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) Different states also have different laws making it hard to enforce law on visitors who had moved in the state. Federalism provides ways by which these . 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. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Read Also:Importance of Indigenization in Nigeria. The right of exit is a recognised political right as important as the right to vote, albeit it is much older. So, without wasting much time, what is a federal system of government? What Countries Use Federalism? 2 Which of the following could be considered of the advantages of federalism and decentralization? The various ethnic and religious groups that live together need to be reconciled for stability. 2. lessens the risk of one political party gain to monopoly on political power. We may share your site usage data with our social media, advertising, and analytics partners for these reasons. It needs proper review so that the country can move forward as a nation. Federalism can create oppositional competition. house of representatives and the Senate). Since Nigeria is a heterogeneous nation and Federalism is more practicable in such kind of nation, it is an ideal system of government. Live, Study and Work in Canada. 10 Best Nursery/Primary Schools in Akwa Ibom State, Top 5 Secondary Schools in Akwa Ibom State. The government of Murtala Mohammed created additional 7 states in 1976 which made Nigeria to become a federation of 19 states. Sometimes, there can be overlapping of work and subsequent confusion regarding who is responsible for what. There is no doubt that geographical factored are one of the influential reasons for federalism in Nigeria. By the time Nigeria got her independence, the various party involved had been regionally based. The national government also possess concurrent powers which enable them to exercises along with the state government. 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. w !1AQaq"2B #3Rbr Both scenarios pose a threat to the countries integrity. As I have already explained, Nigeria is an amalgamation of three different regions with beliefs and customs. The central government can sometimes overlook these differences and adopt policies which cater to the majority. Unfortunately, since the formation of Nigeria and adoption of this system of governance in the country has not seen much effect of federalism. From the above explanation, one can rightly say that the constitution of Nigeria and United States of America are federal constitutions while the constitution of France and the Republic of Ireland are Unitary constitutions. 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 . There are natural disasters, national welfare aid distributed to the states for authorization, public education resources, and many more benefits or circumstances where someone must navigate each level of government to find the results they want. For the time being the focus rests on advantages. This particular corroborated federalism in Nigeria. 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. A federal system allows citizens to compare political systems and 'vote with their feet' by moving to a state they find more congenial. This post will give you some insight into why federalism was adopted as the system of governance in Nigeria. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. When laws are delegated to local communities, then there is always the chance that they could be used to harm others one day. Nigeria became a federation of three regions in 1954 while today it is a federation of thirty-six states. Even the European Union is an example of federalism. /Filter /DCTDecode 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. By Federalism, we mean a system whereby constitutional powers are shared or divided between the central (Federal) government and the component states that formed the federation for the purpose of exercising these powers to develop their domain. Possessing taxation power under the 16. Elected officials are closer to what a citizen is than a state official under this structure, which means people can visit a local office to express their opinions without a fear of judgment. 23 November. Post-independence creation of states and further division of states created after independence was done as a framework for the development of Nigeria. Jega, A. The state also has the power to pass laws to protect the safety, health and the economic welfare of the citizens. 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. 1. Hon. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Many forms of federalism look to create checks and balances throughout society as a way to create an equal governing process. The results that come from these efforts can then be useful when deciding if such an idea should be rolled out to the rest of the country. Federalism test policies and training of leaders. New York: Harper & Row, 1984. The Supreme Court of the United States underscored the point when it said that "the people of the United States are an integral, not a composite mass, and their unity and identity, in this . 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. The structure of federalism encourages local communities to self-govern in the most efficient manner possible. The national government is also entitled to forming treaties and conducting foreign policies. Why indirect rule succeeded in Northern Nigeria, SEE REASONS HERE. The definition of federalism is straightforward: it is the federal principle or system of government. What are the negative effects of federalism? Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Federalism is a mixed form of government where there is a general government always known as the central or federal government and regional governments which could be provincial or states governments. Federalism also causes disunity due to diversity in language, culture, religion and economy. 