Omar Bennett
Nigeria is a federal republic with two legislative houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The country gained independence from British colonial rule in 1960 and became a federation in 1954. Nigeria's federal system has been a source of ongoing debate and controversy due to the complexities of managing diverse peoples and regions within a unified nation. While the country's constitution is federal in nature, critics argue that the central government holds too much power, resembling a unitary state in practice. The unitary character of the 1999 Constitution has been a point of contention, with calls for restructuring to achieve true federalism and address rising dictatorial tendencies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country Size | Africa's most populous country, larger than the US state of Texas |
| Ethnic Groups | More than 250 ethnic groups speaking 500 distinct languages |
| Largest Ethnic Groups | Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo |
| Government | Federal republic with two legislative houses (Senate, House of Representatives) |
| Federal System | Questioned by some as not conforming to fundamental principles of federalism |
| Federal Character Principle | Aims to prevent domination of the federal government by one or a few ethnic groups |
| Presidential System | President is not accountable to the National Assembly |
| Military | One of the largest uniformed combat services in Africa |
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What You'll Learn
Nigeria's federal character principle
Nigeria is a multinational state with over 250 ethnic groups speaking 500 distinct languages. The three largest ethnic groups are the Hausa-Fulani in the north, the Yoruba in the west, and the Igbo in the east, together constituting over 60% of the total population. The country gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1960, becoming a formally independent federation.
The Federal Character Principle was introduced to promote peace, stability, and the sharing of power and resources among the states. It was inserted into the 1979 Constitution and later reaffirmed in the 1999 Constitution. This principle aims to ensure that the composition of federal institutions reflects the diversity of the country and that no single ethnic group dominates the federal government or its agencies.
The Federal Character Commission (FCC) was established to monitor and enforce the Federal Character Principle in government employment and public expenditure. The FCC is responsible for ensuring equitable representation of different groups in all tiers of government and monitoring public service recruitment exercises.
Despite the Federal Character Principle, there have been accusations of inequalities and favouritism in appointments. President Buhari's administration, for example, was criticised for appointing key security officials mostly from the North, the President's tribe.
The Federal Character Principle in Nigeria is a contentious issue, with ongoing debates about the effectiveness of the federal system in addressing horizontal inequalities and ethnic tensions.
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The country's brief experiment with a unitary system
Nigeria is a multinational state with over 250 ethnic groups, speaking 500 distinct languages, and identifying with a wide variety of cultures. The three largest ethnic groups are the Hausa-Fulani in the north, the Yoruba in the west, and the Igbo in the east, constituting over 60% of the total population. The country gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1960, and its history since then has been marked by a struggle to balance the interests and representation of its diverse population.
The country's first experiment with a unitary system of government occurred after the military coup in January 1966. This transformation was an attempt to resolve inter-ethnic conflicts and regional tensions that plagued the nation. However, the Nigerian military, entangled in ethnic politics, lacked the capacity to manage this shift. The unitary system's failure sparked a counter-coup in July 1966 and culminated in a devastating three-year civil war from 1967 to 1970.
The unitary system's brief imposition led to a recognition of the need for a federal system that could better accommodate Nigeria's diversity. The country's founding fathers, influenced by British colonial authorities, opted for federalism as a means to "'hold together' the various interests and groups within the country. This belief in the intrinsic capacity of federal states to manage diversity resulted in the adoption of a federal system in 1954, six years before independence.
Despite the shift to federalism, unitary features persisted in Nigeria's political system due to the centralising tendencies of its military rulers. Military leaders like Aguiyi Ironsi imposed their unitary mindset, with the extreme example being the "Unification" Decree of 1966, which contributed to the civil war. The concentration of powers at the centre and the imposition of uniformity contradicted the negotiated federal system introduced in 1954.
Since the return to civilian rule in 1999, efforts have been made to address these unitary features. President Umaru Yar'Adua, recognising the dangers posed by unitary elements, committed to initiating the abrogation of anti-federal laws. Unfortunately, his presidency was cut short due to illness and death, stalling the process of removing unitary characteristics from the federal system.
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The country's ethnic arithmetic
Nigeria is a multinational state with more than 250 ethnic groups speaking 500 distinct languages. The three largest ethnic groups are the Hausa-Fulani in the north, the Yoruba in the west, and the Igbo in the east, constituting over 60% of the population. The country's ethnic arithmetic has been a significant factor in shaping its political landscape.
