SS2 Third Term Government Lesson Note – Federalism

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WEEK 8  

TOPIC: FEDERALISM

CONTENT:

ORIGIN OF FEDERALISM IN NIGERIA

1. Emergence of Federalism in Nigeria
2. Factors that necessitated the formation of federalism
3. Conferences organized by the colonial powers

NATURE AND STRUCTURE OF NIGERIAN FEDERALISM

(a) Structure of Nigerian Federalism.

1. Federalism before independence
2. 1960-196
3. 1967-1975
4. 1976 to date

(b) Features of Nigerian federalism.

SUB-TOPIC 1: ORIGIN OR EVOLUTION OF FEDERALISM IN NIGERIA

Before the advent of colonial rule, Nigeria was made up of various independent kingdoms which were tribal in nature. The British government annexed Lagos in 1861 and formally took over the administration of Nigeria in 1900. The British government then established two protectorates namely Northern and Southern Protectorates and administered it separately from the Colony of Lagos. The origin of Nigerian federalism can therefore be traced to from 1914 as outlined below.

1. In 1914, Lord Lugard amalgamated the Colony and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria and the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria.
2. In 1922 Sir Hugh Clifford became the Governor and a constitution named Clifford Constitution was promulgated. The Constitution provided for legislative councils for the Colony and Southern Protectorate of Nigeria. The Northern region was excluded from the council. The elective principle introduced paved way for political parties only in the south,
3. In 1946, another constitution named after Arthur Richards was promulgated. The constitution introduced regionalism under which the country was divided into three regions namely: North, West and East. There was, however, no constitutional division of powers. Regional assemblies had no legislative powers.

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