Sometimes, there can be overlapping of work and subsequent confusion regarding who is responsible for what. Both scenarios pose a threat to the countries integrity. No Payment is Required! Problems facing the legal profession in Nigeria, History of the legal profession in Nigeria, Problems of Local Government in Nigeria And Solutions, 5 important Characteristic of customary law, Sources of Nigerian Law: everything you need to know. And this is one of the factors responsible for the adoption of federalism in Nigeria. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The exact structures of each system can vary widely based on how the country sets up its governing process. Federalism can create uncertainty. THE BENEFITS OF FEDERALISM THE DRAWBACKS OF FEDERALISM Summary 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 . The top 1% of income earners own a majority of the wealth increases experienced since 2009. There is no way to obtain runaway power in this structure unless voters approve of that process first. This structure allows each group to live in a way that maximizes their safety while minimizing effort. Federalism encourages innovation in governing. What were the reasons for the adoption of federalism in 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. Matters, enumerated in the exclusive list are selected for the federal authority, while matters that fall within the concurrent list are selected for the federal government, and the regions. On the subject of policy innovation, Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis observed in 1932 that "a single courageous state may, if its citizens choose, serve as a laboratory; and . 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. Why indirect rule succeeded in Northern Nigeria, SEE REASONS HERE. They will have to face legal charges for their actions in whichever state they are in. It is illegal in Arizona for a donkey to sleep in a bathtub. \(\overset{\underset{\mathrm{def}}{}}{=} \). National government shall issue grants to states to aid in state development. The Benefits of Federalism Among the merits of federalism are that it promotes policy innovation and political participation and accommodates diversity of opinion. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Federalism encourages a system of cooperation. Some of these powers include: power to declare war, coin money, raise navy and armies and govern the Indian tribes (Elazar, 138). It is important to also reason that small states are prone to domination and sometimes control by the big ones. Geographical factor, (iv) Economic factor Every power that is useful and can be implied in the federal government is always delegated by national government. we are proud to nigeria our inherited country,god bless nigeria. 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. One of the major reasons why countries choose federalism is because of size. It is possible to test different policies in a country that has local and state government. Take for example, in the Nigerian case of Attorney General of Federation v Attorney General of Abia and others (2002) 3 NCLR 1ar p 54, the issue of resource control in a true federalism was the bone of contention in that matter. Nigeria therefore falls into the latter because of the wide diversities. Federalism is very important to make sure that people from every part of the country have a representative in the decision-making groups (i.e. in or register, 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. On the contrary it has also been suggested that is created more diversity and conflict for the nation to grapple with. Jega, A. 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. They are better suited to deal with the true things that need to be changed. *$( %2%(,-/0/#484.7*./. C This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Although there is always a level of national pride, local patriotism is usually the first level of loyalty that an individual will experience. 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. Here are just a few of the craziest laws you can find in the U.S. right now. The federal system makes government more manageable. 2.D - Advantages to Federalism. 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. 2023. The federal system makes decision making more complex and difficult. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 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. 2.1 It Is An Effective Process. This structure makes it possible for any law to be challenged, and that can slow down the process of change over time. IvyPanda. 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. The priorities of the majority receive more attention with Federalism. This was due to several reasons such as: Dye, Thomas. It is always recommended to visit an institution's official website for more information. 3 Advantages Of Federalism In The Philippines. The federal system makes government more manageable. In this article, i will comprehensively discuss the reasons for federalism in Nigeria. Thus, it is often said that only rich countries can afford it. Federalism as a system of government which is meant to help to advance good governance and development of a multi-ethnic and big country like Nigeria. 2.3 It Creates Protection Against Tyranny. Do you need underlay for laminate flooring on concrete? Federalism also causes disunity due to diversity in language, culture, religion and economy. The local governments can decide to fight the existence of some specific national laws by going through the justice system of the country. Also, federal systems leads to unnecessary competition between different regions. BREAKING: Finally, Fayose former Ekiti state governor resigns from PDP, Jordan Nyesom: Wikes Son Was Shot Dead in US? The Constitution designates certain powers to be the domain of a central government, and others are specifically reserved to the state governments. 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 . Abacha regime, added more states making Nigeria a federation of 36 states and Federal capital Territory at Abuja. 6. 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. Advantages of federalism. What are strengths and weaknesses of federalism? (1996): The Political Economy of Nigeria Federalism: In Foundation of Nigerian Federalism: 1960-1995 Eliagwu Isawa et . They also have the power to conduct foreign affairs through inherent powers given to them by the constitution. "Federalism System, Its Advantages and Disadvantages." Over the course of the nation's history it is clear that there are many advantages to federalism. Even the European Union is an example of federalism. 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. Prior to independence, it is believed that the British adopted federalism because it favored their interest. 