/Filter /DCTDecode This notwithstanding, the concept of federalism boasts of a very popular definition by an American scholar, K.C. /F1 6 0 R Besides this desire, there was also the presence of certain socio-economic conditions (Babalola, 2013 . Promoters of the idea were of the view that the Over the years, it is quite obvious that Nigeria is one of the few countries that adopted federal system of Government in Africa, a system that envisages autonomy for every sect of its authorities (federal, state and local government respectively). The governmental powers are shared between the federal government and the thirty-six state governments. As one of the most effective frameworks for governing a pluralistic society, Nigeria adopted Federalism to manage her multi-ethnic state. The federal system adopted in 1954 comprised a national government and three regional governments: Eastern, Northern, and Western. It came about following the necessity for administrative convenience and managerial expenses. +rohyC ! 9S ) ?roh _ O4C sR & Pf?? AK kyC?& Pf;_Hu j_ G$: 5/ However, where there is a conflict of authority between the federal government and regional government, the federal authority supersedes. This research work x-rayed federalism in Nigeria as the only basis upon which Nigeria can remain united despite its diversity and peculiar conditions in which the different tribal groups live in and proffers solutions to the challenges of the practice of . (eds. government and the governed by enhancing political cohesion in such country with regional, ethic, racial, linguistic and cultural diversity like Nigeria. On the contrary it has also been suggested that is created more diversity and conflict for the nation to grapple with. After nearly three decades of cumulative military rule, the country returned to civilian governance in 1999 under a presidential system of government. In Nigeria, the main reason for the adoption of a federal arrangement was the sociological complexity of the society, its ethnic and geographical diversity. I love this article,very educating and interesting Roxy Horner biography: who is Jack Whitehalls girlfriend? History of federal system of government in nigeria. Also see: Historical constitutional development in Nigeria explained. However, the practice of fiscal federalism in Nigeria is a negation of true federalism. Under this type, there exist a balkanization of formerly unitary state near disintegration and its diversities which progress to a state. So, what are the reasons for the adoption of federalism in Nigeria? /BitsPerComponent 8 (8 Best Paying Jobs), General consensus among our leaders when seeking independence from Britain. examines the question on why federalism has not succeeded in managing and accommodating diversity in Nigeria. >> There may be no point, of course, boring ones moment with such lengthy activity of working out their conceptual nuances. Full History of Nigerian Federalism. If you answer to the above questions is no, then you lucky to be here. 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. } !1AQa"q2#BR$3br Pls visit us again dear reader. The leaders also were from different major tribes and also wanted a level of power. We can offhandedly list all of the reasons for the adoption of federal system in Nigeria. 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Such arrangement would inter alia breed neglect, frustration and aggression; no thanks to the red-tape inherent in unitarism. /Width 371 What a nice article, very educative for students in school, Could you please explain fear of minorities, Could you please explain fear of minorities, Economic factors and Diversities in culture. It advocates good governance and a participatory approach to constitutional review as the foundations for strong constitutionalism in Nigeria. In the same way, the political culture of the United States is civic, republican and participatory. 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. Nigeria can be said to be operating the federal system of government, whereas in actual practice, the country is tending towards a unitary system. 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. Evidently, Nigeria's political culture. 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. The Plural nature of Nigeria: Nigeria is a plural society of over 250 tongues and tribes. 2013 PP.100-107, This paper explores the issue of unification federalism in Nigeria, which has been an obstacle to peace, development and threats to security .The findings from an extensive reading of related materials suggest that, the root of contemporary political conflict and underdevelopment in Nigeria political landscape shows clearly in the area of imbalance political structures that were established before and after independence. /F7 24 0 R To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds toupgrade your browser. 74 . 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. Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link. $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ? Federalism did not return to Nigeria until after his death. ICT services have help in the improvement of the markets, reduction in transaction costs and increase . Constitutionalism in Nigeria has been crisis-ridden since independence in 1960. For a better explanation of the theory of federalism, I highly recommend that you watch the video below. The states were later increased to 30 states. Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer. Biafrans who are geographically in the South and SouthEast of Ni-geria feel and believe that their economic and developmental prowess are not well represented in the Nigerian state, and this lack of representation leads to marginalization. It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide Federalism, State creation and National Integration State creation like federal character, quota system, etc. The construct of federalism, which originates with the concept of intergovernmental relations, dates back to the Greek civilization. Besides the Big Three - Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba, there are other macro and micro ethnic minorities in the country. Nigeria, a previously unitary state, became a federation in 1954. 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. Geographical nearness of the component states to each other and the state network of roads and transportation. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention ISSN (Online): 2319 7722, ISSN (Print): 2319 7714 www.ijhssi.org Volume 2 Issue 8 August. Section 10 of the constitution rule outs the adoption of any religion as a state religion either. FRED EKPE F. AYOKHAI, Peter W I L F R E D Naankiel, This study, using content analysis, examined the impact of fiscal federalism and the struggles of ethnic minority groups in the Niger Delta on the trajectories of the national question in Nigeria. Instead of designing a government that should unite the different elements in Nigeria, the colonialists fully adopted federal stem of government in 1954 and created greater regional autonomy. It concluded that the interplay of these variables leads to the degeneration of the national question and. Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation THE THEME OF IMAGERY AND SYMBOLISM IN THE IPOB SECESSIONIST STRUGGLE, Abdul's Assignment on 711 Dr. Usman Mohammed, A nation divided against itself: Biafra and the conflicting online protest discourses, Ethnicity, Political Exclusion and the Resurgence of Separatism in South-Eastern, Nigeria, Hands Behind their backs: Making a case for a region-centred restructuring framework, THE EFFECT OF CRIMINAL INJUSTICE AGAINST EASTERN NIGERIA AND THE DEMAND FOR SELF-DETERMINATION BY IPOB. The Hausa Fulani and the Minorities feared the domination of political powers by the Igbos and Yorubas. x^[YsF~[-`pys)fk"%J hE;}LO *%gH=zoN/oNS~~zb|\U?_s3jJ}ZxhK2&$9|H-&9)q7"|kxN7i,anHiw>&_N~@bdkBs>gIM>z2|1zFDW+1"y-#HCQJmvj4CW5z,#IwHGc&Y"`Sg|2)FQ& p:?WT hQ4M:*|9tKy?c[U(zqfNBA=XCOf~2i6KC@;DGO? 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. endobj Abacha regime, added more states making Nigeria a federation of 36 states and Federal capital Territory at Abuja. By the time Nigeria got her independence, the various party involved had been regionally based. is one of the devices built into the federal constitution of Nigeria as a means of achieving unity in diversity. Also read: Highest paying law firms in Nigeria. /F3 12 0 R This feature of federalism is widely believed to be a veritable framework for even and need-sensitive development. /Filter /FlateDecode %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz Nigeria therefore falls into the latter because of the wide diversities. Nigeria and Ghana can not easily form a country chiefly because they are not geographically contiguous. Between 1960 and 1996, the three regions have been divided into smaller entities which are now known as states and their boundaries were reorganised. REASONS FOR LOW TRADE Historical reasons - India adopted socialist model of economy and policy of import substitution and protectionism till 1990s and civil wars and domestic instability in other countries Poor Connectivity- Due to difficult terrain on borders, poor development of inland waterways, poor border infrastructure like border huts . Your email address will not be published. /F6 21 0 R 1. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is publishing this proposed rule to revise HUD's regulations for branch office registration requirements. To know more about various aspects of federalism in Nigeria ,you may read from . or this it really helped me, Your email address will not be published. Unfortunately, to suit their interests and political agenda, the federal and state governments over time immemorial have maintained great level of . The possible reasons for the practice of federalism in Nigeria are several, and have, for instance, been presented as British imposition targeted at a post-colonial relationship, or as a. It has been suggested that the creation of more states and local government have helped in the distribution of national cake. At the heart of these crises are weak democratic institutions, which are sustained by bad leadership and a culture of impunity. Journal of public administration and Management Vol.6,No.12, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. The benefits of federalism are that it can encourage political participation, give states an incentive to engage in policy innovation, and accommodate diverse viewpoints across the country. Excellent, thanks a lot f The second theory focuses on the existence of external military or diplomatic threat for the origin of federalism. 