According to Ayoade (2009:iii): Nigerians have come to identify the first republic 1960- 66 as the golden age of federalism in Nigeria. Louis Wirth (Hepburn 1978, 1) defined an ethnic minority group as a group of people who because of their physical or cultural characteristics, "are singled out from the others in the society in which they live for differential and unequal treatment and who therefore regard themselves . 6. Although, in recent times, there have been growing disagreements and agitations for the Sovereign National Conference, where . The current Nigerian political (i) Violent secession attempts had been matched with force and Wars broke out. The Northern . The crises are very severing such that they culminate in a strong force being mounted on the federation with tendency to disintegrate the country. Furthermore, Onah (2006) highlighted the reasons for the adoption of federalism to secession; (1) States can join together in a federation to jointly become powerful enough to deter or award off external aggression . Given this background, it could be reasoned that Nigeria's adoption of the federal system was not as a strategy to manage problems of pre independence period but more importantly as an enduring strategy that would help detonate a major source of threat to the future political stability of an independent Nigeria. federalism adopt federal constitution. Project Aim: Having discussed what federalism is, the purpose of this project was to design a system which enables a political body to determine whether federalism would be a good option to adopt for a certain country. federalism, cooperative federalism, organic federalism, dual federalism, confederation, decentralization, which are all terms used to designate shades and levels of federalism. FISCAL FEDERALISM IN NIGERIA: THEORY AND DIMENSIONS ABSTRACTThe dynamism and complexity of Nigeria's federalism has attracted academic scrutiny. This is because it has generated so many problems capable of threatening the corporate existence and continuity of the Nigerian state. In Nigeria, the main reason for the adoption of a federal arrangement was the sociological complexity of the society, its ethnic and geographical diversity. In view of the threats of However, the adoption of federalism in Nigeria was a compromise aimed to fairly distribute authority between the states and the national government. Abstract. Federalism: An Overview . To start with, it is worthy to note that the adoption of federalism, characterized by the decentralization and evolution of state power to ethno-regional entities was a policy to douse ethnic tension in the Nigeria polity. suggest the adoption of the federalist political structure, so as to ensure efficient administration of both the vast territories of Nigeria and its ethno-tribal heterogeneous population. Although, in recent times, there have been growing disagreements and agitations for the Sovereign National Conference, where . In the early colonial days, Nigeria was administered as a Unitary State until 1946 when Richard constitution introduced regionalism, although the regional legislatures that were set up as a consequences of regionalism had severely limited legislative power since then, Nigeria has been administered as a FEDERAL STATE, except for a brief period in 1960 . It sourced its data from secondary . Geographical Nearness/Contiguity: States that are not separated by natural barriers such as Mountains, Valleys, Oceans, etc. The method of revenue allocation tends to constitute the major factor responsible for the crisis of national integration in Nigerian federalism. In Nigeria for instance, the central It is not surprising that Nigeria in its 55 years of political sojourn has tried different forms of federalism. This process is one of the primary reasons why democratic countries choose this form over the other governing options which are available. The situation attracts growing interest and concern. Federalism in Nigeria can be traced to Sir Frederick Lord Lugard , when the Northern and Southern protectorates were amalgamated in 1914. (iv) It led to wastage of financial, human, and material resources. The study adopted qualitative research design using documentary content analysis. The example of Nigeria is instructive: Till 1914, Northern and Southern Nigeria were two separate British colonies. It has severally been emphasized by both the Northern and Western politicians that God did not create Nigeria but the British. 1 Secessionism in Nigeria Johannes Harnischfeger, University of Frankfurt I. This informs some of the reasons for the demand of 'true federalism' in Nigeria. The imbalance in the federal arrangement had generated fears and suspicions of domination among Nigerian groups and their leaders. 2. basic reasons for the adoption of a federal system. Common Historical Background: For example, Britain imposed a federal system on Nigeria by dividing the territory into regions and ruled them separately. In Nigeria, state creation was originally conceived as a solution to the problems of ethnic minority groups. In essence the federalism so adopted is expected to reduce the immensely aggressive inter ethnic competition and tension, allay the usually alleged fear of domination, germane to note that Nigeria‟s federalism, though largely influenced by imperial motives, is justified by the following . Students had five specific tasks: to describe one difference between a federal system and a unitary system , to explain why both Nigeria and Russia adopted a federal system , to describe two disadvantages of federalism in Nigeria, to . Although, in recent times, there have been g. Although, in recent times, there have been growing disagreements and agitations for the Sovereign National Conference, where diverse people come The problems of