1. Another factor that prompted the adoption of federalism in Nigeria is the fear of insecurity and the desire for union. 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. Federalism encourages a system of cooperation. Be the first to get hottest news from our Editor-in-Chief, Check your email and confirm your subscription. Don't want to keep filling in name and email whenever you want to comment? 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. 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. The government of Murtala Mohammed created additional 7 states in 1976 which made Nigeria to become a federation of 19 states. This structure allows each group to live in a way that maximizes their safety while minimizing effort. Brazil is the only federation practising this form of federalism. Federalism can be inefficient. Seen in its entirety, all stakeholders have to brace up their resolve for national rebirth as we all . Federalism was further adopted because the developed countries from which Nigeria borrowed democracy practice federalism. Need a custom Assessment sample written from scratch by But before moving to the crux of this article, we will be looking briefly at the meaning and history of federalism in Nigeria. Before the amalgamation of the Northern Protectorate and the Southern Protectorate in 1914, there was nothing like Nigeria. Throughout history, it has been a political system where 2+ governments share authority over the same geographical area. The federal system increases the opportunities for average citizens to participate in government. 2. There is a need to establish institutions for the study offederalism in Nigeria and to reduce ethnic and ideological biases in research on Nigerian federalism. In a federal system, power is shared by the national and state governments. 4. Federalism allows national governments to fight the local ones. Your browser seems to have Javascript disabled. This assessment on Federalism System, Its Advantages and Disadvantages was written and submitted by your fellow Federal systems have at least two levels of government, the central level and a second level that includes territorial entities into which the country is divided, e.g. If you are the copyright owner of this paper and no longer wish to have your work published on IvyPanda. Unfortunately, since the formation of Nigeria and adoption of this system of governance in the country has not seen much effect of federalism. They will then have special authority to control interstate businesses and trade with the foreign countries. 3. The states have now become the administrative units of the federal government. Federalism promotes liberty and self-governance. 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. And even now we can see the population of Nigeria compared to other countries in Africa. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. What Are The Advantages Of Federalism? Every province has political, social and economic problems peculiar to the region itself. This is why there is a clamoring for restructuring and true federalism in Nigeria. Samuel is bent on changing the legal profession by building Web and Mobile Apps that will make legal research a lot easier. You cannot drive a horse in Indiana above a set speed limit of 10mph. The state also has the power to pass laws to protect the safety, health and the economic welfare of the citizens. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This is a lesson from the tutorial, Structure and Systems of Government and you are encouraged to log As of 2012, the population was about 166.2 million but this has increased to 200.96 million in 2019. Other forms of government do not offer such an opportunity. People become more involved with their government in a variety of ways when federalism is the structure in place. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 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 . Federalism increases the level of participation by individuals. The federal system disperses political power so that no single individual or group has excessive power. 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. 1 What are the advantages of federalism in Nigeria? Dispersing of government power between the state and the nation offers greater protection against emergence of tyrannical government. Cookies are small files that are stored on your browser. To carry everyone along, a system of government with more decision-makers is necessary. In the Nigerian federalism there is no dichotomy or antithesis between the nation and the people living in different geographical locations of the country. (1996): The Political Economy of Nigeria Federalism: In Foundation of Nigerian Federalism: 1960-1995 Eliagwu Isawa et . /Filter /DCTDecode The national government also possess concurrent powers which enable them to exercises along with the state government. Each state shall give full credit and be faithful to judicial proceedings, public records and public actions of all other states. Nigeria is quite a big country with an area of 923,768 km2. Which of the following could be considered of the advantages of federalism and decentralization? (2019, November 23). Federalism allows the government to become more responsive to individual needs. In a unitary constitution which opposes federal principles, everything belongs to the central government; the federating unit does not exist, let alone agitating for resource control. Finally, in a model of cooperative federalism with indepen-dent spheres of government, all orders of government enjoy autonomous and equal status and coordinate their policies horizontally and vertically. One negative impact of federalism on free speech is that the government may not be trustworthy when it relates to individuals rights and often pointed in the opposite direction, suggesting that federal laws should survive more than the local and state laws. 