FEDERAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT

The country, Nigeria, is known as a Federal Republic, it is the President that exercise the executive
power. The president is not only the head of state, he is also the head of government, and in charge of
the multi-party system. Nigerian politics revolve around a framework of a federal, presidential, and
representative democratic republic. The executive power is exercise by the government. The Legislative
power is exercise by the. Nigerian National Assembly, which is made up of two chambers: the House of
Representatives and also the Senate. These two chambers constitute the law-making arm of
government in Nigeria, and it is also referred to as the National Assembly. Read Also: The Role of Public
Protest on Government Policies Functions of the Federal Government of Th Federal Government of
Nigeria – Photo Source: https:// www.alamy.com The statutory responsibility of the National Assembly
is to serve as a check on the other arm of government, example, the executive arm of government. The
judiciary made up one of the three arms of government in Nigeria, but the Supreme Court of Nigeria is
the highest, and was established immediately after Nigeria. gained her independence. The Nigerian
Federal Government is practicing Baron de Montesquieu’s theory, which has to do with the separation
of powers, which is in line. with the United States of America’s system of government. The doctrine of
checks and balances is also practiced by the Nigerian Federal Government.

Functions of the Nigerian Federal

Government: The federal government of Nigeria is saddled with numerous responsibilities. When the
country gained independence in 1960, there was much to do to meet the yearning of the people.
However, in this article, I am going to explain a good number of the functions of the Nigerian Federal
Government.

1.Federal Government Maintains Law and Order

It is one of the most important responsibility of the Nigerian federal government to make sure that, the
Nigerian federation is kept intact by ensuring that, law and order are maintained. It is such duty on the
part of the Nigerian federal government that bring about peace and tranquillity in the nation. In
achieving this noble goal, the police, the armed forces, and also the court of law, have swung into action
with a view to protect the rights and liberties of Nigerian citizens and its residents within the country.
Individuals’ conducts and behaviours living together and within the Nigerian society have been
regulated in order for them to conform to the laid down rules and regulations, even as those violating
the laws are punished. Read Also: 10 Problems of the Rule of Law in Nigeria

2. The Nigerian Federal Government

Protects Lives and Properties Another function of the Nigerian federal. government was to make sure
that, the lives of its citizenry and their properties are protected. The Nigerian federal government
protection of its citizenry covers those living within the country and those living outside the country.
And this function of the Nigerian federal government has provided Nigerian citizens to enjoy right to life
and to also own properties and use these properties. This aspect of the. Nigerian federal government
function is very important, since it will safeguard Nigerian citizens from any threat to life.
3. The Nigerian Federal Government Promotes Democracy and Social Justice

Democracy is reputed to be the best form of government, since the system encouraged political
inclusiveness and participatory governance. In other words, democracy is the government of the people,
by the people and for the people, according to Abraham Lincoln. And it is a system that promotes social
justice. Going by this, it has been the function of the Nigerian federal government to promote the
system of democracy, as well as, promote social justice for the purpose of ensuing that, Nigerian citizens
fully enjoy their rights, as well as realized their individual potentials.

4. The Nigerian Federal Government Provides Social Welfare Services

It is the responsibility of the Nigerian federal government to provide social welfare for its citizenry, and
so, through the internally generated revenue, a number of resources have been harnessed by the
federal government, and revenue gotten from these resources have been used to provide some basic
life’s necessity for the Nigerian citizens. Some of these basic life’s necessity include, road and hospital
and pipe borne water and electricity as well as, education among other important services, such that
would help improved the livelihood of the Nigerian. citizens. Read Also: Cost of Governance In Nigeria

5. The Nigerian Federal Government Promotes Economic Development

Promotion of the economic development has remained one of the functions of the Nigerian federal
government, therefore, it is the responsibility of the Nigerian federal government to ensure that, good
fiscal policies as well as, good monetary policies are pursued for the purpose of promoting social
activities and economic development and growth. It is incumbent on the part of the Nigerian federal
government to also pursue programmes that will advance the country in all ramifications for the good
and well being of the people.