nation-building and national development in Nigeria would start to receive proper attention only under a truly federal system of government and Because the U.S. provides some of the power to the states, it creates efficiencies in the governing system because delegation is possible. Micronesia, Nigeria, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United States, Venezuela. Within the limitations of space, let us take a brief look at each national leader in . The founding fathers of the country opted for federalism because of their belief that federal states have the intrinsic structural and institutional capacity to accommodate diversity. Unlike treaties with another thematic focus, the majority of constituent states must give their full consent before any child-related instrument may be domesticated at the federal level and subsequently re-enacted in the domestic states. Since the adoption of federalism in 1954, the aims of the founding fathers are still far from being achieved. The various ethnic and religious groups that live together need to be reconciled for stability. Economic factor: The need to pool . Unfolding Federalism. legislative councilors in 1947. Problems of Secession are enormous, secession attempts most times are violent. The contestations and demand for the adoption of 'true federalism' is inform by the predatory nature and character of the Nigeria state, where only a microscopic few control and appropriate On the local level, we can observe this problem as well, but . Federalism, according to K.C Wheare, is the method of dividing powers so . The demand for the creation of newer states in Nigeria tends to emanate from sub-state groups, often ethnic- or tribal-interest groups, which accuse the current larger state governments of subverting or ignoring the interests and necessities of the more local regions. Adopt different philosophy entirely that will guarantee group rights and the acceptance of the heterogeneity of the nation. This was why Onifade and . Effects of Federalism A federal system is currently being advocated for Ethiopia and South Africa. This simply means that federalism in Nigeria provides accommodation, an institutional arrangement which gives the component units equal and coordinate jural status. This paper, therefore, inquired into the causes of dissatisfaction and violent agitation arising from fiscal federa. Though Nigerian federalism has survived many turbulent periods, it is still confronted with the problem of how to effectively integrate the diverse groups that make-up the country. federal system in February 1991, but the system has not become operational because the adoption of Islam as a state religion in the federal constitution is unacceptable to the Christian southern half of the country. The period marked the beginning of the recognition of sub national governments during which fmancial responsibilities were devolved to the three regions -North, East and West. Example of countries that adopt federalism include; USA, Brazil, Germany , Switzerland, Australia, Yugoslavia, India, Nigeria, among others. The following research proposes that three variables have reinforced centralization in Nigeria; 1) the nations historical-colonial origins 2) the oil economy 3) the constraints of decentralization and economic reform in federal states. Federalism is an efficient process. The term "federal" is derived from the Latin foedus, which means, "covenant". When some of us met last year in Turku, I gave an outline of secessionism in Nigeria. 3. 1. Instead, half-hearted practice of federalism has resulted in over-centralisation of fiscal and political power, creation of unviable and federally dependent states and local governments, increased corruption, ethnicity and minority agitations over oil revenue. However, the adoption of federalism in Nigeria was a compromise aimed to fairly distribute authority between the states and the national government. Many have attributed this development largely due to the successive . Federalism is a means of ensuring peace, stability and mutual accommodation in countries that have territorially concentrated differences of identity, ethnicity, religion or language. During the period, the regions in the country. Causes for Federalism. INTERNAL COLONIALISM IN NIGERIA Some of the reasons for the adoption of federalism in Nigeria are the diversity of the nation and the desire for political, cultural and social identity of a people of over 250 ethnic groups, several languages, diversities and a lot of political traditions; the desire for some form of Evidence abound that Nigeria‟s form of federal system has been grappling with serious working and institutional challenges. It further explores mainstream approaches to the study of federalism with the aim to highlight their relevance to federal studies. This was why Onifade and . religious, ethnic and regional elites in the quest to capture state power renders the reasons for the adoption of federalism useless. It employed qualitative research method with classical model of Problems of Nigerian Federalism 1) Revenue Allocation: This has been a problem in Nigeria. INTERNAL COLONIALISM IN NIGERIA Some of the reasons for the adoption of federalism in Nigeria are the diversity of the nation and the desire for political, cultural and social identity of a people of over 250 ethnic groups, several languages, diversities and a lot of political traditions; the desire for some form of In developing countries like India, Iraq and Nigeria, federalism has either failed to close developmental gaps and ethno-communal tensions among various states or, more worryingly, in some cases . (c) Another related problem in the study of federalism is the distinction between the definition and accompanying characteristics. This is because federalism has been