Nigeria's founding fathers, aware of the country's diversity, opted for a federal political framework in 1954, believing it could better accommodate cultural, political, and economic differences. This initial three-region federation reflected the interests of these three major ethnic groups, but it also led to ruthless inter-ethnic competition for resources among regional elites. The federal system aimed to prevent the domination of the federal government by a single or a few ethnic groups, ensuring that every state has a share of federal power.
However, the country's brief experiment with a unitary system following the 1966 military coup proved disastrous, leading to a counter-coup and a civil war from 1967 to 1970. The military imposed a unitary system that contradicted the federal principle, concentrating power in the central government and endangering the evolution of strong political parties.
Despite returning to a federal system, Nigeria continues to grapple with ethnic and religious tensions. The federal structure has not eliminated suspicions and regional divisions, with state authorities frequently clashing with the federal government. The quest for a functional federal system, often referred to as 'true federalism', persists, as many argue that the current practice of federalism falls short of its fundamental principles.
The country's ethnic diversity remains a key consideration in its political dynamics, with efforts to reduce tensions and promote inclusive democracy. The complexities of Nigeria's ethnic arithmetic continue to shape the ongoing debate about the nation's federal structure and the search for a system that can effectively manage its diversity.
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The federal principle
Nigeria is a federal republic with two legislative houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The country gained independence from Britain in 1960, and in 1963, it adopted a republican constitution, becoming the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Nigeria's large size and the multifaceted differences among its people made federalism a necessity. The country is inhabited by more than 250 ethnic groups, speaking 500 distinct languages. The three largest ethnic groups, the Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo, constitute over 60% of the population.
In Nigeria, federalism was adopted to manage the country's diversity and prevent the domination of the federal government by a single or a few ethnic groups. The "Federal Character" principle, entrenched in the 1979 and 1999 Constitutions, aims to ensure that the composition of federal institutions reflects the diversity of the country and its states.
However, critics argue that Nigeria's federal system has not successfully held together its diverse society without acrimony. State authorities frequently clash with the federal government, and political divisions often fall along regional and ethnic lines. Additionally, the centralizing tendencies of the government have led to accusations that, in practice, the country operates as a unitary state.
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The country's independence in 1960
On October 1, 1960, Nigeria gained its independence from colonial rule, marking a significant step toward freedom, autonomy, and sovereignty. This event was the culmination of a growing wave of nationalism and demands for independence across Africa during the mid-20th century, following World War II. Nigeria's independence carried great significance in the struggle for self-governance and marked a turning point in the nation's history.
Prior to independence, Nigeria had a complex history of colonial rule and internal regional tensions. The modern state of Nigeria was established by British colonialists in the 19th century, bringing together diverse peoples and regions. In 1914, the Southern Nigeria Protectorate and the Northern Nigeria Protectorate were merged, creating the territorial boundaries of the country. The British implemented administrative and legal structures, incorporating traditional monarchs within a system of indirect rule.
As early as 1954, Nigeria took a significant step toward self-rule by adopting a federal system. This initial three-region federation reflected the cultural, political, and economic differences among the three largest ethnic groups: the Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, and Igbo. However, this federal system also gave rise to inter-ethnic competition for resources and power struggles among regional elites. Despite these challenges, Nigeria pressed forward in its quest for independence.
The eve of independence in 1960 revealed marked regional disparities in modern educational access, with the north lagging behind the south. Additionally, the north outlawed slavery as late as 1936, while other parts of Nigeria abolished it soon after colonialism. These regional differences continued to shape Nigeria's political landscape even after independence.
Following independence in 1960, Nigeria adopted a new constitution that established a federal system with an elected prime minister, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, and a ceremonial head of state, retaining Queen Elizabeth II as the nominal head. This federal structure aimed to address the country's diversity and ensure that federal institutions represented the various ethnic groups within the country. However, regional tensions and conflicts persisted, and Nigeria experienced a civil war from 1967 to 1970, followed by a series of military dictatorships and civilian governments.
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Frequently asked questions
Nigeria is a federal republic with two legislative houses. However, the country has been described as having a unitary system of government in practice.
A unitary system is a form of government in which a central authority governs constituent units, and these units are subordinate to the centre. In a federal system, power is shared between the central government and the constituent governments, with each having the authority to make independent decisions.
Nigeria's federal system has been criticised for the dominance of the federal government and the lack of accountability of the president to the National Assembly. The country's diverse ethnic makeup has also made the choice of federalism a necessity to ensure the protection of all ethnic groups and prevent inter-ethnic conflict.
