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 in Nigeria can be traced to Sir Frederick Lord Lugard, when the Northern and Southern protectorates were amalgamated in 1914.
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 component units and 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. 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, Nigeria 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.
The demand for the creation of newer states in Nigeria tends to emanate from sub-state groups, often ethnic- or tribal-interest groups, which accuse the current larger state governments of subverting or ignoring the interests and necessities of the more local regions. Nigeria also has power politically and economically the states have said.
References
February 01, 2023
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This article does not cite any sources Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Federalism in Nigeria news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message 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 in Nigeria can be traced to Sir Frederick Lord Lugard when the Northern and Southern protectorates were amalgamated in 1914 Contents 1 Before and right after independence 2 First coup counter coup and the new states 3 1976 4 1987 1989 5 1991 1996 6 1996 present 7 Causes for and effects of federalism 7 1 Causes for federalism 8 ReferencesBefore and right after independence EditFederalism 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 component units and 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 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 EditAfter the first coup and under the short lived military government of Aguiyi Ironsi Nigeria 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 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 EditIn 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 statesState boundaries and names were also reorganized 1987 1989 Edit States of Nigeria from 1987 1991 Akwa Ibom state split from Cross River Katsina state split from Kaduna1991 1996 Edit States of Nigeria from 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 1996 present EditBayelsa 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 Causes for and effects of federalism EditCauses for federalism Edit The demand for the creation of newer states in Nigeria tends to emanate from sub state groups often ethnic or tribal interest groups which accuse the current larger state governments of subverting or ignoring the interests and necessities of the more local regions Nigeria also has power politically and economically the states have said References Edit Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Federalism in Nigeria amp oldid 1134954144, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