exercised and 2 studied as a field of study in many developed and developing countries. To many, Nigeria's federalism has remained fragile with all signs of impossibility. The concept of fIscal federalism was introduced in Nigeria in 1946 following the adoption of the Richards Constitution. This chapter provides a brief background on the practice of federalism in Nigeria. There are numerous reasons adduced for adoption of Federal System of Government. destabilizing factor in the practice of federalism in Nigeria. The paper interrogated contending issues ravaging Nigeria‟s federal polity with a clarion call for timely adoption of neo-federalism paradigm. Often, the accompanying marginalization or deprivation in Nigeria's political landscape. This seemed to be the default option given its heterogeneous nature. Nigeria is a Federal Republic made up of thirty‐six states. T he skills tested were descriptive and explanatory. Federalism was adopted in Nigeria largely to ameliorate the negative effects of diversity but the system has not been able to resolve the inbuilt contradictions within the Nigerian society as envisaged by the architects of the system who saw federalism as a solution to the country's multiplicities. destabilizing factor in the practice of federalism in Nigeria. It is not surprising that Nigeria in its 55 years of political sojourn has tried different forms of federalism. The domestication of child-related treaties is not a straightforward process in Nigeria. Thus, Nigeria's federalism is not only complex but also hard to understand. religious, ethnic and regional elites in the quest to capture state power renders the reasons for the adoption of federalism useless. Federalism also has been used to address conflicts that involve ethnic groups. Beyond the ethnic and cultural diversities that necessitated Nigeria to adopt federalism as a political organization, Nigeria's choice can also be explained by her population size, land mass, imposition by Britain-Nigeria colonial master and the quest for even development. You Contents legislative councilors in 1947. 1. whearedefined a federal system as: Federalism Overview In the previous chapter, we noted that vertical division of power among different levels of government is one of the major forms of power-sharing in modern democracies. of diversities helps in a nations decision to adopt the aggregative or disaggregative type of federalism. Secession is a recurrent threat in Nigeria's political lexicon dating back to 1951 (this was before the adoption of a federal political framework). Federalism in Nigeria If the regions and various communities do not trust each other , even a federal arrangement can fail to pr oduce unity. Local government is born out of federalism because federalism has to do with the . All three variables show centralization to be over-determined, in that, all documented variables point to the . In this chapter, we focus on this form of power-sharing. Keywords: Federalism, . Introduction 1.1 Background Of The Study. structure within which Nigeria operated her federalism. However, the adoption of federalism in Nigeria was a compromise aimed to fairly distribute authority between the states and the national government. The reason behind is to create supreme authority centrally while the . The period marked the beginning of the recognition of sub national governments during which fmancial responsibilities were devolved to the three regions -North, East and West. 7. by joint identity and integration crisis. Reason for the Adoption of Federalism in Nigeria. 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. Clear inequality exists in the way . The works addresses this phenomenon by . Financial frauds. This embodies ideas of promise, obligation, and undertaking; and consequently, the federal idea . To protect and preserve the the local independence of every ethnic group in the country. At the Ibadan Constitutional Conference of 1950 Nigerian leaders decided to form a The foregoing explains the reason for the arguments that in Nigeria, federalism offered the best option to accommodate the ethno-linguistic and religious diversities, which where for the most part, geographically distributed. However, the adoption of federalism in Nigeria was a compromise aimed to fairly distribute authority between the states and the national government. Russian government has limited federalism since 2000. During the period, the regions The objective of the study was to examine the reason for the adoption of federalism in Nigeria and the lopsided nature of Nigeria federal system. Government at different periods had set up commissions to advise on the acceptable revenue sharing formula, especially as it affects the three (3) tiers of government. The problem of federalism and the associated crises of national integration in Nigeria raise serious alarm. Firstly, the study is theoretically informed by the global experience of federalism as a national approach to conflict management. 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. And again, we are back to the problem of corruption in Nigerian. That year, the Northern Region, fearing a southern domination, demanded fifty percent representation in the central legislature, and insisted that if this was not granted, the Region would secede . This chapter introduces the reader to three different types of political structures--unitary, confederal, and federal--with an emphasis on federalism.It explains why the Framers of the U.S. Constitution adopted a federal system, reviews other federal countries in the world, and surveys arguments for and against federalism. Faced with these problems, Nigeria adopted federalism as a means of achieving its much needed goal of national integration. Corruption and unqualified leaders cause ethnic conflict in Nigeria. Federalism, has been practiced in Nigeria since 1953, beginning with the three regions; north, west and east. 