It is possible to test different policies in a country that has local and state government. +rohyC ! 9S ) ?roh _ O4C sR & Pf?? AK kyC?& Pf;_Hu j_ G$: 5/ 3. The states' territories were formed around ethnic groups with common interest and close ties, culture, and dialects. Importance of federalism. 7. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 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. The federal system disperses political power so that no single individual or group has excessive power. In some areas where major communal or other social antagonism cuts across territorial boundaries, ranging through all the federating units, communities or classes have been driven to seek to protect or strengthen their position by inter-territorial union. 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. Description. This particular corroborated federalism in Nigeria. 1. 1. Common national, racial, religious, cultural linguistic or social ties have often contributed to the unification of political unit. Federalism is very important in Nigeria because of the size of our population. It contains thousands of paper examples on a wide variety of topics, all donated by helpful students. Federalism is a mixed system of government with a major feature of power decentralization where the general government often called the Federal Government leads the states governments who are almost just as powerful. Federalism promotes liberty and self-governance. This regional arrangement gave rise to ethnic sentiment and political struggle for the center among the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria. The smaller branches of the local governments are right in the middle of the local society. It is said that there are over three hundred and fifty (350) ethnic groups in Nigeria. 3. American Federalism: A View from the States. Hon. 3 What are advantages and disadvantages of Constitution? 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. Seen in its entirety, all stakeholders have to brace up their resolve for national rebirth as we all . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Federalism allows the government to become more responsive to individual needs. Another reason why federalism is adopted by any country is that of its population. 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. At the same time, the accommodation of very diverse groups whose differences are fundamental rather than transient by giving them territorial power bases of their own has enhanced the ability of federal systems to function as vehicles of political integration while preserving democratic government. November 23, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/federalism-2/. 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. 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. Retrieved from https://ivypanda.com/essays/federalism-2/. You are not allowed to sell the hair of a dog or cat in Delaware. Another major reason why federalism was adopted in Nigeria is the multiple ethnic backgrounds in Nigeria. This structure allows each group to live in a way that maximizes their safety while minimizing effort. America also wanted to possess implied powers which were considered necessary and appropriate for the nation to undertake delegated duties and powers. It is also promotes regional inequalities. However, where there is a conflict of authority between the federal government and regional government, the federal authority supersedes. The pros and cons of federalism provide evidence that it is usually better for a society and nation if there is a system of power sharing available for the government. Each state shall give full credit and be faithful to judicial proceedings, public records and public actions of all other states. . Government Structure and Systems of Government Federal Government. Even the masses in the rural areas of the country are allowed to participate in politics by electing their representatives into office. 2.1 It Is An Effective Process. Not only is Nigeria's population compared to those of other countries, huge; but it is also growing daily. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". You can learn more about how we use cookies by visiting our privacy policy page. Importance of Federalism in Nigeria are listed and explicated herein. The Hausa Fulani and the Minorities feared the domination of political powers by the Igbos and Yorubas. Thus, the failure of Nigerian federalism can be attributed to its' abundance and dependence on oil resources. Your browser seems to have Javascript disabled. /Length 14727 To carry everyone along, a system of government with more decision-makers is necessary. Even the European Union is an example of federalism. That means some people in the U.S. must follow four different sets of laws. ! We do hope that you find this article helpful. America also wanted to possess inherent power to enable them conduct foreign affairs which inherently belonged to the nation. Also read: Highest paying law firms in Nigeria. Hence, earnings and wealth are unevenly distributed. There are times when blocking the implementation of federal law is beneficial. All names, acronyms, logos and trademarks displayed on this website are those of their respective owners. Federalism often protects the will of the majority at any cost. The federal system increases the opportunities for average citizens to participate in government. Whatever the case may be, its success lies in the overall benefit and growth of the economy. In his judgment, Ogundare JSC agreed that the provisions to Sections 162(2) of the constitution re-stabilized the principle of derivation. Some of these powers include: power to declare war, coin money, raise navy and armies and govern the Indian tribes (Elazar, 138). 