6. The Nigerian Federal Government

Protects Human Rights Human rights protection is one of the functions of the Nigerian federal
government, and this to the government, is a priority, and so, what the Nigerian federal government
does is to make sure that the fundamental rights of every of its citizenry is protected. This is one of the
reasons, why there is an advocacy that the Nigerian federal government should allow the judiciary to
remain independent in its operations, so as to Carry out its statutory functions without favour or fear,
particularly, when any Nigerian citizen attempt to sue for the purpose of redress, when someone
infringed on their rights.. Read Also: How to become President of Nigeria

7. The Nigerian Federal Government Maintains External Relations

External relations is very important to the growth and development of Nigerian nation, that is why, it is
mandatory for the Nigerian federal government to make sure that, every external relations are
maintained. Apart from economic development and growth, maintaining good external relations with
other foreign country by the Nigerian federal government is a good idea and a welcome development,
since such relations can foster peaceful co+existence between and among the Nigerian and other
country citizens.
8. The Nigerian Federal Government Provides Employment Opportunities

One of the core functions of the Nigerian federal government has been to provide employment for its
teeming citizens. The Nigerian federal government will go about this by promoting and providing
employment opportunities for its people. As part of this effort, it is expected of the Nigerian federal
government to make sure that, enabling environment is provided, as a way of encouragement to its
citizenry to avail themselves of such opportunities to better themselves. The Nigerian federal
government will achieve this by given out subsidy, as well as, reducing the excise duty on importation
and cut in taxes.. Read Also: Functions of Nigerian. National Assembly. Conclusion. Nigerian politics
revolved around a framework of a federal, and presidential, and representative democratic republic. The
executive. power as I said earlier is exercised by. the government.. Legislative power is exercised by the.
Nigerian National Assembly, which is. made up of two chambers: the House. of Representatives and also
the Senate.. These two chambers constituted the law-making arm of government in Nigeria, and it is
also referred to as the National Assembly.

* Limitations of Human Rights

Human rights can be restricted for the overall good of the citizens and the country at large in the
following ways:

1. A citizen may be denied some of his rights if he is detained by law.

2. A citizen’s right to life may be denied if he is. condemned to death by the law court as a result. of
murder, armed robbery etc.

3. Right to life is also restricted by the law which. forbids a citizen from killing himself or herself.

4. Right to fair hearing cannot be exercised beyond the highest court which is the Supreme Court in.
Nigeria.

5. Right to private property may be restricted by the right of the state to compulsorily acquire private.
property for public use.

6. Declaration of dusk to dawn curfew in periods of. emergency or chaos may limit the right of a citizen
such as freedom of movement.

7. The police in enforcing law and order can ban public assembly and demonstrations which will. deny a
citizen his right to freedom of association. and assembly.

8. A citizen suffering from insanity may be deprived. of his rights to safeguard the rights of others.

9. The court can also restrict the movement of a. citizen if he/she has a serious case pending in. court.

10. Rights to the freedom of expression and press are. restricted by the law preventing individuals from.
saying or publishing a statement that could damage the personality of others (laws of slander. and libel).
11. Some public office holders such as the president,. governor, parliamentarians, ambassadors, judges.
cannot be sued while in office because they enjoy. the protection of the law called ‘immunity clause’.

12. A citizen may be denied his rights if he is detained. on medical ground in order not to spread.
contagious disease if such citizen is suffering. from a contagious disease.

13. Existence of military rule or an unpopular dictatorial government can lead to restriction of citizens’
rights.

DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS OF CITIZENSANS

Below are some of the duties and obligations of the citizens in society.

1. Obedience to Law and Order : Citizens of a state have the constitutional obligation to obey the laws of
the state and ensure orderliness in their conducts.

2. Payment of Taxes: Citizens owe the state the duty of tax payment. It is an offence against the state.
for an employed citizen to evade tax payment.

3. Voting During Election : All qualified citizens are. expected to participate in the election of political
leaders at all levels. Those who refuse to vote. have no right to complain of bad governance.

4. Respect for the Rights of Other Citizens: The citizens are expected not to infringe on the rights of
other citizens in the process of exercising their own rights.

5. Reporting suspected criminal cases to appropriate authority or agency .

6. Readiness to serve as a witness in the court when the need arises.

7. Respect for national symbols and national. anthem .

8. Involvement in community services including environmental sanitation .

9. Willingness/readiness to defend the nation at all times .

FEDERATION (REASONS FOR ADOPTION)

A federation/federalism is a system of government in which powers of government are shared between

1. It is only suitable for a country with a large size.

2. To avoid big or bigger nation dominate them.

3. For defense, protection and security of its citizens and territory

5. To facilitate easy administration and even development of the component unity.

The conditions which lead to the formation of a federation, which may also be regarded as the reasons
for the creation of a federation , include the following.

1. Desire to form a federal government There must be a desire by the communities or nationalities to
form a federal government. This desire, however, implies that the federating groups have to give up
some of their original powers, and they must do it voluntarily.

2. Desire for local autonomy. The communities which desire to form a federal government must be
prepared to retain some of the powers previously enjoyed by them. In practical terms, this means that
there must be regional or state governments, which can handle local issues.

