Vibrational Entropy of Vacancy Formation

The following are some of the problems of Nigerian Federalism:-

i. It is always difficult to select and to accept leadership at he federal level. Each of the federating units always wants to produce the president of the federation.

ii. Fear of domination is always nursed by the minority ethnic groups as they fear being marginalized or submerged by the majority ethnic groups.

iii. The demand for the creation of states and local government councils has been a constant problem bugging the federation.

iv. The issue of revenue allocation has remained a nagging problem as the federating units continue hold a bigger percentage of the federally generated

revenue while starving the units of funds to discharge their functions to the masses.

v. Sectional political parties and associations always operate because each unit wants to have a share of power at the centre. Truly national political parties are always absent.

vi. Corruption, nepotism and favouritism remain major problems of the federation. Leaders at the centre or even at the units levels try to favour their areas of the federation more than others.

vii. The threat of secession has always remained a bane of the Nigerian Federalism e.g. the attempt by the Eastern Region to secede from the rest of the federation in 1967.

viii. The federating units have constant boundary disputes between then e.g.

Anambra and Enugu states Anambra and Kogi states, etc.

ix. Census problem has continued to persist in Nigeria because census figures are used for national planning. Each unit wants to be on top hence the continuous struggle over census figures.

x. Power sharing in the federation between the components has remained a serious problem. Quantification of the powers of the federal, state and local

governments has remained a source of argument and disagreement in the federation.

SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 3

Describe the structure of the Nigerian Federalism.

4.0 CONCLUSION

The above analyses show that population is very vital for a federal system. Nigeria is a multi-ethnic nation and has a very large area or geographical size. The best form of government for it and the one it at can to adequately meet the welfare of its citizens is a democratic federal system. This is because a federal system allows for the sharing

of power among coordinate units which interrelate together to form a whole.

Nigerians should learn from the United States of America, their units are more than ours but yet they run a successful federal system.

5.0 SUMMARY

The unit has thrown light on the origin and evolution of Nigerian federation or

federalism. The concept of federalism, historical background, main features of

Nigerian federalism, factors responsible for Nigerian federalism, structures and problems of Nigerian federalism were discussed.

In the next study unit, you will be taken through the discussion on the state creation in Nigeria.

ANSWERS T O SAES IN THIS UNIT

1. Federalism involves the sharing of powers between the central

of federals government and other subordinate unit(s) i.e. state and local governments.

2. Features of Nigerian federalism include:-

a. The different governments in Nigeria drive their powers from the constitution of the country.

b. The adoption of written and rigid constitution

3. the structure of Nigerian federalism has three tiers of government which include: federal, state and local governments 6.0 TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMENT

1. Discuss the factors responsible for Nigerian Federalism 2. state and explain the features of Nigerian Federalism 7.0 REFERENCES/FURTHER READINGS.

Amuwo, K. et al (1998). Ed). Federalism and Political Restructuring in Nigeria.

Ibadan. Spectrum

Anyaele, J.U. (2003). Comprehensive Government. Lagos. A Johnson Publishers, Ltd.

Dibie, C.C. (2008). Essential Government. Ibafo, Ogun – State. Tonad Publishers, Ltd.

Nwankwo, B.C. (2002). Authority in Government: Nigeria and World Politics Revised Edition. Onitsha. Abbot Books, Ltd.

Ofoegbu, G.A.I. (1999). Modern Government. Onitsha. Mas Founders Publications, Ltd.

UNIT 11

STATE CREATION IN NIGERIA TABLE OF CONTENT 1.0 Introduction … … …

2.0 Objectives … … … 3.0 State Creation in Nigeria … … … 3.1 Nature of the Nigerian State … … … 3.2 History of State Creation in Nigeria … … …

3.3 State Creation and National Integration in Nigeria … … … …

3.4 Reasons for the continuous Demand for Creation of States in Nigeria … 4.0 Conclusion … … …

5.0 Summary … … …

6.0 Tutor – Marked Assignment … … … 7.0 Reference/Further Readings … … …

1.0 INTRODUCTION

In the last unit, we discussed the issue of Nigerian federalism and we established the necessity of the component units that make up a federation. We also state that power must be shared between the central government and these component units in a way that none is subordinate to the other. These component units were referred to as states and local governments. Here, we can say that since states are component units that

make up a federation, states are therefore very important to the success of any

federation and if indeed federalism is about ensuring that government is able to reach the grassroots in its business of allocating scarce resources, the existence of mor e states appears to be a welcome idea on the side of the government.

The nature of the Nigerian state made it necessary for her to adopt the federal system of government and with this adoption came agitations for creation of states. Because of the multi-ethnic nations in Nigeria, the issue of state creation has indeed dominated the Nigerian political scene. Nigeria has witnessed a lot of structural rearrangement since independence from three regions at independence to 36 states.

2.0 OBJECTIVES.

At the end of this unit, you should be able to:

i. Discuss the nature of the Nigerian state

ii. Trace the historical development of state creation in Nigeria iii. Explain state creation and national integration in Nigeria

iv. Identify the reasons for the continuous demand for creation of more state in Nigeria