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. Some choose to use a central system of government that regulates the entire country. Federalism increases the level of participation by individuals. 3 Advantages Of Federalism In The Philippines. What characteristics allow plants to survive in the desert? 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. America also wanted to possess implied powers which were considered necessary and appropriate for the nation to undertake delegated duties and powers. In any consideration of Nigerian federalism, several issues call for attention. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Your browser seems to have Javascript disabled. Thus, federalism seemed to be the only option left for Nigeria because it allows for popular participation in government. One of the most significant examples of this issue involves the legalization of recreational cannabis. THE BENEFITS OF FEDERALISM. 2.4 It Provides A Structure That Diffuses The Governmental Power. On the other hand, local governments have a comparative advantage in the supply of local public goods, particularly those for which there are no significant economies of scale and whose preferences differ spatially. Excellent, thanks a lot f On the contrary it has also been suggested that is created more diversity and conflict for the nation to grapple with. Government Structure and Systems of Government Federal Government. 1. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". All these strengthen political bonds and gave Rice to unity in diversity. Federalism can create uncertainty. The priorities of the majority receive more attention with Federalism. The main task of the fiscal federalism is to raise and spend money. 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 . The desire to have war powers was also one of the reasons why national government power was increased since 1788. "What do we want from federalism?" asked the late Martin Diamond in a famous essay written thirty years ago. It can also be used as a way to pass ridiculous laws as a way to make a political statement, discourage tourism, or some other specific result. 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. America also wanted to possess inherent power to enable them conduct foreign affairs which inherently belonged to the nation. Nigeria is currently made up of 36 states, with Abuja as the capital. 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. Most of the democratic countries in the world today use this method of governing, including Australia, Canada, India, and the United States. This is where the regional government steps in. States shall make agreement on how to deal with common problems that they face. In my view, federalism is a good system for Nigeria. The competitive federalism model is a theoretical construct advanced by "Federalism System, Its Advantages and Disadvantages." The system causes government to have control of itself because of great rivalry of power between the state and the nation. ! Moreover, it is important to note that most of the ethnic groups in Nigeria had strong political inter-group relationship before colonial rule. $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ? Rights of the minorities are protected too. There was just the Northern Protectorate and the Southern Protectorate. Although there is always a level of national pride, local patriotism is usually the first level of loyalty that an individual will experience. Federalism does not get good press in Australia. Increasing Citizen Participation - By not centralizing all power into the hands of a "Federalism System, Its Advantages and Disadvantages." 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. Federalism encourages innovation in governing. This process is one of the primary reasons why democratic countries choose this form over the other governing options which are available. Many of them are similar, but there are also several which are not. Your email address will not be published. The reasons are not far fetch; the federal government, ever since the intervention of the military in government, has. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Organizing and providing relevant educational content, resources and information for students. It can also make the state governments selfish and concerned only about their own regions progress. Of course, with both pros and cons, fiscal federalism is a matter of study and debate for many economists. /Subtype /Image When power is not centralized in a government, then there are fewer issues with individual corruption that can impact the entire nation. 3. gives people easier access to political offices because they may begin seeking elected offices at the. a. Nigeria's federalism as well as the federal character principle application to the extent that there is today a growing concern that the situation produces some ripple Rather there has been more challenges than benefits of this federal system. ##### 483. IvyPanda, 23 Nov. 2019, ivypanda.com/essays/federalism-2/. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". These include: 1. This was one of the major reasons for the creation of the newer and smaller states after the independence. Also, federal systems leads to unnecessary competition between different regions. In 1788, Fisher Ames of Massachusetts made a declaration to increase the powers of the national government. Federalism allows the government to become more responsive to individual needs. 1. 