheapest Places to Live in the United Kingdom 2022: 12 Most Affordable, Cheapest Places/Cities To Live In Nigeria 2022. To learn more, view ourPrivacy Policy. +rohyC ! 9S ) ?roh _ O4C sR & Pf?? AK kyC?& Pf;_Hu j_ G$: 5/ A Policy Brief examining the actors, factors and dynamics of the agitations, questioning if the current agitation is another flash in the pan and if current responses are adequate to address the agitations for secession of Biafra from Nigeria. +rohyC ! 9S ) ?roh _ O4C sR & Pf?? AK kyC?& Pf;_Hu j_ G$: 5/ /Type /Page Another cogent reason for federalism in Nigeria is the fear of marginalization. Rather there has been more challenges than benefits of this federal system. 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. First, how to properly place peoples, better still - indigenes and ethnic groupings, in their relevant socio-economic categories; that is, in line with the oil windfalls. /Height 235 The paper identifies and discusses the problems associated with separatist movements and how they affect national and social security, and argues that while the definition of state failure is contested and therefore Nigeria cannot yet be called a failed state, but certainly a fragile state. Policy Brief on the agitation for cessation of Biafra republic from the Nigerian state, response to the agitation and the options to address the issues. It is important to also reason that small states are prone to domination and sometimes control by the big ones. Nigeria is confronted to the boomerang effects of the evolution of its federalism. No doubt, the Ethnic, Religious and Geographical nature of Nigeria also contributed to the reason why federalism was adopted. To learn more, view ourPrivacy Policy. In the first place, therefore, the contemplation of a federal pact is one of an overwhelming outcome of the emphatic need to handle the above concerns acceptably. /F3 12 0 R It submits that the problem with constitutionalism in Nigeria is poor leadership and poor implementation of the Constitution. Political institutions, Kinship ties, Origin of towns and their cultural antecedents are enriched with similar history. /F1 6 0 R /Contents 4 0 R Naturally, federal system of government has some distinctive features namely: 1. The USSR was an example of this type of federalism. Thus, federalism is mostly considered a tangible element for coexistence, but much more, I think, as political syrup, for adumbrating potent dislocations inherent in, and symptomatic of pluralist societies. The intimidating size of Nigeria does not only earn her an international respect but also provides her with a buffer to attacks by rogue nations and disgruntled neighbours. British North American colonies unite 3 Up to 1867, the colonies 4 of British North America had no political or geographical links. Required fields are marked *. This embodies ideas of promise, obligation, and undertaking; and consequently, the federal idea draws on collaboration, reciprocity, and mutuality. Nigeria's independence was gotten and founded on the basis of a federalist system of Government. /Length 3884 The disadvantages are that it can set off a race to the bottom among states, cause cross-state economic and social disparities, and obstruct federal efforts . Population of the country It should be noted, however, that the Leagues significantly differ from modern federations in one respect: namely, while the various governments freely interacted, no prosperous direct contact between the populace of the various governments was permitted. Besides this desire, there was also the presence of certain socio-economic conditions (Babalola, 2013 . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. You can download the paper by clicking the button above. /ColorSpace /DeviceRGB 2023, Bscholarly LLC. Everybody would likely agree that the conscious awareness and awakening of the course of who is who invariably determines who gets what, perhaps when and how. Federalism is a system of government where there are a decentralization power and autonomy of governance to the regional or federated states that share sovereignty with the Federal Government. Why indirect rule succeeded in Northern Nigeria, SEE REASONS HERE. Another major reason why federalism was adopted in Nigeria is the multiple ethnic backgrounds in Nigeria. So for effective governance of a country of this big size, federalism has to be adopted. 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. Email Address. *$( %2%(,-/0/#484.7*./. C Federalism is a type of government in which the sovereign authority of political power is usually divided between two units. It advocates good governance and a participatory approach to constitutional review as the foundations for strong constitutionalism in Nigeria. So for effective governance of a country of this big size, federalism has to be adopted. Put differently, revenue sharing has become a recurrent crisis factor in Nigeria. Stated reasons of the coup were prevailing gangsterism and disorder, corruption and nepotism in the civil government. This has led to a deep sense of alienation and politics of ethnic identity. 74 . Ethnic, Religious and Geographical Factor 3.5 5. was federalism friendly and that gave rise to easy adoption of . Rt. Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer. Despite the profound and lengthy discussions that have taken place on the subject for about four and half decades, consensus has not been reached concerning the optimal formula to adopt to achieve desired economic development . What is federalism? Federalism as said earlier decentralizes power. RESTRUCTURE OR DISINTEGRATE, OFFICIAL CORRUPTION AND THE DILEMA OF INSTABILITY IN NIGERIA, The Rationale for AfSol in Peace and Security: The Global, National and Regional Precipitants, Agitation for Restructuring and Resource Control in Nigeria's Federalism: Issues, Perspectives and the Way Forward, Giving Peace a Chance in Nigeria: The Case for a Preventive Diplomacy, Framing of Neo-Biafra Agitations in Selected Nigerian Newspapers, CRISES OF FEDERALISM IN NIGERIA AND THE FUTURE OF THE MIDDLE BELT REGION, Social Media and Hate Speech: Analysis of Comments on Biafra Agitations, Nigeria. Book excerpt: Defensive Federalism presents an original contribution to the field of federalism and multinational democracies, exploring the concept of defensive federalism as a protection of self- government against the "tyranny of the majority". 