Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term - Senior Secondary 2

Term: 2^nd Term

Week: 1

Class: Senior Secondary School 2

Age: 16 years

Duration: 40 minutes of 2 periods each

Date:       

Subject:      Government

Topic:-       Pre-colonial administration

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to

1. Discuss the system and structure of administration in pre-colonial Hausa-Fulani government
2. Discuss the roles of the system

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES: Identification, explanation, questions and answers, demonstration, videos from source

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS: Videos, loud speaker, textbook, pictures

INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES

PERIOD 1-2

NOTE

PRECOLONIAL ADMINISTRATION

Prior to the Sokoto Jihad or Holy war of 1804, the place now known as Northern Nigeria was ruled by the Hausas under 14 independent kingdoms/states. The defeat of the Hausas in a holy war by the Fulanis under the able leadership of Ottoman Dan Fodio led to the abolition of the Hausa kingdoms and the establishment of Fulani emirates. Each emirate was headed by an Emir. Sokoto and Gwandu were made the two headquarter for all the emirate, while Mohammed Bello son of Ottoman Dan Fodio was the head of the western section with its headquarters at Gwandu.

The judicial administration of the emirate was based on a sharia law which anchored on the teachings of Prophet Mohammed (SAW) the founder of Islam. The Alkali (Judges) administered the sharia law while minor cases were passed to the village heads to settle. Criminal and land cases were for the emir to decide as long as sharia laws dealt with civil cases. These cases cover issues like marriage, divorce, theft, murder.

The legislative organ used the sharia law as the law was regarded as the law of God and supreme. Where the laws may not be covered adequately, the emir made laws.

The executive organ saw the Emir as authoritarian in nature. Though he had a council and advisers, he could accept or reject their advice. Executive duties carried out included maintenance of law and order; collection of taxes; defense of the emirate; regulation of economic and religious activities, etc.

FEATURES OF THE HAUSA/FULANI PRE-COLONIAL POLITICAL ADMINISTRATION

1. The Hausa/Fulani pre-colonial administration is characterized by the centralization of political power and authority. All political power was concentrated on the emir
2. Islamic law, sharia was obeyed by all, including the emir but the is empowered to make laws where Islamic law is silent
3. Emirate was the largest administrative structure with the emir as head of the administration. The emir was appointed by the emir of Sokoto.
4. The system was theocratic in nature. Islamic religion guided the actions of the leader and his people. The emir was the political, religious and spiritual leader
5. Emirate was under the control of emirs of gwandu and Sokoto, therefore lacked republican status
6. The society was highly stratified, segmented into upper, middle and lower classes comprising of the talakawas.
7. Emirates kept a standing army to defend the emirate and it was under the control of the madawaki.
8. Regularized system of taxation and executive, legislature and judicial powers were concentrated on the emir
9. Payments of tributes to sustain the administration. Rates on land, property and cattle
10. Succession to the throne was hereditary

POLITICAL STRUCTURE OF THE HAUSA/FULANI POLITICAL SYSTEM

political structure of the Hausa/Fulani political system was based on the emirate system. It was highly centralized and every power was in the hands of the emirs. The emir was in charge of both religious, political and administrative duties. He also delegated some of his duties to the following officers.

1. Waziri- Head officer and Prime minister. He carried out the day-to-day administration of the emirate on behalf of the emir. He was also in charge of all other officials.
2. Galadima- in charge of the administration of the capital of the emirates

3. Madawaki- The commander of the Army. in charge of the defense of the emirate
4. Sarkin Fada- Head of the palace workers/officials
5. Sarkin Powa- Head of the butchers
6. Sarkin Dogari- Head of the police (Security). In charge of maintaining law and order
7. Sarkin Ruwa- Head of water resources
8. Magaji- the emir’s treasurer and administrator of finance
9. Yari- Head of prisons
10. Hakimi- Administrators of the districts/ district head

Forms Of Taxation In The System.

1. Haraji : land tax based on annual yield
2. Jangali: livestock/Animal tax
3. Lizya: tax levied on slaves and strangers
4. Zakat: tax on movable properties to provide alms for the poor, widows and needy.

Functions Of The Emirs In The Emirate

1. The emirs maintain law and order
2. They make the laws in the emirate
3. They appoint officials in the emirate
4. They organize their people for communal work e.g clearing of road paths and bushes etc
5. They enforce the sharia law on their subjects
6. They provide social services for their people
7. He is the spiritual head of the emirate
8. He imposes and collected taxes and tributes
9. He allocates farmlands to his subjects
10. He preserved the people’s culture and traditions

EVALUATION:    1. Discuss the system and structure of the administration in pre-colonial Hausa-Fulani government  

2. Discuss the roles of the system

CLASSWORK: As in evaluation

CONCLUSION: The teacher commends the students positively