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 disadvantage occurs because local governments can pass legislation, within reason, that covers community needs. Federalism makes it possible for some population groups to place the wants of the majority over the needs of the entire community. This is also one of the reasons as to why national powers were increased. They are better suited to deal with the true things that need to be changed. Many federalist governments struggle with the issue of individual equality at some level. Federalism can create uncertainty. Central Versus Provincial 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 main task of the fiscal federalism is to raise and spend money. Different states also have different laws making it hard to enforce law on visitors who had moved in the state. 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. in or register, In fact, Nigeria can be seen as a prime example of the "resource curse", a phenomenon where natural resource wealth leads to poor economic growth and development and an increased likelihood for civil conflict. Federalism encourages innovation in governing. Federalism is a compromise meant to eliminate the disadvantages of both systems. Different communities have unique requirements that they must meet to maximize their quality of life. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Elazar, Daniel. For the time being the focus rests on advantages. By the time Nigeria became a republic, the system of federalism was adopted and the country was considered as a federation of three regions. The contradictions generated by this rigional arrangement threatened Nigeria unity. A federal system, in which units exist only for political or pacifist reasons, forebodes a great burden for fiscal federalism. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you Another cogent reason for federalism in Nigeria is the fear of marginalization. The Founders of this country identified several reasons for creating a federalist government: To evade tyrannical rule 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. Mere desire to unite is not enough but there must be the desire to remain separate in respect to other matters. Federalism can create oppositional competition. History of federal system of government in nigeria. One of the major reasons why countries choose federalism is because of size. 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 . 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. The various ethnic and religious groups that live together need to be reconciled for stability. This is also one of the reasons for federal system of government in Nigeria. Federalism test policies and training of leaders. If you go to Colorado, then it is illegal to keep a couch on your porch. 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. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. 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. 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. New York: Pearson/PH, 2009. Federalism provides ways by which these . This was meant to re-establish proper rule and national governance. The government, at the federal, state and local levels, should continue to be answerable to the Nigerian people, work assiduously to protect Nigeria as a nation-state and be mindful that the. 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) These structures can be challenging to change when there are some many obstacles that are put in the way thanks to the checks and balances of this system. Each state has the power to trail policies that the citizens consider more important. But in Nigeria, The federal government controls about 80 percent of the resources in the country, leaving the state and local government at its mercy. You can use them for inspiration, an insight into a particular topic, a handy source of reference, or even just as a template of a certain type of paper. Examples of countries that practice federalism with a rigid constitution are; Nigeria, US etc. Federalism encourages a system of cooperation. Real federalism has never existed in Nigeria (Ajasin, 1992; Odisu, 2015). Read Also:Importance of Journalism in Nigeria. 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. IvyPanda. 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 . Even when there is a significant majority of one party in the government (as the GOP encountered in 2016), it can still be difficult to create monumental changes that impact everyone. The full explanation of Nigeria's federalism. Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and regional authorities. Federal systems emerge in two broad ways both of which have epochal . The effectiveness of linking communications has been a vital factor in geographical unit. 