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. +rohyC ! 9S ) ?roh _ O4C sR & Pf?? AK kyC?& Pf;_Hu j_ G$: 5/ Although there are challenges to face in any type of government, most people who live in a federalist system say that they wouldnt change the structure whatsoever. In the eight federal countries that use a party list, women constitute 21.4 to 48.2% of the central parliament, while the global average is 24.5% (Foster, 2020). It is believed by many that this was one of the reasons why Nigeria adopted a federalist system. . 2.2 It Increases The Level Of Participation By Individuals. 1 What are the advantages of federalism in Nigeria? 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. Advantages of federalism. Several positive and negative attributes of federalism have manifested themselves in the U.S. political system. "What do we want from federalism?" asked the late Martin Diamond in a famous essay written thirty years ago. (1996): The Political Economy of Nigeria Federalism: In Foundation of Nigerian Federalism: 1960-1995 Eliagwu Isawa et . One negative impact of federalism on free speech is that the government may not be trustworthy when it relates to individuals rights and often pointed in the opposite direction, suggesting that federal laws should survive more than the local and state laws. the country. Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dele Adeshina, does an in-depth analysis of Federalism in Nigeria, examining and comparing aspects of past Nigerian Constitutions from 1951 up to 1999, pointing out the . Federalism increases the level of participation by individuals. Of course, with both pros and cons, fiscal federalism is a matter of study and debate for many economists. Kayode Oladele. Post-independence creation of states and further division of states created after independence was done as a framework for the development of Nigeria. $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ? Federalism provides a way for different groups of people in different parts of the country to live together. 1. However, the practice of fiscal federalism in Nigeria is a negation of true federalism. 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. The contradictions generated by this rigional arrangement threatened Nigeria unity. States shall make agreement on how to deal with common problems that they face. It contains thousands of paper examples on a wide variety of topics, all donated by helpful students. 3. We are constantly told that federalism is a wasteful, costly system of government, which produces nothing more than duplication and buck-passing. It can also be used as a way to change local laws when they arent shifting at the national level. 7. The Emergence of Nigeria as a political entity under colonial rule was not an easy affair. Many forms of federalism look to create checks and balances throughout society as a way to create an equal governing process. 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. Do you need underlay for laminate flooring on concrete? Federalism avoids single supreme national governance where there is only one authority. 1. Nigeria's independence was gotten and founded on the basis of a federalist system of Government. 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. 2.D - Advantages to Federalism. 7. Others do not. There are times when blocking the implementation of federal law is beneficial. Two local governments can have two different approaches to bring reforms in any area of public domain, be it taxation or education. 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. It has severally been emphasized by both the Northern and Western politicians that God did not create Nigeria but the British. November 23, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/federalism-2/. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Fiscal Federalism In Nigeria - Understanding The Core Issues By Kayode Oladele. 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. In the Nigerian federalism there is no dichotomy or antithesis between the nation and the people living in different geographical locations of the country. Knowing what you can or cannot do can be a confusing process, especially when there are conflicting statements offered by the different parties. Rights of the minorities are protected too. Jega, A. 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. An action of one government is always opposed by other government to enforce civil rights in Southern states. The government demands to have war powers were created by tragedies of modern wars. Federalism System, Its Advantages and Disadvantages. *$( %2%(,-/0/#484.7*./. C Several positive and negative attributes of federalism have manifested themselves in the U.S. political system. Nigeria did not choose federal system of government because it is the best or most practiced system of government in the world. sir Arthur Richards strengthened this proposal in 1945 and regionalism was introduced by his administration in 1946. If you answer to the above questions is no, then you lucky to be here. This means that the citizens always have political responsibility to both governments who also secure their rights in the country. What characteristics allow plants to survive in the desert? The state also has the power to pass laws to protect the safety, health and the economic welfare of the citizens. 3. >> 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. Also see: Differences between Cross-offers and counter-offers, five reasons for the adoption of federalism in nigeria. 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. Adobe d C This is also one of the reasons for federal system of government in Nigeria. % It . The Constitution designates certain powers to be the domain of a central government, and others are specifically reserved to the state governments. The main task of the fiscal federalism is to raise and spend money. Federalism is a compromise meant to eliminate the disadvantages of both systems. In conclusion, federalism has both advantages and disadvantages. 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 . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 2.4 It Provides A Structure That Diffuses The Governmental Power. 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 . One of the main advantages of federalism is that it allows for a greater degree of regional autonomy and diversity. In his judgment, Ogundare JSC agreed that the provisions to Sections 162(2) of the constitution re-stabilized the principle of derivation. Federalism provides ways by which these . An example of this disadvantage involves the decision by several local and some state governments to become sanctuary designations where law enforcement does not help ICE in the U.S. with immigration detainment. Nigeria as a result was divided into three provinces. Among the merits of federalism are that it promotes policy innovation and political participation and accommodates diversity of opinion. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Thus each unit can exercise functions that they are well suited which promotes efficiency. \(\overset{\underset{\mathrm{def}}{}}{=} \). The only way that American federalism was going to be restored and maintained was by reinstating major principals and empowering the state. In the same way, the political culture of the United States is civic, republican and participatory. The unity here is brought about by the desire of the component units of the federation to form union in respect of some matters. Your privacy is extremely important to us. It creates a sense of local patriotism. 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. federalism. What Countries Use Federalism? V(B8eDK@sx AK hG~ u;6DV,pwP# _ O4C sR 8_yC ! 9S ) ?roh _ O4C sR & Pf?? AK kyC?& Pf;_Hu j_ G$: 5/ Since Nigeria is a heterogeneous nation and Federalism is more practicable in such kind of nation, it is an ideal system of government. In the words of Richards, regionalism was introduced to strengthen unity in diversity. Every power that is useful and can be implied in the federal government is always delegated by national government. The states' territories were formed around ethnic groups with common interest and close ties, culture, and dialects. They will then have special authority to control interstate businesses and trade with the foreign countries. In other not to control only some parts of the big country, Nigeria, the colonial masters thought it wise to divide the country into different component units that will be represented in the government. So, our federalist form of government has several advantages, such as protecting us from tyranny, dispersing power, increasing citizen participation, and increasing effectiveness , and disadvantages , such as supposedly protecting slavery and segregation, increasing inequalities between states, states blocking national policies, and racing to the bottom in terms of how they treat their citizens. 4. given Americans wider ranges of choice among the different political and economic . One of the major reasons why countries choose federalism is because of size. This seemed to be the default option given its heterogeneous nature. Another government might offer a significant tax break to a company that encourages them to place offices in one location and not another. Hence, earnings and wealth are unevenly distributed. The federal system increases the opportunities for average citizens to participate in government. +rohyC ! 9S ) ?roh _ O4C sR & Pf?? AK kyC?& Pf;_Hu j_ G$: 5/ It should be noted that the Federal Military Government had earlier by fiat taken proceeds from offshore prospecting and drilling activities directly under federal eminent domain. Copyright 2023 - IvyPanda is operated by, Continuing to use IvyPanda you agree to our, Federalism System, Its Advantages and Disadvantages, Anti-Anti Immigration: Principles to Make Migration Work, Australian Education System from 1788 to 1948, The Peopling Process of Australia Since 1788 With Influence of Racism, Methods of Dealing with Problems of Federalism, National and State Powers in American Federalism, Reasons for increase in the Powers of the Nation since 1788, Federalism and Government Styles in the United States, Federal versus State Regulation of Insurance Industry in United States. The central government can sometimes overlook these differences and adopt policies which cater to the majority. READ ALSO: Reasons for political apathy in Nigeria, Get the hottest stories from the largest news site in Nigeria. 1. Register or login to make commenting easier. Citizens of various provinces may have different aspirations, ethnicity and follow different cultures. 3. Federalism provides a structure that diffuses governmental power . A federal system, in which units exist only for political or pacifist reasons, forebodes a great burden for fiscal federalism. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Organizing and providing relevant educational content, resources and information for students. 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 federal government has got many powers as stated in the constitution. 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. As a Nigerian, it is important to understand some basic things about the system of governance in Nigeria and why it is so. What were the reasons for the adoption of federalism in Nigeria? Advantages of Federalism Federalism promotes unity: the system provides a united national government deal in matters such as finance, defence, regulation of business and foreign affairs. When power is not centralized in a government, then there are fewer issues with individual corruption that can impact the entire nation. . The comparison of the results of these policies can give a clear idea of which policy is better and thus, can be adopted in the future. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. professional specifically for you? << Some choose to use a central system of government that regulates the entire country. Why indirect rule succeeded in Northern Nigeria, SEE REASONS HERE. The Nigerian federalism is a creation of the British. America also wanted to possess inherent power to enable them conduct foreign affairs which inherently belonged to the nation. Importance of federalism. History of federal system of government in nigeria. Samuel is bent on changing the legal profession by building Web and Mobile Apps that will make legal research a lot easier. Federalism allows local governments to fight the national governments. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". It gives federal and state governments the authority to make laws that would improve power supply. Presently, Nigeria has a strong center and a weak component. 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). It allows for popular participation in politics at every level of government. What are the five advantages of federalism? You are not allowed to sell the hair of a dog or cat in Delaware. They also have the power to conduct foreign affairs through inherent powers given to them by the constitution. 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. This is so because where federal principles apply, the various ethnic groups that cannot or dont form majority to produce large part may have the opportunity of governing themselves within their federating unit controlled by them. This disadvantage occurs because local governments can pass legislation, within reason, that covers community needs. Unless specified, this website is not in any way affiliated with any of the institutions featured. Do you know the reasons for federalism in Nigeria? This normally causes disintegration and internal conflicts among different states (Dye, 114). 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 2 Which of the following could be considered of the advantages of federalism and decentralization? 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. This is why federalism is such a great advantage. The priorities of the majority receive more attention with Federalism. 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. 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