Federalism: Government S S 2 Third Term E-Note 

Week 1

Federalism:

1. origin of federalism in Nigeria

2. Emergence of federalism in Nigeria

3. Conferences organized by the colonial masters.

Lesson Note on Federalism

Class Level: Junior Secondary/Upper Basic

Subject: Social Studies/Civic Education

Topic: Federalism

Sub-Topics:

i. Origin of Federalism in Nigeria
ii. Emergence of Federalism in Nigeria
iii. Conferences Organized by the Colonial Masters

Lesson Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Define federalism and explain its meaning.

2. Discuss the origin of federalism in Nigeria.

3. Explain how federalism emerged in Nigeria.

4. Identify and describe the major constitutional conferences held by the colonial masters.

Introduction

Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and various regional units (states or regions). In a federal system, both the central government and the regional governments have their own responsibilities and powers, which are usually stated in a constitution.

Nigeria is a federal state, meaning it operates under this system. But how did this system come about in Nigeria? Let’s explore its origin and development.

i. Origin of Federalism in Nigeria

• Federalism in Nigeria originated during the British colonial rule.

• Before colonization, Nigeria was made up of various independent ethnic groups, kingdoms, and societies such as the Hausa/Fulani in the North, Yoruba in the West, and Igbo in the East.

• The British colonial government merged these diverse groups into one political entity in 1914 during the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates by Lord Frederick Lugard.

• Due to cultural, ethnic, and religious differences, it became difficult to administer the country as a unitary state.

• Therefore, the British introduced federalism to manage the differences and allow some level of self-governance among the regions.

ii. Emergence of Federalism in Nigeria

• The first official step toward federalism was taken in 1939, when Governor Bernard Bourdillon divided Southern Nigeria into two regions: Eastern Region and Western Region, while the North remained a single region.

• This regional division laid the foundation for a federal system.

• The full emergence of federalism occurred with the Richards Constitution of 1946, which introduced regionalism and gave regions some powers to govern themselves.

• Later constitutions, like the Macpherson Constitution of 1951 and the Lyttleton Constitution of 1954, further developed Nigeria’s federal structure by granting more autonomy to the regions.

• In 1954, Nigeria officially became a federal state under the Lyttleton Constitution, which clearly defined the powers of the central and regional governments.

iii. Conferences Organized by the Colonial Masters

Several constitutional conferences were organized by the British colonial government to prepare Nigeria for self-rule and to address ethnic and regional concerns. These conferences helped to shape Nigeria’s federal structure.

1. Ibadan Conference (1950):

   • Held at the University College, Ibadan.

   • Laid the groundwork for the Macpherson Constitution of 1951.

   • Allowed for wider Nigerian participation in the constitutional process.

2. London Constitutional Conference (1953):

   • Held in London to resolve the constitutional crisis after political disagreements in Nigeria.

   • Introduced the idea of self-government for the regions.

   • Paved the way for the Lyttleton Constitution.

3. Lagos Constitutional Conference (1954):

   • Finalized the structure of federalism in Nigeria.

   • Resulted in the Lyttleton Constitution of 1954, which made Nigeria a full federal state with three regions and a central government.

4. London Constitutional Conference (1957):

   • Discussed the independence of Nigeria.

   • The Eastern and Western regions were granted self-government in 1957.

5. Constitutional Conference (1958):

   • Northern Region was granted self-government in 1959.

   • Set the final stage for Nigeria’s independence in 1960.

Conclusion

Federalism in Nigeria was introduced to manage the country’s ethnic, cultural, and regional diversity. It started with the colonial administration’s regional divisions and developed through several constitutional reforms and conferences. These laid the foundation for the independence and federal structure Nigeria operates today.

Evaluation Questions

1. Define federalism.

2. Who introduced the federal system in Nigeria?

3. Mention two reasons why Nigeria adopted federalism.

4. What is the significance of the Lyttleton Constitution of 1954?

5. List two constitutional conferences organized by the colonial masters.

Assignment

Draw a timeline showing the major constitutional conferences that led to the emergence of federalism in Nigeria, from 1950 to 1960.