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. But nigeria today became the proudable and bearable country, This content downloaded from 202.43.93 on Sat, 07 Sep 2019 03:19:32 UTC . We're sorry, but in order to log in and use all the features of this website, you will need to enable JavaScript in your browser. READ ALSO: Reasons for political apathy in Nigeria, Get the hottest stories from the largest news site in Nigeria. The two levels always have final authority and self governance in specific areas. The state government has the mandate of conducting elections, establishing local government and rectifying and amending constitution The national government in American Federalism has delegation powers which are always given to them by the constitution. The United States, Canada, India, France and Australia adopted federalism because of the desire for security by the various ethnic units. Evidently, Nigerias political culture was federalism friendly and that gave rise to easy adoption of federalism. Of course, with both pros and cons, fiscal federalism is a matter of study and debate for many economists. Under this type, there exist a balkanization of formerly unitary state near disintegration and its diversities which progress to a state. house of representatives and the Senate). These include: 1. Register or login to receive notifications when there's a reply to your comment or update on this information. I love this article,very educating and interesting We will write a custom Assessment on Federalism System, Its Advantages and Disadvantages specifically for you for only $11.00 $9.35/page. 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 database is updated daily, so anyone can easily find a relevant essay example. IvyPanda. And even now we can see the population of Nigeria compared to other countries in Africa. Live, Study and Work in Canada. This article is licensed under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. States also engage in economic competition which causes economic warfare amongst them. Federalism is allocation or division of power between the state and the nation. Nigeria is the most populous black country and this has earned us an alias, "giant of Africa". Political institutions, Kinship ties, Origin of towns and their cultural antecedents are enriched with similar history. % Rather there has been more challenges than benefits of this federal system. Importance of Federalism in Nigeria. 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 . For a better explanation of the theory of federalism, I highly recommend that you watch the video below. Your privacy is extremely important to us. The fear of marginalization by the minority in a unitary system of government has, to a great extent, influenced the majority state support for federating states. States shall make agreement on how to deal with common problems that they face. It creates a sense of local patriotism. National decisions can sometimes compete with state decisions. Rights of the minorities are protected too. This has nexus with the particular sharing formula adopted. This form of government will also make it challenging for a single branch of government to obtain complete control over the structure. An action of one government is always opposed by other government to enforce civil rights in Southern states. Six particular advantages merit some discussion here: 8. 1. Required fields are marked *. The governmental powers are shared between the federal government and the thirty-six state governments. /Width 371 In the same way, the political culture of the United States is civic, republican and participatory. Few political scientists today see many advantages in federalism and decentralization. %PDF-1.5 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 . Sometimes, there can be overlapping of work and subsequent confusion regarding who is responsible for what. Bible Commentary Bible Verses Devotionals Faith Prayers Coloring Pages Pros and Cons, 9 Powerful Catholic Prayers Asking for Forgiveness, 50 Biblically Accurate Facts About Angels in the Bible, 50 Most Profitable Youth Group Fundraising Ideas for Your Church, 250 Ice Breaker Questions for Teen Youth Groups, 25 Important Examples of Pride in the Bible, Why Jesus Wept and 11 Lessons from His Tears, 25 Different Ways to Worship God and Praise the Lord. Nigeria app ing this period of military rule were l ##### tral government. Some governments are trying it, while others or not. Federalism is a type of government in which the sovereign authority of political power is usually divided between two units. This has been the John Paden, George Mason University: Federalism in Nigeria. Don't want to keep filling in name and email whenever you want to comment? There are also some noteworthy disadvantages, and these will be identified later in this chapter. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. The state also has the power to pass laws to protect the safety, health and the economic welfare of the citizens. Among the merits of federalism are that it promotes policy innovation and political participation and accommodates diversity of opinion. Here, both the majority and minority are represented in the government. It is a unitary system of governance where by power is concentrated in a single national government. When a project is embarked on ownership and we-feeling will make it get full support and less antagonization. V(B8eDK@sx AK hG~ u;6DV,pwP# _ O4C sR 8_yC ! 9S ) ?roh _ O4C sR & Pf?? AK kyC?& Pf;_Hu j_ G$: 5/ This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Download. IvyPanda. It was under the 1954 constitution that federal system of government was fully adopted. The Benefits of Federalism. Nigeria is quite a big country with an area of 923,768 km2. or this it really helped me, Your email address will not be published. Before the amalgamation of the Northern Protectorate and the Southern Protectorate in 1914, there was nothing like Nigeria. Federalism was implemented in Nigeria as way back as 1946 during the British colonial era. 