3. Leadership

It is one thing to have the desire to form a federal government; it is another thing to have the leaders or
statesmen who can mobilize the people for that purpose.. Leadership, as a factor involves skills in
negotiation and propaganda.

4. Geographical Contiguity

The communities, which desire to form a federation, must be very large in size and population.
Moreover, the commimities must also be geographically contiguous. It may be difficult to sustain a
federation where the component units are physically separated from one. another. The secession of
Bangladesh (former East Pakistan ) from Pakistan in 1971 was partly attributed to the physical
separation of former West Pakistan from East. Pakistan by India .

5. Availability of Resources

It is very expensive to run a federal government. As such the communities which desire to form a
federation must have abundant human and material resources.

6. Similarity of Social and Political Institutions

The political and social institutions of the groups which desire to form a federal government must be
similar. For example, most of the pre-colonial political institutions in Nigeria were highly centralized.

7. Cultural Differences

The communities, which desire to form a federation, must be diverse in terms of language, religion and
nationality. In short, a federal system of government is most suitable for a heterogeneous society.
8. Desire for Security

A federal government may be formed by weak states in order to protect themselves from their more
powerful neighbours. In other words, the fear of external attack may compel the different groups to
come together. Security and defence issues did not weigh much in the formation of the Nigerian
federation, but the American colonies joined the American federation primarily because they needed a
common action not only to win independence from Great Britain but to prevent their re-conquest.

9. Capacity to work for Federal Government

There must be a capacity to work for the survival of the federal system of government in a country. The
system requires compromlse and sacrifice for it to survive and the people who desire it must be
prepared to work for it.

10. Force of Imitation

Many communities desire the federal system of government because of its success in the United States.
The success of the American federation obviously makes federalism attractive to other countries.

11. Written Constitution

A written constitution is an essential requirement of a federal government. The government requires a

12. Existence of a Supreme Court

A federal government requires a Supreme Court which is empowered to interpret the constitution and
restrain the federal and state governments from encroaching on, or usurping the functions of the other.

13. Historical Factors Communities which have been previous administered as one country may decide
to form a federation.

Advantages and Disadvantages of 1989 constitution

The merits of the 1989 Constitution may be summarized as follows:

1. The provision of the Constitution that any fraction arising out of an electoral count should be rounded
up to the next whole number, showed the sensitivity of the framers of the constitution to the political
problems created by the interpretation of two-thirds of 19 states in the 1979 presidential elections and
their readiness to avert similar problems 1n future.

2. The cost of government was drastically reduced by this constitution. For example, the number of
Senators representing each state was reduced from five to three under this constitution. Second,
legislators were paid only a sitting allowance, a payment made for those days they attended sittings of
the house. This was a tacit application of the principle of “no work , no pay “. Finally, the President could
only appoint a maximum of three Special Advisers unlike the limitless number he could employ under
the 1979 Constitution . Thus, prudence was the watchword of this constitution.

3. The Constitution also put the legislators on their toes by providing for a system of recall. By giving the
electorate the power to recall their unproductive elected representatives who no longer enjoyed their
confidence, the constitution was only establishing the principle of voter sovereignty.

4. It was a good thing that the constitution stipulated that aspirants to public offices should possess
certain minimum educational qualifications. Lawmakers and policy makers need to understand the
complexity of government business.

5. The introduction of the two party system seemed to be a good reading of Nigeria ‘s political landscape
which had always been gravitating towards a two party system . Towards the end of the First Republic,
for example, all the major political parties had merged to form the Nigerian National Alliance (NNA) and
the United Progressives Grand-Alliance (UPGA) . And in the Second Republic, although there were five
(increased later to six) registered parties, the, same pattern was discernible as it was the National Party
of Nigeria (NPN) versus the others.

6. The decision not to grant Abuja the status of a state further enhanced its position as the symbol of
Nigerian unity.

Demerits of 1989 constitution

In Nigeria The demerits of the 1989 Constitution included the following:

1. The constitution itself was still-born as it failed to usher in the Third Republic due to the annulment of
the presidential elections held on 12th June, 1993 and the political crisis which it triggered.

2. The cost-saving measures introduced by the constitution were half-hearted as they appeared to be
directed mainly at the legislative branch of government. It was business as usual in the executive
branch.

3. Although the constitution was said to be federal , it gave more powers to the central government
than the state governments. There were no residual powers for the state governments whereas the
federal government alone could make laws on subjects in the exclusive list , and also had the upper
hand in respect of subjects in the concurrent list where federal law prevailed over state law where there
was conflict between the two laws.

4. The constitution did not provide an institutional machinery for the enforcement of the federal
character principle.

5. The imposition of two government sponsored political parties was undemocratic. The people should
be allowed freedom of association.