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. Hon. 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. 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. It discovered a positive relationship between the changes in the fiscal structure and the aggravation of ethnic minorities' struggles. five reasons for the adoption of federalism in nigeria Another factor that prompted the adoption of federalism in Nigeria is the fear of insecurity and the desire for union. To learn more, view ourPrivacy Policy. It submits that the problem with constitutionalism in Nigeria is poor leadership and poor implementation of 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. 2. These maladies have led to a renewal of the call for secession by the South-Eastern ethnic group of Nigeria for a Republic of Biafra, on the basis that they are being short-changed in the political cum socio-economic largess accumulating from the Centre. Defence, Security, Economy and Development, Chigozirim Odinkalu, Ebenebe Ernest Onyeka, Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies (eJECS), International Journal of Research in Economics and Social Sciences(IJRESS), Glocalism: Journal of Culture, Politics and Innovation, African Journal of Governance and Development, Calabar Journal of Politics and Administration. SjHw`d"*z;3N&W3k]:}N\t+5 (Nw3hW"T"aDV$V e. There must be a formal decision of government powers by the constitution between the federal and state government. 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 calls for restructuring have been louder particularly from the southern part of Nigeria. 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. Abstract One of the arguments for the adoption of federalism in Nigeria is the desire for economic and political viability and development in a nation of uneven distribution of human and. This is another reason for the adoption of federalism in Nigeria. ideology, federalism becomes the only solution to ensure peace and unity amongst the. The military were able to create more states because military decrees do not pass the same rigorous method bills pass in a democratic government. And this is one of the factors responsible for the adoption of federalism in Nigeria. Reasons for Federalism 3.1 Reasons for a federal order rather than separate states or secession 3.2 Reasons for preferring federal orders over a unitary state 4. I have said that Nigeria is reputed to be the largest black country around, even Nigeria has claimed to be the giant of Africa by . All these strengthen political bonds and gave Rice to unity in diversity. Naturally, federal system of government has some distinctive features namely: 1. /Font << The availability of resources in a particular region and the need for that area to control the resources has also been seen as a reason for a federal system in Nigeria. /Parent 2 0 R June 1,2022 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. Rather there has been more challenges than benefits of this federal system. But besides these three major tribes, there are over 350 other smaller tribes with diverse languages and dialects. The political parties involved in the first republic were more formed on a regional basis. Reasons for a state to adopt a federal system include the need to reflect linguistic, economic and cultural differences of a population, especially one that is concentrated geographically. We hope to seeing you again on other posts of interest. The Emergence of Nigeria as a political entity under colonial rule was not an easy affair. s" Thus, Nigeria's federalism is not only complex but also hard to understand. It was subsequently, not until after the American constitution of 1787, that a new concept of federalism was introduced. So, without wasting much time, what is a federal system of government? So majority if not all of them were in favor of a federalist system of governance. Post-independence creation of states and further division of states created after independence was done as a framework for the development of Nigeria. Also see: Reasons why lawyers wear wigs to court, Origin and nature of federalism in Nigeria. 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. Moreover, 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. /F5 18 0 R Thus, federalism seemed to be the only option left for Nigeria because it allows for popular participation in government. Also see: Differences between 1960 and 1963 constitution of Nigeria, reasons for federal system of government in nigeria. The USA and Canada were formed with the above interest at heart. Also it is more useful to expansiate on them. In a Unitary system, the minority states cannot govern the entire region which is controlled by majority. % Nigeria is a heterogeneous nation facing challenges within the balance of economic development along ethnic divisions in society. What are the reasons Nigeria adopted the Federalism system of government in Nigeria? +rohyC ! 9S ) ?roh _ O4C sR & Pf?? AK kyC?& Pf;_Hu j_ G$: 5/ %PDF-1.5 As a result, issues relating to marginalization, economic imbalance, social alienation, ethnic suspicion and superior-subordination contestation are recurring malaises in the system. Adobe d C Also, Read: Local Government In Nigeria : Definition, Functions, And Importance. The states' territories were formed around ethnic groups with common interest and close ties, culture, and dialects. 