Nigeria as a federation

Federation is a group of organizations, clubs or people that have joined together to form a single group. Nigeria as a federation is a group of race that came together to form it. Up to 1914, Northern Nigeria was separated from Southern Nigeria. Lord Lugard amalgamated the northern and southern protectorates in 1914.

Need for Federation

National Integration – Integration is the combination of two or more things so that they work together. The coming together of a group of people to form Nigeria as a nation has made Nigeria a powerful, strong and reliable nation.

Unity in Diversity – A group of people, their culture and tradition may vary from one place to another and yet having the same mind to be together and work together. This one mind to work together will remove whatever is the racial difference and there by create unity in diversity within the nation.

Controlling activities of states – Since federation is the combination of smaller race and people to form a larger one, there is need for controlling body of such small groups

State Government Autonomy

The states have constitutionally defined control over their own affairs. Members of the state government are close to the people. They plan for the people and execute all their plans. The power to execute without being hindered has been vested on them to an extent. As federal government establish schools in each state, the state government also do likewise and controls all that happens in their own schools.

Central Government controls State

The central government has policies in various areas, these policies are what the various state governments follow in what they do.

Constitution of Federal Government

This allows for separation of power.

Exclusive – all that the federal government is to do are stated in the exclusive list

Residual – all that the state government are to do are stated in the residual list

Concurrent list – all that the federal and state governments are to do jointly are stated in the concurrent list

Features of Nigeria Federation

There is constitutional division of powers between the levels of government. In Nigeria, the constitutional powers are divided into exclusive, concurrent and residual list. Only the federal government can legislate on the exclusive list which includes defense, police affairs, fiscal and monetary policies. Both the federal and state government could legislate on concurrent list which include education, etc. it is only the state that is competent to legislate on the residual list which contains such items like land, chieftaincy titles, etc.

A federal state has a bicameral legislature, i.e. two houses of legislature.

The constitution of a federal state is supreme, i.e. sovereignty can only be located in the constitution.

The constitution of a federal state is often written and rigid.

A federal state is heterogeneous and geographically large.

Dual loyalty is entertained in a federal state. For instance, a Nigerian can at the same time be a Lagosian.

There is a body charged with fostering good relations among different levels of government.

ASSESSMENT

Define Federation?

Identify FIVE features of Nigerian Federation?