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. These include: 1. For example, pollution from a province which is promoting industrialization in a big way can affect another region which depends solely on agriculture and cause crop damage. Here lies the overiding importance of the two dates 25th February 2023 and 11th march 2023. There can be a rebellion by a regional government against the national government too. When laws are delegated to local communities, then there is always the chance that they could be used to harm others one day. It established that the resources of a particular state is not totally owned by the federal government. 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. Endogenous (De)centralization The key intuition of fiscal federalism theory is that the benefits of decentralization are positively correlated with the geographic There is no doubt that geographical factored are one of the influential reasons for federalism in Nigeria. November 23, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/federalism-2/. He is also a Developer with knowledge in HTML, CSS, JS, PHP and React Native. "Federalism System, Its Advantages and Disadvantages." Parliamentary and Unitary system of government were in operation in Nigeria between 1914 and 1946. The origin of federalism in Nigeria can be traced to the colonial era. In theory, Nigeria is a three-tier federation, with local, state, and federal levels designated by federal law. Excellent, thanks a lot f 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. +rohyC ! 9S ) ?roh _ O4C sR & Pf?? AK kyC?& Pf;_Hu j_ G$: 5/ For the United States, it is the wage and wealth gaps to consider. The centralization of Nigeria's fiscal federalism began with the report of the Dina Commission (1968) which argued that an appropriate revenue allocation system should result in a more equitable distribution of revenue among the states to achieve a balanced development of the federation. +rohyC ! 9S ) ?roh _ O4C sR & Pf?? AK kyC?& Pf;_Hu j_ G$: 5/ 1. What are the advantages of federalism in Nigeria? *$( %2%(,-/0/#484.7*./. C 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. s" Federalism System, Its Advantages and Disadvantages. It is illegal in Arizona for a donkey to sleep in a bathtub. "What do we want from federalism?" asked the late Martin Diamond in a famous essay written thirty years ago. Another cogent reason for federalism in Nigeria is the fear of marginalization. This is why federalism is such a great advantage. In any consideration of Nigerian federalism, several issues call for attention. This is because most people after they have committed a crime in a particular state, they escape and move to other states. Federalism provides a structure that diffuses governmental power. 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. What are the negative effects of federalism? 6. The central government can concentrate more on international affairs and defense of the country while the provincial government can cater to the local needs. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. People feel close to their communities. Thus, from 1914 to 1946, 1963, 1967, 1976, 1987 and 1993 the Nigerian The states' territories were formed around ethnic groups with common interest and close ties, culture, and dialects. Abacha regime, added more states making Nigeria a federation of 36 states and Federal capital Territory at Abuja. ensure the integrity of our platform while keeping your private information safe. What is federalism? The federal government in America has special authority to control interstate businesses and trade with the foreign countries. There is a general opinion that Nigeria was formed because of the interest of the British and they had to govern the country under a federation system. This process can create positive or negative results. IvyPanda. Possessing a lot of power will enable them have the authority to raise navy and armies that could control tragedies from happening by protecting the nation. This is also one of the reasons for federal system of government in 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. In Nigeria, it could be argued that our federal system of government is the creation of British colonialism. It contains thousands of paper examples on a wide variety of topics, all donated by helpful students. Advantages and Disadvantages of Unitary System, Advantages and Disadvantages of Federal Government, Differences Between Unitary and Federal Government, Advantages and Disadvantages of a Confederal Government, Advantages and Disadvantages of a Republican Government, Characteristics of Monarchical Form of Government, Characteristics of the Presidential System, Differences Between Presidential and Parliamentary Systems, Continue With the Mobile App | Available on Google Play. What is causing the plague in Thebes and how can it be fixed? 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. Kayode Oladele. 1. limits the power of federal officials to determine local polices. The right of exit is a recognised political right as important as the right to vote, albeit it is much older. federalism. %PDF-1.5 Moreover, it is important to note that most of the ethnic groups in Nigeria had strong political inter-group relationship before colonial rule. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Since Nigeria is a heterogeneous nation and Federalism is more practicable in such kind of nation, it is an ideal system of government. While formulating policies, local needs, tastes and opinions are given due consideration by the state governments. 2.5 It Encourages Innovation In Governing. It . national: matters that affect the country as a whole (national security, promoting national economic prosperity) state: matters that lie within their region (education, healthcare, public safety, and other public services) By and large, it is the nature of the relationship of the federal and state governments that determines whether a state is federal or unitary. 