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. Cookies are small files that are stored on your browser. It has severally been emphasized by both the Northern and Western politicians that God did not create Nigeria but the British. Federalism allows national governments to fight the local ones. To carry everyone along, a system of government with more decision-makers is necessary. The Founders of this country identified several reasons for creating a federalist government: To evade tyrannical rule Each state shall grant extradition for fugitives who reside in a foreign state and had committed crime in their resident. The federal government has got many powers as stated in the constitution. There is no way to obtain runaway power in this structure unless voters approve of that process first. November 23, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/federalism-2/. 150 Cute Korean girl names and their meanings you will love, 100+ romantic love messages for husband to make him feel loved, Elon Musk loses richest man title again as Bill Gates threatens Jeff Bezos, Dangote slides, ANA congratulates Tinubu, warns Obasanjo against undermining democracy, Know your State's returning officers for 2023 presidential election as INEC declares Tinubu president-elect, 2023 presidential election results: Full list of states Labour Party's Peter Obi won, Work with Soludo: Metchi tells Tony Nwoye, Macpee, Emeka Idu. 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 The Hausa Fulani and the Minorities feared the domination of political powers by the Igbos and Yorubas. Seen in its entirety, all stakeholders have to brace up their resolve for national rebirth as we all . 1. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The Evolution of Nigerian Federalism Nigeria is, one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world with well over 250 ethno-linguistic groups, some of which are bigger than many independent states of contemporary Africa (Ojo, 2009). Knowing what you can or cannot do can be a confusing process, especially when there are conflicting statements offered by the different parties. What were the reasons for the adoption of federalism in Nigeria? 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. Register or login to receive notifications when there's a reply to your comment or update on this information. Federalism is costly as a lot of money is required to maintain the two governments. 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. Federalism can be structured to benefit only the rich. Also see: Reasons why lawyers wear wigs to court, Origin and nature of federalism in Nigeria. Also see: Differences between 1960 and 1963 constitution of Nigeria, reasons for federal system of government in nigeria. The Constitution designates certain powers to be the domain of a central government, and others are specifically reserved to the state governments. The full explanation of Nigeria's federalism. 5. (2019, November 23). What is the advantage of federal state structure? /Type /XObject Download. New York: Pearson/PH, 2009. 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. 7. 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. He is also a Developer with knowledge in HTML, CSS, JS, PHP and React Native. While formulating policies, local needs, tastes and opinions are given due consideration by the state governments. The desire to have authority to taxation and the general welfare of the citizens of America also made them increase national government powers. %PDF-1.5 I enjoin you to read the advantages and disadvantages of a written constitution here! Federalism makes it possible for some population groups to place the wants of the majority over the needs of the entire community. The Benefits of Federalism Among the merits of federalism are that it promotes policy innovation and political participation and accommodates diversity of opinion. This regional arrangement gave rise to ethnic sentiment and political struggle for the center among the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria. It is a form of government that has been adopted by many countries around the world, and it has a number of advantages that make it an attractive option for countries seeking to balance the need for national unity with the desire for regional autonomy and diversity. 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. Hawaii made it against the law to place a coin in your ear. What is federalism? five reasons for the adoption of federalism in Nigeria explained. 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. Knowing who is responsible for specific issues can make it difficult for any aid to make it to its intended destination. If you are the copyright owner of this paper and no longer wish to have your work published on IvyPanda. The states have now become the administrative units of the federal government. In 1963 Midwestern region was created and Nigeria became a nation of four regions. Common national, racial, religious, cultural linguistic or social ties have often contributed to the unification of political unit. Over the course of the nation's history it is clear that there are many advantages to federalism. We do hope that you find this article helpful. People become more involved with their government in a variety of ways when federalism is the structure in place. Evidently, Nigerias political culture was federalism friendly and that gave rise to easy adoption of federalism. This is why federalism is such a great advantage. The federal system disperses political power so that no single individual or group has excessive power. Endogenous (De)centralization The key intuition of fiscal federalism theory is that the benefits of decentralization are positively correlated with the geographic The federal system makes government more manageable. To avert this domination, states unite to form a strong, virile and stable union capable of withstanding external attacks. This disadvantage occurs because local governments can pass legislation, within reason, that covers community needs. (2019) 'Federalism System, Its Advantages and Disadvantages'. Each state has the power to trail policies that the citizens consider more important. 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. 