Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term - Senior Secondary 3

Term: 1^st Term

Week: 1

Class: Senior Secondary School 3

Age: 17 years

Duration: 40 minutes of 2 periods each

Date:       

Subject:      Government

Topic:-       Federalism

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

1. Discuss the emergence of federalism
2. Define federalism
3. Highlight the factors responsible for the Nigerian federalism
4. State the features of Nigerian federalism

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

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS: Videos, loud speaker, textbook, pictures

INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES

PERIOD 1-2

NOTE

FEDERALISM

EMERGENCE OF NIGERIA FEDERALISM

Nigerian federalism can be traced far back to 1914 when the Northern and Southern protectorates were amalgamated with a unitary form of administration. Since then, governmental powers that existed in Nigeria started to be shared between the central government headed by the governor-general and the governments of Northern and Southern protectorates headed by the lieutenant governors. Therefore, with the autonomous parts of Northern and the Southern province, the administrative system of Nigeria wore a somehow outlook of a federation.

The further division of the country into three regions in 1946 by the then Governor of Nigeria Sir Arthur Richards under the Richards constitutional arrangements, gave more support to the emergence of Nigeria with a federal system of government. The 1951 Macpherson constitution gave further concrete support to the establishment of a federal system of government in Nigeria.

Apart from the division of Nigeria into three regions of Northern, Western and Eastern regions, the constitution appointed lieutenant governors to head these regions and granted legislative powers to the legislative and executive councils that were established. The 1954 Lyttleton constitution removed the final shades of unitary state from Nigeria by establishing a true federal state. The constitution that took effect from October 1, 1954, shared powers between the central and the regional government.

Federalism: may be defined as a form of government in which power is constitutionally shared between the central government and other component units. e.g. local government and state/ region. In 1954, we had two tiers of government- the central and regions, both had their powers defined and shared by the constitution.

FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR NIGERIAN FEDERALISM

1. Cultural diversity: Differences in culture, religion, language, custom, tradition, etc. among different ethnic groups make the operation of a federal system possible.

2. The fear of one ethnic group dominating others necessitated the establishment of federalism in Nigeria.
3. To protect the interest of minority groups.
4. The large population and wide geographical areas of Nigeria make it necessary to establish federalism in Nigeria.
5. To ensure rapid and even development of all parts of Nigeria.
6. To bring the government near to the people of Nigeria.
7. To bring about the division of powers to reduce the burden involved and make the art of governance less energy-sapping, time-saving,    less fatiguing and make government more effective.
8. To create more employment opportunities through the division of powers and the duplication of ministries and offices.
9. To make it possible for diverse laws that will suit the diverse communities in Nigeria.
10. To preserve the local independence or autonomy of every ethnic group in Nigeria.

FEATURES OF NIGERIAN FEDERALISM

1. Constitutional division of power: There are division and sharing of governmental powers between the federal and regional government.
2. Written and rigid: The constitution adopted is rigid and written.
3. The different governments in Nigeria derive their powers from the constitution
4. Supremacy of the constitution.
5. Separation of powers: The constitution separated functions and personnel among the three organs of government-executive, legislature and the judiciary.
6. Existence of bicameral legislature.
7. Existence of Supreme Court for judicial interpretation and review.
8. The division of Nigeria into unequal regions/states.
9. Duplication of organs of government in all governments in Nigeria

EVALUATION:    1. Discuss the emergence of federalism

2. Define federalism
3. State three features of Nigerian federalism
4. Highlight three factors responsible for the Nigerian federalism

CLASSWORK: As in evaluation

CONCLUSION: The teacher commends the students positively