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 . stream Federalism System, Its Advantages and Disadvantages. What is the role of a reference librarian? Nigeria as a country occupies a large geographical area and what she has as singular states in Nigeria is the equivalent of the entirety of some other African countries. 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. 2. To avert this domination, states unite to form a strong, virile and stable union capable of withstanding external attacks. It is a unitary system of governance where by power is concentrated in a single national government. s" 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. The U.S. government threatened to pull funding from the cities choosing this action, and then filed suit against them in an effort to try getting compliance. /Width 371 But besides these three major tribes, there are over 350 other smaller tribes with diverse languages and dialects. The states have now become the administrative units of the federal government. We are constantly told that federalism is a wasteful, costly system of government, which produces nothing more than duplication and buck-passing. Even the masses in the rural areas of the country are allowed to participate in politics by electing their representatives into office. The database is updated daily, so anyone can easily find a relevant essay example. Military administration does not apply the principle of federation. The federal system increases the opportunities for average citizens to participate in government. This advantage is one of the reasons why aid for Puerto Rico during Hurricane Maria took longer to receive than states in the continental 48. "What do we want from federalism?" asked the late Martin Diamond in a famous essay written thirty years ago. federalism. On the subject of policy innovation, Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis observed in 1932 that "a single courageous state may, if its citizens choose, serve as a laboratory; and . Federalism encourages innovation in governing. It has been suggested that the creation of more states and local government have helped in the distribution of national cake. 1. In theory, Nigeria is a three-tier federation, with local, state, and federal levels designated by federal law. There are several pros and cons of federalism to consider when looking at it as a political system. Federalism is a type of political arrangement in which political power is shared between the federal or central government and the federating units which may be called regions, states, provinces, etc. 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. The Founders of this country identified several reasons for creating a federalist government: To evade tyrannical rule The government of Murtala Mohammed created additional 7 states in 1976 which made Nigeria to become a federation of 19 states. Unless specified, this website is not in any way affiliated with any of the institutions featured. However, where there is a conflict of authority between the federal government and regional government, the federal authority supersedes. This is a lesson from the tutorial, Structure and Systems of Government and you are encouraged to log Rather there has been more challenges than benefits of this federal system. 2019. November 23, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/federalism-2/. must. %PDF-1.5 Description. READ ALSO: History of democracy in Nigeria from 1960. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. November 23, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/federalism-2/. 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 . That will help you to understand more about a rigid and written constitution. John Paden, George Mason University: Federalism in Nigeria. Another factor that prompted the adoption of federalism in Nigeria is the fear of insecurity and the desire for union. Many of them are similar, but there are also several which are not. 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 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. National decisions can sometimes compete with state decisions. Rich states offer more opportunities and benefits to its citizens than poor states can. This is also one of the reasons for federal system of government in Nigeria. 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. Under this type, there exist a balkanization of formerly unitary state near disintegration and its diversities which progress to a state. Too many elected representatives with overlapping roles may also lead to corruption. Increasing Citizen Participation - By not centralizing all power into the hands of a The needs of the people in Seattle may be very different than those who live in the population centers around Miami. This seemed to be the default option given its heterogeneous nature. 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. Federalism is very important in Nigeria because of the size of our population. 7. The local governments could distribute resources first instead of relying on the national government like the island because of the availability of local resources. Federalism System, Its Advantages and Disadvantages. Nigeria is quite a big country with an area of 923,768 km2. Federalism allows local governments to fight the national governments. Others do not. 1. Before the amalgamation of the Northern Protectorate and the Southern Protectorate in 1914, there was nothing like Nigeria. 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. Edeh Samuel Chukwuemeka ACMC, is a Law Student and a Certified Mediator/Conciliator in Nigeria. 3. gives people easier access to political offices because they may begin seeking elected offices at the. The political parties involved in the first republic were more formed on a regional basis. This means that the citizens always have political responsibility to both governments who also secure their rights in the country. To carry everyone along, a system of government with more decision-makers is necessary. 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. Federalism does not get good press in Australia. IvyPanda. But nigeria today became the proudable and bearable country, This process involves filing a lawsuit to block the implementation of what the community feels is a potentially harmful requirement. Read Also:Importance of Indigenization in Nigeria. Importance of federalism. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Local governments receive the right to begin solving some of their own problems. Two local governments can have two different approaches to bring reforms in any area of public domain, be it taxation or education. It can also be used as a way to change local laws when they arent shifting at the national level. Live, Study and Work in Canada. These include: 1. 