Full History of Nigerian Federalism
Origin and Evolution of Federalism in Nigeria
Federalism is a system of government in which powers are divided between the centre and the regions (states). Federalism in Nigeria is a product of the colonial administration. The Richards Constitution of 1946 provided the ground work for the take-off of the federal constitution.
Nigerian federalism started during her colonial experience with Britain. Lord Lugard amalgamated the colony and protectorates of the Northern Nigeria in 1914. Britain, through her colonial representative in Nigeria brought two (2) sections of the country together to enable Britain to achieve her economic objectives.
Clifford Constitution of 1922 provided a legislative council for the colony and Southern protectorates, while the Northern region was excluded from the council. However, its decisions could be applied to the North by the Governor General. The elective principle which the constitution introduced led to the formation of political parties and raised political consciousness in the Southern part of the country. The 1946 Arthur Richards constitution introduced regionalism in the country.
The country was divided into three (3) regions namely: The North, East, and West. There was no constitutional division of power between the centre and the regions. For instance, regional assemblies lacked the legislative powers to make laws for their regions.
Macpherson Constitution of 1951 was a quasi-federal constitution (regarded as ‘quasi’ because it contained both elements of unitary and federal systems). It introduced quasi-federalism which empowered regional legislative houses to make laws on specific matters to their regional government. This was however subjected to the approval of the central government.
The Oliver Lyttleton Constitution of 1954 introduced true federalism with division of legislative powers into exclusive, concurrent, and residual lists between the central and regional governments. The constitution provided the appointment of premiers to head the regions.
The evolution of federal system went through the following:
- 1954 – 1963: Three (3) regions
- 1963 – 1967: Four (4) regions
- 1967 -1975: Twelve (12) states
- 1975 – 1987: Nineteen (19) states
- 1987 – 1991: Twenty-one (21) states
- 1991 to date: Thirty-six (36) states
Full History of Nigerian Federalism
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Federalism in Nigeria refers to the devolution of self-governance by the West African nation of Nigeria to its federated states, who share sovereignty with the Federal Government.
Federalism has been present in Nigeria since the former British colony was reorganized into a federation of three regions in 1946. Regionalism was introduced to the Nigeria system by the Richards Constitution.
Before and right after independence
Federalism is a system of government in which governmental powers that exists in a country are shared between central government and component region. It is also defined as the system of government in which governmental powers are shared between the central government, i.e. the federal government and its components (state and local government).
Bernard Bourdillon the Governor-general at that time initiated and laid the foundation of federalism in Nigeria in 1939 by creating three provinces. He later handed over the constitution to his successor Arthur Richards and it became the Richards Constitution of 1946. At the beginning of formal British indirect rule in 1901, Nigeria was divided into two regions: Northern and Southern, both of which were divided into provinces. From 1901 to 1958, the number of regions was increased to three through both acquisition of territories and partition from existing provinces. However, while native-born chiefs and clerks were appointed to govern the provinces, the regions were governed by the British-appointed colonial authorities, and such regions were made dependent upon the colonial authorities for martial law, manpower and management of resources.
With the approach of independence, power over the regions was given to Nigerian-born citizens, and regional legislatures were established. By the time that Nigeria had declared itself a republic and replaced the post of Governor-General with the post of President, a national bicameral parliament was established and the country was considered a federation of the three regions. The Mid-Western Region was formed from the Western Region in 1966, and Lagos, the capital, was effectively governed as an unofficial fourth region outside the bounds of the Western Region.
First coup, counter-coup and the new states
After the first coup and under the short-lived military government of Aguiyi-Ironsi, the country was reorganized under a central government. Following the counter-coup which resulted in Aguiyi-Ironsi’s deposition and assassination, Nigeria was reorganized as a federal country, with three of the regions being divided into newer entities and all first-level subdivisions being renamed as states:
- Eastern Region was divided into East-Central (Enugu), Rivers (Port Harcourt), and South-Eastern (Calabar) states;
- Northern Region was divided into Benue-Plateau (Jos), Kano (Kano), Kwara (Ilorin), North-Central (Kaduna), North-Eastern (Maiduguri), and North-Western (Sokoto) states
- Western Region was divided into Lagos (Lagos) and Western (Ibadan) states.
Mid-Western and the states of former Eastern Region made a bid to secede from Nigeria as the states of Biafra and Republic of Benin, resulting in the Nigerian Civil War.
1976
In 1976, six years after the end of the civil war, the states were further reorganized:
- Benue-Plateau state divided into Benue (Makurdi) and Plateau states;
- East-Central state divided into Anambra and Imo (Owerri) states;
- Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) formed from parts of Niger and Plateau states;
- North-Eastern state divided into Bauchi (Bauchi), Borno, and Gongola (Yola) states;
- Niger (Minna) state split from Sokoto;
- Western state divided into Ogun (Abeokuta), Ondo (Akure), and Oyo states
State boundaries and names were also reorganized.
1987/1989
- Akwa Ibom state split from Cross River;
- Katsina state split from Kaduna
States of Nigeria from 1987-1991
1991-1996
- Abia State split from Imo;
- Bendel State divided into Delta and Edo;
- Enugu State split from Anambra;
- Gongola State divided into Adamawa and Taraba;
- Jigawa State split from Kano;
- Kebbi State split from Sokoto;
- Kogi State formed from parts of Benue and Kwara;
- Osun State split from Oyo;
- Yobe State split from Borno.
States of Nigeria from 1991-1996
1996-Till date
- Bayelsa State was split from Rivers;
- Ebonyi State was formed from parts of Abia and Enugu;
- Ekiti State was split from Ondo;
- Gombe State was split from Bauchi;
- Nasarawa State was split from Plateau;
- Zamfara State was split
- from Sokoto
Features of Nigerian Federalism
- Governmental powers are shared between the Federal and State governments.
- Its operation is backed up by a federal constitution, which is usually written and rigid in nature.
- It is popularly known as a three (3) tier government.
- There is the supremacy of the constitution.
- It ensures equal representation of all groups.
- Federal government practices bicameral legislature.
- It observes the principle of separation of powers.
- It grants autonomy to the constituent units.
- It encourages grass root participation
Problems of Nigerian Federalism
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1) Revenue Allocation:
This has been a problem in Nigeria. Government at different periods had set up commissions to advise on the acceptable revenue sharing formula, especially as it affects the three (3) tiers of government.
2) The Problem of Minorities:
In Nigeria, there are majority groups and minority groups. The fear of domination has always been there on the part of minorities and also, the fear of not being fairly treated within the federation.
3) State Creation:
Constant demand for more states.
4) Issue of Secession:
Threats of various groups to secede e.g. NPC’s eight point programme demand of 1953, threat of Action Group to secede over revenue allocation and Biafra’s secession attempt of 1967.
5) Boundary Disputes:
The various localities are often involved in one form of boundary dispute or the other.
6) The Federal Character:
Appointments into federal establishments in the country are not always based on merit because the issue of federal character has to be addressed. This may not go down well with some ethnic or interest groups in the country.
7) Power Sharing:
Power sharing among the component units poses a problem to Nigerian federalism because it is not always properly defined.
8) Corruption, Favouritism, and Nepotism:
These are problems of Nigerian federalism.
9) Acceptable Census Figures:
For some time, in the affairs of the country, there has been the problem of conducting reliable and acceptable censuses