characteristics of a federation

For easy administration, the entire nation has been divided into states

Sharing of Powers between central and state government. The overall power to control the federation is vested on the president who has to work with the central government. They are members of national assembly, ministers, advisers etc

The head of state government is the governors, followed by members of the state house of assembly

The federal government have programmes and projects they execute in each state. When the directives are issued, the state government complies with this directive.

Relationship between The Federal, State and Local Governments

The federal, state and local governments are the three arms of government within a country. The country as a large entity is large to administer or rule, so it is divided for easy administration. The federal government controls the whole country. They decide on the area that can become a state. The state is divided into smaller groups which is called the local government. Their operations are inter-related and interdependent ie all three arms of government. As the federal government depends on the state and local government for smooth running of the nation, so also the local and state governments depend on the federal government for national policies and finance to run.

Power to legislate

Nigeria operates a democratic system of government. In each level of government, there is a legislature. The legislature is the body of people nominated and elected to represent a particular area in the local state or federal government. These elected people are found in various house of assemblies.

The State Government

This is the second tier of the federalism system of Government, it is headed by the state governor, and currently Nigeria has 36 states all together. The legislative arm of the state government is called the state house of assembly.

Functions of the state government

They are charged with the duty of providing Education for its residents

They are to ensure that the roads at their jurisdiction are well maintained and build new roads at where necessary.

They implement federal mandate

They are charged with the duty of collecting and generating revenue.

They operate judicial system.

The Local Government

The local government is the third tier of the federalism Government, it is headed by a “chairman”. It is the government of the grass root where the majority lives.

Functions of the local government

The local government provides health centre’s to the people at the grassroots.

They are responsible for naming the streets and the roads

They help to maintain orderliness

They help with the duty of registering death, birth and marriage certificate.

Control and regulation of outdoor advertising and hoarding.

PROBLEMS OF THE THREE TIERS OF GOVERNMENTS

1) Revenue allocation formular among the tiers of government.

2) Boundary disputes among the component units.

3) Inter-village or town rivalry. There had been rivalry resulting to clashes between villages or town over boundary and creation of local government.

4) Federal character: Appointment into federal establishments, states and local governments are not usually based on merit but federal character.

ASSESSMENT

LIst TWO characteristics oa a federation?

What is the Relationship between The Federal, State and Local Government?

List FOUR problems of the three tiers of government?