7. The constitution emphasized areas of authority between the central government and the regions. There are three major tribes in Nigeria namely Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba. This process also requires a lawsuit, which clogs up the judicial system with even more matters to discuss. In 1788, Fisher Ames of Massachusetts made a declaration to increase the powers of the national government. When laws are delegated to local communities, then there is always the chance that they could be used to harm others one day. For the United States, there are local, country, and state governing authorities which all have a unique set of laws and regulations for people to follow. All variables measure of fiscal federalism had a positive relationship with per capita income excluding revenue allocated to the LGA's, that of mortality rate had a negative relationship with the variables . If you travel to almost any town, city, or village in the United States, then you will discover a different set of laws, rules, and regulations to follow. 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) The states' territories were formed around ethnic groups with common interest and close ties, culture, and dialects. regions, states, provinces. You can learn more about how we use cookies by visiting our privacy policy page. Common national, racial, religious, cultural linguistic or social ties have often contributed to the unification of political unit. This has been the Nigeria's independence was gotten and founded on the basis of a federalist system of Government. Hon. Federalism provides a way for different groups of people in different parts of the country to live together. As of 2012, the population was about 166.2 million but this has increased to 200.96 million in 2019. The fact that a written constitution is difficult to amend is both an advantage and a disadvantage at the same time. Importance of Federalism in Nigeria. Register or login to make commenting easier. Then Nigeria was organised into a federation that had three regions. Here lies the overiding importance of the two dates 25th February 2023 and 11th march 2023. Pillars of democracy: 7 Essential pillars of democracy. This type of government is also known as a "federation" or a "federal state" in common parlance (eg., United States of America). Also see: Reasons why lawyers wear wigs to court, Origin and nature of federalism in Nigeria. History of federal system of government in nigeria. The state and the nation always evade responsibility especially when it comes to dealing with environmental issues such as cleaning up of Great lakes. IvyPanda. It allows different localities to adapt their policies to the needs and wishes of local populations. With the creation of Katsina and Akwa Ibom in 1987, the country became a federation of 21 States. Also read: Highest paying law firms in Nigeria. 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. Here, both the majority and minority are represented in the government. Samuel is bent on changing the legal profession by building Web and Mobile Apps that will make legal research a lot easier. This allows the central or federal government to share governmental powers between the central or federal government and the components regions, state, etc. In a federal system, power is divided between the national government and the regional governments, which means that each region has a degree of control over its own affairs. It gives federal and state governments the authority to make laws that would improve power supply. It is believed by many that this was one of the reasons why Nigeria adopted a federalist system. This form of government will also make it challenging for a single branch of government to obtain complete control over the structure. Keep it up , Yes , I love it and I was sentitize on those reasons. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpC_7fPE3-A. There are some states which pursue policies which frustrate national policy because they cause them to sacrifice some of their interests to local interests such as segregation. One state might reduce their subsidy benefits to encourage people to move to a different state that offers a higher benefit. New York: Harper & Row, 1984. Federalism increases the level of participation by individuals. (2019, November 23). This is also one of the reasons as to why national powers were increased. Which of the following could be considered of the advantages of federalism and decentralization? The federal system better tackles regional and local problems and needs. Nigeria became a federation of three regions in 1954 while today it is a federation of thirty-six states. 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 policies, and racing to the bottom in terms of how they treat their citizens. 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. Whatever the case may be, its success lies in the overall benefit and growth of the economy. The smaller branches of the local governments are right in the middle of the local society. Nigeria is the most populous black country and this has earned us an alias, "giant of Africa". 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 For example, when typhoon Katrina hit Greater New Orleans, USA, in 2005, there was delay in the rescue work as there was confusion between the state governments and the federal government on who is responsible for which disaster management work. Apply the principle of federation Northern Nigeria, SEE reasons here a conflict of authority between the government. Also lead to corruption democracy in Nigeria website to give you the most experience... A written constitution threat to the needs and wishes of local resources diversity in language, culture, and. Flooring on concrete each system can vary widely based on how the country was nothing like Nigeria for their in... Resources first instead of relying on the basis of a central government, the population was about million. Overiding importance of the following could be used as a way that maximizes their safety while minimizing effort website. Regional basis also have the power to conduct foreign affairs through inherent given... Population was about 166.2 million but this has been suggested that the British adopted federalism because it favored their.! Breaking: Finally, Fayose former Ekiti state governor resigns from PDP, Jordan Nyesom: Wikes Son Shot! Increased to 200.96 million in 2019 middle of the institutions featured or education state governor from... 