3 0 obj To know more about various aspects of federalism in Nigeria ,you may read from . Unfortunately, since the formation of Nigeria and adoption of this system of governance in the country has not seen much effect of federalism. Indeed, whatever scholarly connotations they bear, one strongly believes that they all enjoy one clear focus. It is believed by many that this was one of the reasons why Nigeria adopted a federalist system. The current problems facing the Nigeria government and the Biafra separatist agitators originate in the causes and the effects of the Nigerian Civil war (06 July 1967-15 January 1970). Military administration does not apply the principle of federation. The states were later increased to 30 states. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Nigeria is quite a big country with an area of 923,768 km2. Constitutionalism in Nigeria has been crisis-ridden since independence in 1960. 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. From that date, the concept of federalism incorporated the idea of patterned contact at two levels: at the governmental level between the participating units, and among the citizens of these different units (Dare, 1979:26). Dear Chidera, federalism allows the creation of ethnic-based federating units (States). Just very few words have evoked much more controversy in the discus of politics than the word, federalism. This feature of federalism is widely believed to be a veritable framework for even and need-sensitive development. 2. I love this article,very educating and interesting REASONS FOR ADOPTION OF FEDERALISM According to IDEA (2015:3), federalism is adoption for the following reasons: Scale: This credited the operation of federalism to the adoption of democracy which allowed for citizens to participate directly in political life. Federalism in Nigeria refers to the devolution of self-governance by the West African nation of Nigeria to its federated states, who share sovereignty with the Federal Government. In the same way, the political culture of the United States is civic, republican and participatory. +roiF9_? AK ku nh4P9\ }}31Ik "V mk@G~ . Be the first to get hottest news from our Editor-in-Chief, Check your email and confirm your subscription. Your email address will not be published. Federalism will shape the long-term health and economic impacts of COVID-19, including plans for the future, for at least two reasons: First, federalism exacerbates inequities, as some states have a history of underinvesting in social programs, especially in certain communities. This understanding is also in tune with that of Jinadu (1979:15), who insists that Federalism is usually viewed as a form of governmental and institutional structure, deliberately designed by political architects, to cope with the twin but difficult task of maintaining unity while also preserving diversity. It is no news, therefore, that the peoples of Nigeria are diverse in different respects culturally, historically, socially, religiously, educationally, industriously, and even philosophically. /F4 15 0 R What were the reasons for the adoption of federalism in Nigeria? 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. 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. /F2 9 0 R READ ALSO: History of democracy in Nigeria from 1960. @VF:8=|@5&/1df gbjtCoy(L5A,JCI1/'5DT8`A!UY*&wTN5[v;KXvH* 5:>}W^Bp_ ;R!&L %s\q'(], a group of selected academic teachers this book is suitable for adoption as a resource for a case driven approach to teaching "Corporate Governance" courses at an upper undergraduate or graduate level. Unity of the country: 3.3 3. Such arrangement would inter alia breed neglect, frustration and aggression; no thanks to the red-tape inherent in unitarism. 3. Nigeria. Moreover, it is important to note that most of the ethnic groups in Nigeria had strong political inter-group relationship before colonial rule. MCC Vol 2 No 1 Article 04.pdf, GJ #2018, 2, Globalization and Federation in Peril: Renewed Agitations for Statehood and the Future of Nigerian State, by A. M. Maigari and U. Dantani, GLOBALIZATION AND FEDERATION IN PERIL: RENEWED AGITATIONS FOR STATEHOOD AND THE FUTURE OF NIGERIAN STATE, RESTRUCTURING NIGERIA: BEYOND POLITICAL RHETORIC AND THE MORAL PANIC, PDF copy of Published paper on Agitation and restructuring.pdf, ESSAYS ON RIGHT TO SELF DETERMINATION AS A PEREMPTORY NORM AND THE LIMITATION IN EXERCISING THAT RIGHT.pdf, Federalism, Military Legacies and the Restructuring Debate in Contemporary Nigeria, Legal Aid Journal of Legal Issues Vol. Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. Useful tips on how to download from YouTube using SS, 10 most delicious Nigerian dishes for dinner, "Youve admitted election was flawed", Atiku replies Tinubu campaign, Whitney Adeyemi: Protest Hits Lagos as Residents Besiege Chrisland School, Long Fulani tribal braids: 30 beautiful styles to try out, Old Naira notes: 5 key things to know about Supreme Court's final verdict, "Precious don finish work": Little girl with 'anointing' prays passionately over food as mum watches, video trends. It is our pleasure. If you answer to the above questions is no, then you lucky to be here. Also see: Reasons why lawyers wear wigs to court, Origin and nature of federalism in Nigeria. Nigeria therefore falls into the latter because of the wide diversities. Identities can be in terms of ethnicity, culture, religion and other differences," she says. The military were able to create more states because military decrees do not pass the same rigorous method bills pass in a democratic government. It forays into the inherent issues underlying the Biafran movement and the ways in which those issues, as well as Biafran agitation, are inimical to Nigeria's development. i dont have my first school leaving certificate. 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. Secondly, are these groups well pleased, or do they at least accept such manipulative placements? Since Nigeria is a heterogeneous nation and Federalism is more practicable in such kind of nation, it is an ideal system of government. 7. One of the major reasons why countries choose federalism is because of size. Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer. Here, both the majority and minority are represented in the government.
