Characteristics of Federations

The following are some of the characteristics of a federation

a. Separation of powers: governmental powers are shared between federal and state government according to the constitution.

b. Written and rigid constitution: a federation usually has a written and rigid constitution

c. Existence of bicameral legislature: there are two houses at the central, the house of representations and the state.

d. Supremacy of constitution: the constitution is final activity in any other

e. The federal and state government derive their powers from the constitution

f. Every group in the country is recognised and represented

g. The supreme court: this settles disputes between various level of government (federal and state) and it gives the final interpretation of the constitution.

h. The autonomy of every post of the country is guaranteed by the constitution

i. The states of a federation has unequal human and material resources

PROBLEMS OF NIGERIA FEDERATION

1. The reliance sharing formula has been an object of controller since independence.
2. The military has ruled for about for decades, destabilizing various pillar of democracy and democratic values in the country.
3. Falsified census figures in part of the federation for political reasons.
4. Contiguous  boundaries among regional areas
5. Ethnic loyalty by leaders which is a treat national unity
6. Ethnical base political parties which does not help in uniting the nation.
7. The domination of the majority or larger ethnic group.
8. Lack of federal characters in sharing resources and major political seat line chief judges and ministers