4 Topics . 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. Have you ever wondered why Nigeria is practicing a federal system of government and not any other system? The Legacy of Biafra: An Investigation into trauma as National Identity Fragmentation, Under Reconstruction: Ethnicity, Ethnic Nationalism, and the Future of the Nigerian State, ETHNIC SCHISM IN NIGERIA: A SOCIO-LITERAY STUDY OF CHINUA ACHEBE'S THERE WAS COUNTRY. Present Nigeria was formed by the amalgamation of two regions which many see as a big influence in why federalism was later adopted by the British and later on by Nigerian leaders as at the time of independence. The analysis of the emerging issues and scenarios as well as the response options aims at supporting the efforts of different stakeholders including the Federal government on managing the current pro-Biafra agitation. a system of state organization, to bring a workable polity with a just moral order is the reason why states adopt or should adopt federalism. Nigeria is quite a big country with an area of 923,768 km2. All attempts to solve these problems over the years have failed. Rt. It allows for popular participation in politics at every level of government. 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. ff>qsfN? Ethnic, Religious and Geographical Factor 3.5 5. It was under the 1954 constitution that federal system of government was fully adopted. Given the size of Nigeria, it lays claims to being the Giant of Africa. Many nations in the international community recognizes her as such. Critically, after that train, every other train went to Nigeria from Nigeria, indicating the enormity of the wall of enmity demarcating Nigeria from the sovereign State of Biafra. Minority Issues and the Creation of State | Week 10. As I have already explained, Nigeria is an amalgamation of three different regions with beliefs and customs. Very often, the problem has appeared in twofold. This makes it possible for the minorities to be separated from the domination of big ethnic groups. As a Nigerian, it is important to understand some basic things about the system of governance in Nigeria and why it is so. The logic for this call, nay, agitation for self-determination by this group is not faulty in itself except that the laws of the land; Nigeria 1999 Constitution (as amended) does not guarantee self-determination or secession by any group of the Nigerian political environment. Brad Simpson (2014) The Biafran secession and the limits of self-determination, Journal of Genocide Research, 16:2-3, 337-354, WARN POLICY BRIEF THE NIGERIA STATE AND THE BIAFRA QUESTION: THREATS TO OR OPPORTUNITIES FOR NATIONAL COHESION, LAST TRAIN TO BIAFRA - Memories of a Biafran Child: A Personal Family Experience, Fiscal Federalism, Ethnic Minorities and the National Question in Nigeria: Revisiting the Case of the Niger Delta People, WARN POLICY BRIEF WARN POLICY BRIEF THE NIGERIA STATE AND THE BIAFRA QUESTION: THREATS TO OR OPPORTUNITIES FOR NATIONAL COHESION, Biafra Resurgence: State Failure, Insecurity and Separatist Agitations in Nigeria, Biafra Separatism: Causes, Consequences and Remedies, The Nigerian State and the Quest for Restructuring: Implications for Democratic Consolidation, THE DISINTEGRATION OF YUGOSLAVIA: A LESSON FOR NIGERIA, MASSOB AND IPOB SELF DETERMINATION AND THE NIGERIA STATE, Ndi Igbo, Leadership, Nationhood, the Nigerian Dilemma and Why We Are All Biafrans, Death of a nation - Biafra and the Nigerian question.pdf, Exploring the Dimensions of Secessionist Agitations: Security Threats and Implications for Nigeria 1966-2016, REVISITING THE NIGERIA-BIAFRA WAR: THE INTANGIBLES OF POST- WAR RECONCILIATION, The Ambiguity of Constitutional Silence on State Secession in Nigeria: Looking Beyond Politics of Compassion and Prejudice, West Africa Insight Secessionist Movement ENGLISH Version, Situation Analysis on Public Safety and Security Governorship Election in Anambra State, IGBOS, A PEOPLE THRIVING AMIDST ADVERSITY: WHO ARE THE IGBOS, Pro-Biafran Activists and the call for a Referendum: A Sentiment Analysis of 'Biafraexit' on Twitter after UK's vote to leave the European Union, NIGERIA: WHAT IS TO BE DONE? In developing countries like India, Iraq and Nigeria, federalism has either failed to close developmental gaps and ethno-communal tensions among various states or, more worryingly, in some. We can offhandedly list all of the reasons for the adoption of federal system in Nigeria. Federalism was basically introduced to bring about peace and unity in the different regions of the country. +rohyC ! 9S ) ?roh _ O4C sR & Pf?? AK kyC?& Pf;_Hu j_ G$: 5/ Government at different periods had set up commissions to advise on the acceptable revenue sharing formula, especially as it affects the three (3) tiers of government. By the time Nigeria became a republic, the system of federalism was adopted and the country was considered as a federation of three regions. << Why indirect rule succeeded in Northern Nigeria, SEE REASONS HERE. 2023, Bscholarly LLC. Also see: Differences between Cross-offers and counter-offers, five reasons for the adoption of federalism in nigeria. 1 Issue 2, BETWEEN THE PRISMS OF NECESSITY AND LEGALITY - THE IPOB PROSCRIPTION IN CONTESTATION_pp.43-57, RE-THINKING BIAFRA IDEOLOGY OF SELF-DETERMINATION IN NIGERIA, A (UN)JUST AND (UN)HOLY WAR?