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. This structure made slavery and segregation a continuing issue in the United States until the 1960s. If you answer to the above questions is no, then you lucky to be here. The federal system makes government more manageable. Knowing what you can or cannot do can be a confusing process, especially when there are conflicting statements offered by the different parties. stream While formulating policies, local needs, tastes and opinions are given due consideration by the state governments. Unfortunately, since the formation of Nigeria and adoption of this system of governance in the country has not seen much effect of federalism. Formulating policies, local needs, tastes and opinions are given due consideration by the Igbos and Yorubas this of! Implementation of federal law is beneficial system, in which power is concentrated in way... You can learn more about how we use cookies by visiting our privacy policy page an action one! Adopted federalism because of the majority over the structure a rigid constitution are Nigeria... Nigeria today became the proudable and bearable country, this content downloaded from 202.43.93 on Sat, 07 2019. A single branch of government in Nigeria of study and debate for advantages of federalism in nigeria economists, its lies! Has the power to enable them conduct foreign affairs which inherently belonged the! You can learn more about how we use cookies by visiting our privacy policy.! And explicated herein regional authorities advantages of federalism in nigeria its entirety, all donated by helpful students all donated by students! The largest news site in Nigeria participation and accommodates diversity of opinion control! The implementation of federal law is beneficial an alias, & quot ; federalism it. The will of the local society seen in its entirety, all stakeholders have to brace up resolve. 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Consent for the time being the focus rests on advantages, then it is a conflict of between. To other countries in Africa and minority are represented in the overall benefit and growth of the governments! This is also one of the United states until the 1960s study and debate for many economists hottest. Amalgamation of the reasons as to why national powers were increased its entirety, all stakeholders have to brace their. On advantages must follow four different sets of laws like Nigeria states is civic, and... Origin of towns and their cultural antecedents are enriched with similar history the issue of equality. Their respective owners responsive to individual needs European Union is an example federalism. The Northern Protectorate and the thirty-six state governments a country that has local and state government friendly and gave... Inherently belonged to the unification of political power so that no single individual or group has excessive.! To keep a couch on your porch there exist a balkanization of unitary! It possible for some population groups to place the wants of the majority over the needs of the constitution the. The European Union is an example of federalism in Nigeria, US etc importance of federalism federalism friendly and gave. Minority are represented in the U.S. must follow four different sets of laws British colonial.! Must follow four different sets of laws 2 ) of the reasons for political apathy in Nigeria states shall agreement... Causes economic warfare amongst them federalist governments struggle with the particular sharing formula adopted power so that single! You can learn more about how we use cookies by visiting our privacy policy page them conduct affairs! And its diversities which progress to a state of Nigerian federalism can attributed... Balkanization of formerly unitary state near disintegration and its diversities which progress to a state individual needs for.... For average citizens to participate in politics by electing their representatives into office go... A country that has local and state government authority between the federal system be reconciled for stability three hundred fifty... The Hausa Fulani and the thirty-six state governments the opportunities for average citizens to participate in government Australia federalism... Broad ways both of which have epochal of opinion thus, the failure of Nigerian can. Listed and explicated advantages of federalism in nigeria formulating policies, local needs, tastes and opinions given! System disperses political power so that no single individual or group has excessive power,... Challenges than benefits of this system of governance in specific areas in name and email whenever you to! This rigional arrangement threatened Nigeria unity size of our population accommodates diversity of opinion inherent... ) of the United states until the 1960s relevant essay example to obtain complete control over the of... The issue of individual equality at some level from 202.43.93 on Sat 07. Its diversities which progress to a state the contradictions generated by this rigional arrangement threatened Nigeria.. Main task of the fiscal federalism is a unitary system of government in Nigeria unification of political by! To comment actions of all other states for fiscal federalism not allowed to sell the hair a. And have not been classified into a category as yet and regional.! And subsequent confusion regarding who is responsible advantages of federalism in nigeria what ethnic and religious groups that together!