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Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term - Senior
Secondary 2
Nature and structure of Federalism
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/ Nature and structure of Federalism
Term: 3rd Term
Week: 11
Class: Senior Secondary School 2
Age: 16 years
Duration: 40 minutes of 2 periods each
Date:
Subject: Government
Topic:- Nature and Structure of Federalism
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to
1. Discuss the nature and structure of Nigerian federalism
2. Outline the problems of federalism
INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES: Identification, explanation, questions
and answers, demonstration, videos from source
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS: Videos, loud speaker, textbook, pictures
INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES
PERIOD 1-2
PRESENTATION TEACHER’S ACTIVITY STUDENT’S
ACTIVITY
STEP 1 The teacher reviews the Students pay
previous lesson on attention
INTRODUCTION
federalism
STEP 2 He discusses the nature Students pay
and structure of Nigerian attention and
EXPLANATION
federalism participates
STEP 3 He outlines the problems of Students pay
federalism attention and
DEMONSTRATION participate
STEP 4 The teacher writes a The students
summarized note on the copy the note
NOTE TAKING board in their books
NOTE
THE NATURE AND STRUCTURE OF FEDERALISM
The Nature and structure of federalism in Nigeria will be discussed
based on the following;
1. Federalism before independence:
2. 1960-1966 (the Golden Years of Nigerian Federalism)
3. 1967-1975. (the Military Era)
4. 1976 to date. (Period of Mixed Results)
1. FEDERALISM BEFORE INDEPENDENCE
The colonial system of government in Nigeria introduced the
centralization of power. So, from the time of Clifford till about 1939,
powers of administration and government were centralized. The other
constitutions of Richards of 1946 and Macpherson of 1951 contributed
to giving Nigeria different shades of the structure of federalism. It was
the 1954 Lyttleton constitution that gave Nigeria a true structure of
federalism. The constitution which took effect from October 1, 1954,
shared powers between the central and regional governments. The
constitution changed the lieutenant governor’s status to that of the
governor and the governor to that of governor-general at the federal
level. It spelt out how legislative powers should be shared between the
centre and the regions in a true federal spirit.
2. FEDERALISM BETWEEN 1960 AND 1966
The independence constitution which came into force on October 1,
1960, and which conferred independence status on Nigeria
incorporated the federal structure started by Lyttleton constitution of
1954. The independence constitution introduced some minor
modifications to the federal structure of Nigeria. This constitution
retained the procedure for sharing powers and functions between the
central and regional governments as was stipulated in the 1954
constitution. Under the independence constitution, one important
feature of Nigeria federalism right from1954 constitution up to 1963
republican constitution is the division of the country into unequal
regions. For instance, the Northern region was larger than the Eastern
and Western regions put together. The 1963 Republican constitution
increased the regions from three to four with the creation of the Mid-
Western region.
3. FEDERALISM BETWEEN 1967 AND 1975
This period was the evolution of the military in the political system. The
military stunted the growth of political culture in the country. Not only
that, it systematically destroyed all democratic and political institutions
and other basic features of federalism. The government of Aguiyi Ironsi
introduced a unitary system into the country with the promulgation of
decree No 34 The overthrow of Major General J.T.U. Aguiyi Ironsi and
the coming to power by the then Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon caused
antagonism between the Northern and Eastern regions. Yakubu Gowon
created 12 states in an attempt to weaken Ojukwu’s attempt from
seceding the Eastern region from Nigeria. Three days after the creation
of states by Gowon, Ojukwu proclaimed the Eastern region as an
independent state of Biafra. This led to the civil war which started in July
1967.
4. FEDERALISM FROM 1976 TO DATE
When General Murtala Mohammed came to power in 1975, a panel
headed by Justice Ayo Irikefe was set up to look into the issue of
creation of states in the country. As a result of the panel’s
recommendation, seven more states were created on February 3, 1976,
thereby bringing the number of states to 19. Two additional states of
Katsina and Akwa Ibom were created on 23rd September 1987 by
General Ibrahim Babangida’s administration. In 1991, 27th August,
General Ibrahim Babangida administration also increased the number
of states in Nigeria to 30 states by creating additional 9 states. General
Sanni Abacha further increased the number of states in Nigeria to 36 by
creating additional 6 states on October 1, 1996. Abuja remains the
federal Capital Territory (FCT), with its own minister. Besides the Federal
and State governments, Nigerian federalism contains local government
that is concerned with their respective localities alone. It is the third
level or tier of government which is subordinate to the federal and state
governments and it is rested with the authority to perform local
functions. Presently, that is, as at the period the book is being revised,
the number of existed local governments in Nigeria is seven hundred
and seventy-four (774).
PROBLEMS OF NIGERIA FEDERALISM
1. Revenue allocation: This has been a major problem in Nigeria.
Government at different periods, have set up commissions to
advise on the acceptable revenue sharing formula, especially, as it
affects the three tiers of government.
2. The problem of state creation: Almost every interest group in the
country wants a state. This may not be possible in a country with
over 250 different ethnic groups.
3. The problem of federal character: Appointments into federal
establishments are not always based on merit. The various ethnic
nationalities or groups must be considered in the allocation of
appointments. This remains a problem in the Nigerian federalism.
4. Threat of secession: This threat by some units as a factor of divided
allegiance or loyalty of citizens poses a great problem to a federal
system.
5. The problem of minorities: Nigeria is made up of many ethnic
groups consisting both majority and minority groups. The
minorities are always afraid that the majority will dominate them to
the extent that issues of national importance are affected.
6. Ethnic disharmony: There could be distrust among the various
ethnic groups in a federal state. This can affect the unity and the
very corporate existence of the country.
7. Boundary disputes: This has been a continuous problem between
states or local governments and has capacity to threaten the
corporate existence of the nation state.
8. Corruption, favoritism and nepotism: These are problems of the
Nigerian federalism.
9. Power sharing: Power sharing among the component units creates
a problem to the Nigerian federalism because it is not always
properly defined.
EVALUATION: 1. Discuss the nature and structure of Nigerian
federalism
2. Outline four problems of Nigerian federalism
CLASSWORK: As in evaluation
CONCLUSION: The teacher commends the students positively
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