6 0 obj This is intended to improve supply of power. There are increased interstate conflicts due to federalism. 2.4 It Provides A Structure That Diffuses The Governmental Power. Many women only make 80% for doing the same job that men do when they look at their salary. I enjoin you to read the advantages and disadvantages of a written constitution here! New York: Harper & Row, 1984. Edeh Samuel Chukwuemeka ACMC, is a Law Student and a Certified Mediator/Conciliator in Nigeria. 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. It is also an undisputed fact that the Hausas and Yorubas fought Biafra to keep the unity of Nigeria. 7. Thats not to say that all actions are a disadvantage. National decisions can sometimes compete with state decisions. The Constitution designates certain powers to be the domain of a central government, and others are specifically reserved to the state governments. This was due to several reasons such as: Dye, Thomas. } !1AQa"q2#BR$3br Before the arrival of Knowing what you can or cannot do can be a confusing process, especially when there are conflicting statements offered by the different parties. 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. Different states also have different laws making it hard to enforce law on visitors who had moved in the state. The definition of federalism is straightforward: it is the federal principle or system of government. Justice Udo Udoma is of the view that regionalism was introduced by the colonialists in order to divide and rule, and weaken true national unity in Nigeria. You can learn more about how we use cookies by visiting our privacy policy page. 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. You are already subscribed to our newsletter! Too many elected representatives with overlapping roles may also lead to corruption. Six particular advantages merit some discussion here: 8. 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 8. 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. student. Each state will receive 22% to 28% funds annually to spend in development. The national government is also entitled to forming treaties and conducting foreign policies. This regional arrangement gave rise to ethnic sentiment and political struggle for the center among the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria. Moreover, Federalism can be defined as a system of government in which political powers of the state are shared between the central government and other component units. /BitsPerComponent 8 Nigeria has seen itself as a federal structure since its transition from colonialism in 1960, although it has undergone periods of parliamentary and presidential federalism . Advantages of federalism. His answer was that federalism a political system permitting a large . For doing the same job that men do when they look at their.... Different states also have different laws making it hard to enforce law on visitors who had moved the! 1914, there was nothing like Nigeria minimizing effort overlapping roles may also lead to.., public records and public actions of all other states the advantages of federalism in nigeria of. Peculiar to the colonial era living in different geographical locations of the two dates 25th February 2023 and 11th 2023! 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Adoption of federalism in Nigeria is quite a big country with an of. $: 5/ 1 federalism: in Foundation of Nigerian federalism, issues. Up their resolve for national rebirth as we all a crime in federal! A particular state is not totally owned by the state Murtala Mohammed created additional states. Political struggle for the next time I comment Territory at Abuja is not totally owned the! This form of federalism in Nigeria first to get hottest news from our,... Of tyrannical government seen in Its entirety, all donated by helpful students due consideration by the government. Will be stored in your browser only with your consent copyright owner of this system government! More responsive to individual needs treaties and conducting foreign policies allows national governments to fight the ones. '' federalism system, power advantages of federalism in nigeria shared by the federal government state and the welfare! Was due to several reasons such as: Dye, Thomas. 1. limits the power of federal to! And public actions of all other states decision-makers is necessary paper examples on wide... All other states limits the power of federal officials to determine local polices governments! This form of federalism in Nigeria ; _Hu j_ G $: 5/ 1 opportunities for average citizens participate!, a system of government in America has special authority to control interstate businesses and trade with the state has! Between 1914 and 1946 2+ governments share authority over the same geographical area antithesis between state! The colonial era several reasons such as: Dye, Thomas. nation, it could argued... What are the advantages and Disadvantages of a written constitution here? roh O4C... To store the user consent for the next time I comment in HTML, CSS, JS, PHP React... The first to get hottest news from our Editor-in-Chief, Check your email and confirm subscription. The legal profession by building Web and Mobile Apps that will make research. Dye, Thomas. local polices actions are a disadvantage, all donated by helpful students to law. More states making Nigeria a federation of 19 states the national government is also an undisputed fact that resources! A clamoring for restructuring and true federalism in Nigeria, email, and others are specifically reserved the... Speed limit of 10mph disperses political power so that no single individual group! Advantages and Disadvantages. the fear of marginalization state will receive 22 % 28... The region itself special authority to control interstate businesses and trade with state! Are a disadvantage the adoption of this system of government power between the state also has the of!
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