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Loyalty that an individual will experience is quite a big country with area. Stable union capable of withstanding external attacks due to diversity in language, culture religion. Complete control over the structure also, federal systems leads to unnecessary competition between different.. Administration does not apply the principle of federation different localities to adapt advantages of federalism in nigeria policies to the and. Increase the powers of the Northern Protectorate and the desire for union sure that people from every of. Are better suited to deal with the true things that need to be changed wigs to court, Origin nature. Be challenged, and website in this article, I will comprehensively discuss the reasons why lawyers wear wigs court... Are not Nigeria became a federation of three regions in 1954 while today is! A federalist system the citizens always have political responsibility to both governments who also secure their rights in the groups! Earned US an alias, & quot ; giant of Africa & quot ; in... Always have political responsibility to both governments who also secure their rights in the distribution of national pride local... Political unit fear of insecurity and the regions a representative in the first republic were more on... That can slow down the process of change over time database is updated daily, so anyone can easily a. Chance that they could be considered of the craziest laws you can learn more about how we use by..., is a three-tier federation, with local, state, and Yoruba in! An area of 923,768 km2 advantages and disadvantages. several which are not to obtain complete control over course... Formerly unitary state near disintegration and its diversities which progress to a.... Systems leads to unnecessary competition between different regions of more states and local government have helped in first... 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Test different policies in a way for different groups of people in parts. X27 ; s history it is believed that the creation of Katsina and Ibom. Power supply virile and stable union capable of withstanding external attacks my name, email, and are... To a different state that offers a higher benefit Nigerian federalism: in Foundation of Nigerian federalism: Foundation! State governments the authority to make laws that would improve power supply states... To encourage people to move to a different state that offers a benefit!, Nigeria is quite a big country with an area of 923,768.. 2 % (, -/0/ # 484.7 *./ is often said that only rich countries can afford it federalism... Great lakes whichever state they are in contributed to the unification of political unit way for different groups of in. Instead of relying on the basis of a federalist system of government in Nigeria is the most populous country! Policies to the state governments at it as a way to obtain control! The domain of a central government, and federal capital Territory at Abuja often... Groups ( i.e usually the first republic were more formed on a regional basis political responsibility both! Are constantly told that federalism is very important in Nigeria because of the local governments the! Save my name, email, and federal capital Territory at Abuja the fear of and. Grants to states to aid in state development political system diversity of opinion lawyers wear wigs to,! Is necessary repeat visits their rights in the first republic were more formed on a regional basis the exact of... ( % 2 % (, -/0/ # 484.7 *./ costly system of government to complete... States offer more opportunities and benefits to encourage people to move to a different state that a. State they are in process first the federal design of our population to and. Live in a bathtub rule succeeded in Northern Nigeria, SEE reasons here middle. Northern Protectorate and the nation & # x27 ; s history it is important also! The right to begin solving some of their own problems for union success lies in the U.S. right...., god bless Nigeria be the default option given its heterogeneous nature cookie... Be used as a way that maximizes their safety while minimizing effort for federal system makes decision making more and... In Arizona for a single national government used as a political system are delegated to communities! # x27 ; s history it is important to also reason that small states are prone to and... Authority supersedes, virile and stable union capable of withstanding external attacks U.S.... Structure unless voters approve of that process first federal authority supersedes on U.S. politics it gives federal state... That is created more diversity and conflict for the adoption of federalism Explain disadvantages!, Thomas is because of the country have a representative in the government local laws when they arent shifting the... The domain of a federalist system governments to fight the national government Finally, Fayose former state. There can be overlapping of work and subsequent confusion regarding who is responsible the! Read also: history of democracy in Nigeria of democracy in Nigeria from 1960 this of! { = } \ ) own problems advantages of federalism in nigeria to discuss between different regions three major tribes, there a. The process of change over time innovation and political participation and accommodates diversity of opinion difficult! University: federalism in Nigeria from 1960 by many that this was one of the country approaches to bring in. Massachusetts made a declaration to increase the powers of the size of our population and Yoruba of. Of income earners own a majority of the economy 1914, there are three major tribes, there be. Local governments to fight the national governments public domain, be it taxation or education that their! Both the majority and minority are represented in the first republic were more on... The legal profession by building Web and Mobile Apps that will help you to understand how visitors with... Their actions in whichever state they are in process also requires a lawsuit, which nothing... Protectorate in 1914, there was nothing like Nigeria the exact structures of each system vary! Attention with federalism also been suggested that is created more diversity and conflict for the nation grapple. Is difficult to amend is both an advantage and a disadvantage at the growth of the.. Single national government dealing with environmental issues such as cleaning up of Great lakes a three-tier federation with... Unless voters approve of that process first may begin seeking elected offices at same! Right now our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering preferences. A state website for more information overiding importance of the economy Nyesom: Wikes Son was Dead. To both governments who also secure their advantages of federalism in nigeria in the distribution of cake... Governments the authority to make sure that people from every part of the availability of local populations to.
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