In a true federal system, each level of government exercises power and performs functions independently and autonomously.
Nigeria and the United States are examples of a federalist system, where the national government is responsible for broader governance of larger territorial areas, while the smaller subdivisions (state and local government) govern issues of local concern.
Meaning of Federalism
Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided between a national government and smaller political subdivisions such as states or provinces. Both levels of government have the power to make laws and govern their respective territories.
The central government exercises powers over matters of national importance or common nature to the whole country. This includes defence, aviation, currency, foreign affairs, etc. These functions fall under what is called the exclusive list of functions.
The central and state governments jointly preside over functions which include primary education, health, labour matters, works, etc. This category of functions is known as the concurrent list of functions.
The last category of functions falls under the purview of the state government alone, and they include chieftaincy and local government matters, primary education, culture, customary and sharia courts.
Conditions That Make Federalism Easy To Practise
1. The desire for unity among the component units.
2. The need to protect and recognise the individual identities of the federation units.
3. The absence of over-concentration of power in the central government.
4. The absence of marked inequalities among the component units.
5. The desire to preserve a level of autonomy or independence by the component units.
Functions of Federalism
1. Federalism allows for the division of power between different levels of government so that federated units can enjoy substantial autonomy.
2. It frees the central government from having to handle so much of domestic administration and service delivery, enabling it to focus on strategic challenges and national priorities.
3. Federalism is a way of ensuring a wider distribution of public resources through revenue sharing and other forms of fiscal arrangements that guarantee an agreed share of resources to all areas of a country.
4. It may encourage more geographically diverse economic and social development, in contrast to a unitary state where everything is centralised.
5. Protection of people from tyranny by dispersing power among different levels and branches of government.
6. Federalism requires power-sharing between federal institutions and those at the sub-national level, such that neither level of government has absolute power.
Reasons for the Adoption of Federalism in Nigeria
The adoption of federalism in Nigeria was influenced by several factors, including:
1. Diversity: Nigeria’s diverse ethnic, linguistic, and religious composition rendered it an attractive system for accommodating and managing these diversities within the country.
2. Mitigation of the Fears of Minorities: The system of government allowed for the creation of states which alleviated the fears that minority groups would be dominated by the majorities.
3. Heterogeneity: As one of the most heterogeneous states, Nigeria adopted federalism as a system of government to allow for the division of power and jurisdiction, thereby accommodating its diverse population.
4. Sustainable Development: Federalism was seen as a mechanism for promoting sustainable development in Nigeria by decentralising power and decision-making, which could lead to more localised and effective governance.
5. Political Experiment: The adoption of the practice was a political experiment aimed at solving Nigeria’s political problems and accommodating its diverse political and cultural landscape.
Problems of Federalism in Nigeria
The problems of federalism in Nigeria include:
1. Revenue Allocation
There have been challenges in determining the acceptable revenue-sharing formula among the tiers of government, leading to disputes and dissatisfaction.
2. Minority Representation
Fear of domination and unfair treatment among minority groups has been a persistent issue, affecting the equitable representation and participation of all ethnic groups in the federal system.
3. State Creation
The process of creating new states has been contentious, leading to disagreements among different ethnic or interest groups.
4. Power Sharing
The distribution of power among the component units has posed challenges, as it is not always effectively balanced.
5. Secession Threats and Boundary Disputes
Historical and ongoing threats of secession, as well as boundary disputes, have created instability and hindered the smooth operation of federalism.
6. Resource Control
The over-dependence of other tiers of government on the federal government, as well as the control of resources, has been seen as contrary to true federalism.
The Nigerian federation has three tiers of government namely the Federal, the State, and the Local Government. Nigeria has 36 states and a Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is further divided into 774 local governments.
The federal government is the first tier of government, the state government is the second, and the third tier of government is the local government.
Although the constitution clearly defines roles for each of the tiers of government, in practice, this is not so. The local government is treated as an appendage of the state government. This has resulted in the meddling in the affairs of the local government by the state government in the following ways:
1. The state controls the funds and finances of the local government through the Joint Allocation Committee ( JAC) of the state and Local Government.
2. The states perform certain statutory functions for the local governments namely:
- Award of major contracts for projects in the local government.
- Approval of budgets for services of the local government.
- Recruitment, appointment, and posting of senior public servants for the local government.
- Bye-laws made by the local government must be approved by the State House of Assembly.
In reality, the local government system in Nigeria is not an autonomous tier of government. The state controls and manipulates the local government’s monthly allocation from the federation account. All of this weakens the powers and autonomy of the local government.
Conclusion
Nigerian federalism is not balanced. Nigeria practises what is known as a unitary style of federalism because powers are concentrated in the centre. The federal government controls immense financial resources to the detriment of the state and local governments which are the real centres of development. To practise real federalism, this must be addressed!
