JSS2 Civic Education Lesson Note on Nigeria as a Federation

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TOPIC: NIGERIA AS A FEDERATION

 Content:

1. Meaning of Federation
2. Needs for federation
3. Characteristics of a federation

• Meaning of Federation

A federation is a political system whereby a group of states come together to form a single and stronger country. Nigeria is a good example of a Federation. You often hear “The federal republic of Nigeria”. Nigeria is made up of one central Government with 36 states and 774 local governments. Other examples of countries that are practicing federation include: USA, Canada, Argentina, Malaysia, India etc.

(b)Needs for federation

States need Federation for the following reasons:

1. To pool the resources of all states together: There is need for federation as no one state can produce all its needs alone. This will lead to larger economic growth and development.
2. To promote national integration and unity: There may be need for federation in order to make people of different languages, duties and religion to come together and work in unity.
3. To control the activities of the state: A country may need a federation in order prevent the states from withering away.
4. To take care of needs of the people: A federation is equally a matter of necessity as the component parts will be capable of meeting the immediate needs of the people.
5. To protect against attack: Where the smaller states cannot be protected against attack by another country, coming together to form a federation will be helpful.

Characteristics of a federation

1. Division of powers: In federation, governmental powers are shared between central and state government. But the central government has greater power over the states.
2. Supremacy of the constitution: The constitution has the final authority in any matter .Both the central and state governments derive their powers from the constitution.
3. Written and Rigid constitution: A federation normally has a written and rigid constitution which is a feature of a federal constitution

4. State governments have constitutionally powers over their own affairs. The state governments have constitutional powers to retain some control or autonomy over their own affairs.
5. Existence of bicameral legislature at the central level and unicameral legislature in the states. This means at the central level, there two legislative houses/chambers only one house at the state level.

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