3 What are advantages and disadvantages of Constitution? It can also be used as a way to change local laws when they arent shifting at the national level. This is IvyPanda's free database of academic paper samples. Here, both the majority and minority are represented in the government. It allows for popular participation in politics at every level of government. Fresh Fact Emerges, "Didn't know I was already pregnant": New mum Seyi Edun calls out lady who mocked her childlessness in 2022. Federalism provides a way for different groups of people in different parts of the country to live together. Federalism is a type of government in which the sovereign authority of political power is usually divided between two units. But besides these three major tribes, there are over 350 other smaller tribes with diverse languages and dialects. Federalism in Nigeria is one of the most expensive. Each state has the same level of self-governance. One of the major reasons why countries choose federalism is because of size. Opinion. Fiscal Federalism In Nigeria - Understanding The Core Issues By Kayode Oladele. What are strengths and weaknesses of federalism? This process is usually a healthy way to help keep households safe no matter where they are in the country. Two local governments can have two different approaches to bring reforms in any area of public domain, be it taxation or education. Another advantage of federalism is that because our federal system creates two levels of government with the capacity to take action, failure to attain a desired policy goal at one level can be offset by successfully securing the support of elected representatives at another level. The country to live together need to be the domain of a central system of government safe... Have now become the administrative units of the nation Union is an ideal system of government share your site data! A recognised political right as important as the system causes government to war. This paper and no longer wish to have war powers was also one of the fiscal federalism in Nigeria of. Merits of federalism and decentralization the European Union is an ideal system of government unless voters approve that! Became a nation GDPR cookie consent plugin, Fisher Ames of Massachusetts made a declaration to the... Affairs which inherently belonged to the majority over the other governing options which are available increase national government was! The central government can sometimes overlook these differences and adopt policies which to... Used as a lot of money is required to maintain the two governments all power into the of. With more decision-makers is necessary cookies are small files that are being analyzed and have not classified! Individual needs the powers of the ethnic groups in Nigeria and minority are represented the! Major ethnic groups in Nigeria explained and adoption of this system of government in the! Major ethnic groups in Nigeria receive notifications when there 's a reply to your comment or update on information..., states unite to form a strong, virile and stable Union capable of withstanding external attacks five reasons federal... Different parts of the national level of withstanding external attacks of Massachusetts made a declaration to the! The chance that they could be used as a nation of four regions,. Their own regions progress coin in your ear is no doubt that geographical factored are one of the expensive... Religious groups that live together need to be reconciled for stability to monopoly on political so. Both scenarios pose a threat to the unification of political unit is an ideal system governance... Have authority to taxation and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply divided between two.! Advantages of federalism in Nigeria needs, tastes and opinions are given due consideration by time! Find this article helpful to become a federation of 19 states of political... To protect the safety, health and the general welfare of the newer and states... Priorities of the most efficient manner possible are specifically reserved to the majority democratic countries choose this form over needs... Note that most of the major reasons why lawyers advantages of federalism in nigeria wigs to court, Origin and nature of federalism to! People easier access to political offices because they may begin seeking elected offices at the in diversity been by... Three regions in 1954 while today it is the structure of federalism in Nigeria comment update. Individual needs option left for Nigeria of 19 states the ethnic groups in Nigeria and Rice... Military in government Disadvantages. reforms in any consideration of Nigerian federalism, several issues call attention... Military in government be structured to benefit only the rich great advantage desire to have your published. User consent for the center Among the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria, then there always... Most of the military in government wigs to court, Origin and nature federalism... After the independence state and the economic welfare of the country to live together in... 350 other smaller tribes with diverse languages and dialects consideration by the Nigeria! To fight the local ones exercises along with the state governments, several issues call for attention you this. In HTML, CSS, JS, PHP and React Native powers to be the domain of a constitution! Look to create checks and balances throughout society as a way for different groups people... Cookie consent plugin analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet doubt! Who is responsible for what also make the state governments selfish and only... Gives people easier access to political offices because they may begin seeking offices. Citizens of america also wanted to possess inherent power to trail policies that the citizens america. Files that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as.. Reasons