Concept and Theory of Federalism and the Evolution of Nigeria's Federal System (Pols 202)

Introduction

Federalism is one of the most widely adopted systems of government among plural societies, offering a middle path between the extremes of unitary centralism and loose confederation. Understanding its theoretical foundations helps explain why diverse states — including Nigeria — have adopted and continually reshaped federal arrangements to manage internal diversity.

Federalism, inscribed in a dictionary 

Federalism is a system of government intended to reconcile national unity and power with the maintenance of state rights. It may also be seen as an association of states to form a new state. According to Montesquieu, one of the earliest theorists of the principles of federalism, a federal system of government is a convention by which several similar states agree to become members of a larger entity.

One of the key features of the federal system is that it is generally believed to be a system of government that best addresses pluralism among the people of a state. The United States of America, for instance, opted for a federal system not just to address discontent with the Articles of Confederation, but also to accommodate its inherent pluralism. This was also the case in Switzerland, where separate cantons in the various valleys decided to join forces to secure their combined independence, and in Australia.

By contrast, some formerly separately administered British colonies came to federalism through a different route. Modern federations like Canada, India, and Nigeria are countries which, at a certain stage of their historical development, opted for federation to accommodate obvious plural diversity. Federalism in these cases was not primarily intended to achieve unity of previously separate units; rather, it was the product of the recognition that the peoples of these countries were so diverse in culture, language, and interest that it would be impossible for them to be administered harmoniously by a single central government. Federations, in effect, are a product of constitutional development.

In essence, variety exists both in what constitutes the difference among federating units and in the manner of allocating power between the central government and the federating units. The concept of federalism therefore spreads across a continuum between extreme unitarism and confederation, depending on the degree of sovereignty and independence allowed to the sub-units vis-à-vis the central government.

While federal systems may vary across space, a particular federation may also vary over time. Indeed, the trajectory of Nigeria's constitutional development over the years has altered the structure of its federal system. The foundation of Nigeria's federal system was laid in 1946 with the creation of three regions by the British. Over the years, the structure of the country's federal system evolved into a federation of 36 states and one Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

By 1946, even though Nigeria was divided into three regions — North, East, and West — there was no constitutional distribution of powers between the central government and the regions. For instance, regional assemblies lacked legislative powers to make laws for their respective regions. The Macpherson Constitution of 1951, however, introduced a quasi-federal constitution which empowered regional legislative councils to make laws on specific matters for regional governance — powers that remained subject to the central government.

The Oliver Lyttleton Constitution of 1954, however, consolidated Nigeria's federal system, dividing legislative powers into exclusive, concurrent, and residual lists between the central and regional governments. The constitution also provided for the appointment of premiers to head each of the regions.

The evolution of Nigeria's federal system has since gone through the following periods:

• 1954 – 1963: 3 regions
• 1963 – 1967: 4 regions
• 1967 – 1976: 12 states
• 1976 – 1987: 19 states
• 1987 – 1991: 21 states
• 1991 – 1996: 30 states
• 1996 – to date: 36 states

Conclusion

Nigeria's federal journey illustrates a broader truth about federalism: it is not a fixed formula but a continually renegotiated arrangement shaped by a country's peculiar diversity and political history. From three regions in 1946 to 36 states today, Nigeria's federal structure has evolved largely in response to the ongoing challenge of managing ethnic, cultural, and regional pluralism within a single political union.