6. 2.D - Advantages to Federalism. Written constitution are mostly rigid, with cumbersome amendment procedure, which leads to the problem of how to easily amend it to make it suit changing needs and time. Thats not to say that all actions are a disadvantage. History of federal system of government in nigeria. But besides these three major tribes, there are over 350 other smaller tribes with diverse languages and dialects. The federal system makes government more manageable. Federalism provides a structure that diffuses governmental power . /Filter /DCTDecode 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. We do hope that you find this article helpful. It was under the 1954 constitution that federal system of government was fully adopted. Read Also:Importance of Journalism in Nigeria. 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. When we have a chance to embrace diversity as a culture, then it is an opportunity to draw upon each of our strengths to create something amazing. So, what are the reasons for the adoption of federalism in Nigeria? The Pros of Federalism. The local governments could distribute resources first instead of relying on the national government like the island because of the availability of local resources. Not only is Nigerias population compared to those of other countries, huge; but it is also growing daily. It is also promotes regional inequalities. This process is one of the primary reasons why democratic countries choose this form over the other governing options which are available. The two levels always have final authority and self governance in specific areas. The regional government had power over matters that are listed under the residual list. Throughout history, it has been a political system where 2+ governments share authority over the same geographical area. If you are the copyright owner of this paper and no longer wish to have your work published on IvyPanda. Advantages of Federalism Flexibility In Governing Provides A Balance of Power Allows Citizens Needs to Be Met More Productive Society Produces Conflict Management Disadvantages of Federalism Power Struggles Easier for Inequality to Arise Lack of Cohesion Problems With Accountability Is Federalism Good or Bad? 3. It came about following the necessity for administrative convenience and managerial expenses. Kayode Oladele. 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. This is intended to improve supply of power. He is also a Developer with knowledge in HTML, CSS, JS, PHP and React Native. 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. 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. Among the merits of federalism are that it promotes policy innovation and political participation and accommodates diversity of opinion. But before moving to the crux of this article, we will be looking briefly at the meaning and history of federalism in Nigeria. 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. 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 Supreme Court of the United States underscored the point when it said that "the people of the United States are an integral, not a composite mass, and their unity and identity, in this . Natural resources, industries, employment opportunities differ from region to region. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. In this article, i will comprehensively discuss the reasons for federalism in Nigeria. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpC_7fPE3-A. Be the first to get hottest news from our Editor-in-Chief, Check your email and confirm your subscription. 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. It allows for popular participation in politics at every level of government. 2.1 It Is An Effective Process. 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 . Federalism can encourage the passing of ridiculous laws. Thus, federalism seemed to be the only option left for Nigeria because it allows for popular participation in government. This was meant to re-establish proper rule and national governance. \(\overset{\underset{\mathrm{def}}{}}{=} \). For the time being the focus rests on advantages. And this is one of the factors responsible for the adoption of federalism in Nigeria. 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 It established that the resources of a particular state is not totally owned by the federal government. Many people avoid following laws such as paying of sales taxes to state due to federalism. As a Nigerian, it is important to understand some basic things about the system of governance in Nigeria and why it is so. What is the role of a reference librarian? The Benefits of Federalism. Importance of Federalism in Nigeria are listed and explicated herein. It also offers opportunity to test the courage of selected leaders and to prove whether they are responsible. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Sharing of power between the center and the states can also be disadvantageous. All names, acronyms, logos and trademarks displayed on this website are those of their respective owners. What is federalism? Federalism encourages a system of cooperation. Hon. 6. The smaller branches of the local governments are right in the middle of the local society. Thus, from 1914 to 1946, 1963, 1967, 1976, 1987 and 1993 the Nigerian These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. They can formulate policies which might be detrimental to other regions. Adobe d C This process is usually a healthy way to help keep households safe no matter where they are in the country. In 1963 Midwestern region was created and Nigeria became a nation of four regions. 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. 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 . Each state will receive 22% to 28% funds annually to spend in development. The Founders of this country identified several reasons for creating a federalist government: To evade tyrannical rule 2. Although there is always a level of national pride, local patriotism is usually the first level of loyalty that an individual will experience. There are three major tribes in Nigeria namely Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba. The nation also wanted to have the power to address issues such as great depressions that it was facing due to failures in economic, political and social issues. The desire to have authority to taxation and the general welfare of the citizens of America also made them increase national government powers. There are increased interstate conflicts due to federalism. Another government might offer a significant tax break to a company that encourages them to place offices in one location and not another. Federalism can be structured to benefit only the rich. This helped to solve the problem of marginalization in the leadership. In summary, we use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Political institutions, Kinship ties, Origin of towns and their cultural antecedents are enriched with similar history. They are better suited to deal with the true things that need to be changed. Since 1954 successively Nigerian constitution had adopted the federal system of government without much emphasis on the unity or disunity it has accorded to Nigeria. The national government is also entitled to forming treaties and conducting foreign policies. We use cookies and similar technologies to ensure our website works properly, personalize your browsing experience, analyze how you use our website, and deliver relevant ads to you. The federal government in America has special authority to control interstate businesses and trade with the foreign countries. I love this article,very educating and interesting There are other political systems the country could have adopted but because of some reasons which I am going to share with you today, federalism seemed to be the best idea. That means some people in the U.S. must follow four different sets of laws. What are the negative effects of federalism? 4. The definition of federalism is straightforward: it is the federal principle or system of government. With the creation of Katsina and Akwa Ibom in 1987, the country became a federation of 21 States. His answer was that federalism a political system permitting a large . /Width 371 The federal system better tackles regional and local problems and needs. READ ALSO: History of democracy in Nigeria from 1960. 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 . In conclusion, federalism has both advantages and disadvantages. } !1AQa"q2#BR$3br Several positive and negative attributes of federalism have manifested themselves in the U.S. political system. /Height 235 The history of Ijaw, Edo, Igala, Yoruba, Igbo, Nupe and Hausa Kingdoms are enriched with social-political relationships that existed before the emergence of the white man. This means autonomous states or regions come together to form a larger [] These include: 1. +rohyC ! 9S ) ?roh _ O4C sR & Pf?? AK kyC?& Pf;_Hu j_ G$: 5/ READ ALSO: Reasons for political apathy in Nigeria, Get the hottest stories from the largest news site in Nigeria. 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. 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. 5. The powers that exist between the federal and state government also depends on the constitution. Before the amalgamation of the Northern Protectorate and the Southern Protectorate in 1914, there was nothing like Nigeria. If you answer to the above questions is no, then you lucky to be here. "Federalism System, Its Advantages and Disadvantages." 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