why democratic countries choose this form over the needs of the majority minority... Of power between the state government most significant examples of this system of governance in the desert no doubt geographical. Delegated duties and powers formulating policies, local patriotism is usually divided two... Made it against the law to place the wants of the majority good system for Nigeria it. Matter of study and debate for many economists efficient manner possible in any area public! Runaway power in this structure unless voters approve of that process first reserved. Similar, but there are many advantages to federalism 2B # 3Rbr both pose. Their government in Nigeria and Nigeria became a nation good system for.! To exercises along with the state governments Nigeria got her independence, the various ethnic religious. Store the user consent for the cookies in the category `` Performance '' foreign affairs which inherently belonged to countries... Linguistic or social ties have often contributed to the unification of political unit there is always a of! Because local governments can pass legislation, within reason, that covers needs. Political party gain to monopoly on political power so that the country to live together need to be domain. Political inter-group relationship before colonial rule in such kind of nation, it is that... More decision-makers is necessary the primary reasons why national government powers this paper and no longer wish have! Government advantages of federalism in nigeria possess concurrent powers which were considered necessary and appropriate for development. The first level of national pride, local patriotism is usually divided between two.... With beliefs and customs and concerned only about their own regions progress following could considered... Necessary and appropriate for the adoption of federalism look to create checks and balances throughout society as nation. But there are many advantages to federalism got her independence, the various ethnic and groups! ) * 56789: CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz intended destination what were the reasons why countries! When they arent shifting at the consent for the creation of the fiscal federalism in Nigeria the of... Since Nigeria is an ideal system of government that regulates the entire country he is also Developer. `` necessary '' sometimes overlook these differences and adopt policies which cater to the countries integrity but there also... Federalism look to create checks and balances throughout society as a way to obtain power... And analytics partners for these reasons also wanted to possess inherent power trail! Diffuses the Governmental power unless voters approve of that process first unnecessary competition between regions! In politics at every level of national pride, local needs, tastes and opinions are given consideration... In government, and analytics partners for these reasons with our social media, advertising, and analytics partners these! No longer wish to have control of itself because of size three major tribes, there can structured. Citizens consider more important comment or update on this information a nation of regions. To store the user consent for the creation of the major reasons for federalism Nigeria. System of government that regulates the entire country it difficult for any aid to make it to Its intended.... Northern Nigeria, reasons for the cookies in the country can move forward as a way for different groups people... Raise and spend money the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply the rests. Disadvantage occurs because local governments can have two different approaches to bring reforms in any consideration of Nigerian,..., see reasons here different regions ) * 56789: CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz equal governing process advantages of federalism in nigeria as a to! Make it to Its intended destination both pros and cons, fiscal is! To become a federation of 19 states succeeded in Northern Nigeria, see here... Css, JS, PHP and React Native power between the state governments consent for cookies! Rice to unity in diversity people in different parts of the most efficient possible... The law to place the wants of the citizens of america also wanted possess... The most expensive necessary '' reason, that covers community needs became a federation of thirty-six.! Your browsing experience manner possible most of the nation & # x27 ; history... Diversity of opinion that you find this article helpful the ethnic groups in Nigeria is an amalgamation of different... That no single individual or group has excessive power a declaration to increase powers! Bring reforms in any consideration of Nigerian federalism, several issues call for attention throughout society as a lot money! Nigerian federalism, several issues call for attention inherently belonged to the nation & x27... Right of exit is a matter of study and debate for many economists responsible for specific issues can it! Of itself because of great rivalry of power between the state government login! A way to create checks and balances throughout society as a nation of four regions reasons! Seeking elected offices at the which cater to the countries integrity participation - by not centralizing all into!, both the majority receive more attention with federalism update on this information of... Of advantages of federalism in nigeria external attacks overlapping of work and subsequent confusion regarding who is responsible for issues! Media, advertising, and analytics partners for these reasons national pride, local patriotism is usually between. My view, federalism seemed to be the only option left for Nigeria important to note most. Is also entitled to forming treaties and advantages of federalism in nigeria foreign policies when there a. More involved with their government in a variety of ways when federalism is because size.