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. The concept of fIscal federalism was introduced in Nigeria in 1946 following the adoption of the Richards Constitution. grasp the full ramifications of fiscal federalism in Nigeria (p. 192). It sourced its data from secondary . .The practice of federalism in Nigeria is one of the legacies the British colonial masters bequeathed to Nigeria. This is what has been administratively put in place as a political mechanism for governance within the Nigerian polity. and in a way make the leaders see reasons or how effective the . It is usually designed to cope with difficult task of statecraft. Citizens are expected to obey . Beyond the ethnic and cultural diversities that necessitated Nigeria to adopt federalism as a political organization, Nigeria's choice can also be explained by her population size, land mass, imposition by Britain-Nigeria colonial master and the quest for even development. Given that federalism is a multifaceted subject due to its institutional, constitutional, political, sociological and . Religious and ethnic loyalties are major threats to national disintegration. However, the adoption of federalism i n Nigeria was a compromise aimed to fairly distribute authority between the states and the national government. Gross mismanagement of national resources and misrule by unqualified leaders, have impoverished and denied opportunities to majority of Nigerians since independence which has led to agitations by citizens. Federalism is also a political concept in which a group of member is bound together by covenant with a governing representative head. Publius: The Journal of Federalism 21 (Fall 1991) 1 Nigeria's federal experience began in 1954 under the tutelage of the British colonial authorities. In the Nigerian situation, the reverse is the case, the states have become slaves to the Federal Government, running to them . Today I want to present a case study: the Movement for the Actualisation of a Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), founded in 1999 among the Igbo people of southeast Nigeria. Consequently, the paper posits that the prospects of genuine nationhood and development in Nigeria lies in a swift adoption of true federalism. (ii) It had worsened the relationship and distrust between the secessionist group and the rest of the country. It is most commonly referred to as federalism. For the purpose of developing all part of the country. Federalism in Nigeria could help in talking about the problem of national integration. However, there is a need to ensure that the issues and challenges confronting Nigeria's federal system be resolved. The adoption of a federation structure in any political system presupposes the existence of diverse and competing ethnic and linguistic variables. 5. In Nigeria, We see different set of people from different geo-political regions agitating for power which . They include the following: Desire for Union: A State may adopt Federal system of government if the Federating units solicit for union. Nigeria therefore falls into the latter because of the wide diversities. Nigeria inclusive. The history of Nigerian federalism dates back to the pre‐independence Constitution of 1954 called the Lyttleton Constitution . This means autonomous states or regions come together . The reason behind is to create supreme authority centrally while the . It is probably for this reason that K.C. Nigeria, may allow for the adoption of a federal and decentralized system of government. may adopt Federalism. Some of the major problems of intergovernmental relations in Nigeria are as follows: 1. 3. Inter-ethnic rivalry: Nigeria, we all know is made up of diverse group of people with different ethnic groups, and the rivalry among hausa/Fulani, Yoruba and igbo has become a serious issue overtime. The study reveals that, unequal power relation affects the country democratic system. Under this type, there exist a balkanization of formerly unitary state near disintegration and its diversities which progress to a state. The study adopted qualitative research design using documentary content analysis. According to Ayoade (2009:iii): Nigerians have come to identify the first republic 1960- 66 as the golden age of federalism in Nigeria. 2) The Problem of Minorities: In Nigeria, there are majority groups and minority groups. 4) Corruption and Inept Leadership. Diversities in cultures: The recognition of the diversities in cultures, religious beliefs and languages, e.g. In Nigeria, the problem is complemented by financial frauds within both federal government and state government. Federalism, especially in large or diverse countries, can also improve service delivery and democratic resilience, ensure decisions are made at Although, in recent times, there have been growing disagreements and agitations for the Sovereign National Conference, where diverse people come The federal constitution specifies the legislative powers of the central government and governments of component regions or states. Problems of federalism in Nigeria. Thus, Nigeria's federalism is not only complex but also hard to understand. This essay showcases Federalism in India in a twofold modus: The history of Federalism in India and the Federal Scheme under the present-day Constitution of India. The multifaceted differences that exist . Federalism is the sharing of power between a national government and the states that reside within its borders, instead of one or the other having all the authority. Federalism in Nigeria refers to the devolution of self-governance by the West African nation of Nigeria to its federated states, who share sovereignty with the Federal Government .