DIFFERENCES AMONG FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

Subject : 

Civic Education

Term :

First Term

Week:

Week 9

Class :

JSS 2 / BASIC 8

 

Previous lesson: Pupils have previous knowledge of

 

Nigeria as a Federation

 

that was taught in their previous lesson

 

Topic:

 

DIFFERENCES AMONG FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

 

Behavioural objectives:

At the end of the lesson, the pupils should be able to

 

• Say the difference among the three tiers of government
• List the needs for federation
• Write out items that belong to the exclusive and concurrent list
• Say the power that are attribute to each arms of government based on the constitutional provision

 

Instructional Materials:

• Wall charts
• Pictures
• Related Online Video
• Flash Cards

 

Methods of Teaching:

• Class Discussion
• Group Discussion
• Asking Questions
• Explanation
• Role Modelling
• Role Delegation

 

Reference Materials:

• Scheme of Work
• Online Information
• Textbooks
• Workbooks
• 9 Year Basic Education Curriculum
• Workbooks

 

Content

 

RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE THREE ARMS OF GOVERNMENT WHICH ARE THE FEDERAL, THE STATE, AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT

 

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL        GOVERNMENTS

A Federal Government can be defined as a system of government whereby the power of government is divided between the national or central government and the governments of the component states, regions, provinces or cantons; and in which each is legally supreme in its own sphere of authority. This means that in a Federal State all the governments are being coordinated together and yet they are independent of one another as regards the power and functions expressively or impliedly given to them by the constitution.

Nigeria was formerly a single country before she became a Federation in 1954.this means that the component states of the federation were created out of a single country.

Another level of relationship can be looked at by consideration power sharing in the federation. For instance, the Federal Government takes charge of Exclusive legislative list. There is concurrent list of subjects on which both the Federal and Regional governments can make laws, but it is laid down that federal law should prevail whenever conflict arose, while residual powers resides with the State government.

Equally there is the duplication of government departments at the federal, state and local levels. For instance, there is the Federal and state civil service and the judiciary.

Revenue allocation is another form of relationship as revenue is shared among the 3 levels of government every month.

Regular Council of States meetings are held.

There is equally meetings of council of states which bring the Federal and state governments together to brainstorm on crucial national problems.

Added to the above, all the levels of government are under the operation of the same constitution to form a united government.  In a true federal system as practiced in the First Republic, each component part of the Federation has its own constitution. However, provisions in the regional constitutions are not at variance to that of the Central government. In the case of any variance or clash, the federal constitution prevails.

Summarily, it could be noted that the following are the major relationship between Federal and State Governments.

1. in a Federal State all the governments are being coordinated together and yet they are independent of one another
2. the component states of the federation are created out of a single country.

• power sharing in the federation.

1. there is the duplication of government departments at the federal, state and local levels
2. revenue is shared among the 3 levels (tiers) of government every month.
3. Regular council of states meeting are held. which bring the Federal and state governments together to discuss national problems and issues of economic development.

 

DIFFERNCES AMONG FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

The three tiers of government:

In spite of the existing relationship between the levels of government, there are areas of differences, which could be seen in the following areas.

1. FUNCTIONS: The functions of the Federal Government cover the whole of the federation while a state will only operate within the state and local government at the local government area or small communities
2. LEGISLATIVE POWERS: The Federal legislature is bicameral, made up of the senate and the House of Representatives, while the State legislature is unicameral.  Federal legislature makes laws affecting the whole country while the State legislature makes laws affecting only its areas of operation within the state boundary including the local government areas.
3. 1. EXECUTIVE POWERS: The executive council at the Federal level is headed by the President and is made up of the Vice President, the Federal Ministers and Secretary to the Government of the Federation,  while at the state level, the head of the administration in the state is the Governor assisted by Deputy Governor with the commissioners and state civil servants.
   2. POWER SHARING: As previously stated and contained in the constitution, the federal government exercises power on the exclusive legislative list in the constitution. State government can legislate on the Residual legislative list while both Federal and state can both legislate on the concurrent legislative list. At the Local Government level, power to make law is exercised through bye laws which are given through the Acts of parliament.
   3. CONCURRENT, EXCLUSIVE AND RESIDUAL POWERS IN A FEDERATION: In a federal system of government, it is well stated in the constitution how the powers should be shared between the central government and the component parts that form the federation.  The constitution stipulates how the different levels of government can avoid conflict by defining their powers which are referred to as the exclusive, concurrent and residual lists.

    

   Concurrent Legislative List

   The concurrent list is meant for the two arms of government; both the central and state governments to legislate upon all the items under the concurrent legislative list.  However, if there is disagreement between state and federal laws in any of those items, the federal law will prevail over the state law. This is however, subject to interpretation by a competent court of law such as the Federal High Court and the Supreme Court.  The concurrent list includes agriculture, health, education, certain roads, schools, colleges and social insurance and banks.

   Exclusive Legislative List

   The exclusive legislative list includes all items listed in the constitution which are meant for the central government.  It is only the central government that can legislate upon these through the National Assembly.  Some of these items include:  Police, Foreign Affairs (External Affairs)  Defense and Internal Security, Telecommunications, Monetary System, minimum wage, trade unions, etc.

    

    

   Residual Legislative list

   The items that are not under exclusive and concurrent lists are put under the residual list.  Basically, it is the state governments that have powers to legislate upon these items.  One of the items under residual list is the issue of chieftaincy matters which concern only the states.  This makes all the traditional rulers to be under the jurisdiction of the state Government.

   	Federal	State	Local Government
   Functions	Covers the whole of the federation	Only operate within the state.	Operate at the local or small community
   Legislative power	1.  Bicameral 2. makes laws affecting the whole country	Unicameral State laws cover their area of operation	Unicameral Local laws covers local levels
   Executive power	The executive council at the federal level is headed by the president and assisted by the vice presidents and some ministers	At the state level the head of administration is the Governor  assisted by deputy governor with some commissioners and state civil servants	At the local government level the chair man is the head assisted by   vice chairman and the councilors with their workers.
   Power sharing	F.G legislates on the exclusive list in the constitution.	State government legislate on residual list	In the local government, the power to make law is exercise through bye laws which are given through the acts of parliament.
   Heads of Units	Ministers	Commissioners	Supervisory councilors

    

    

 

 

Presentation

 

The topic is presented step by step

 

Step 1:

The class teacher revises the previous topics

 

Step 2.

He introduces the new topic

 

Step 3:

The class teacher allows the pupils to give their own examples and he corrects them when the needs arise

 

 

Conclusion

The class teacher wraps up or conclude the lesson by giving out short note to summarize the topic that he or she has just taught.

The class teacher also goes round to make sure that the notes are well copied or well written by the pupils.

He or she does the necessary corrections when and where  the needs arise.

 

 

 

 

 

Evaluation

1. State at least Three relationship between Federal and State government

    
2. Differentiate between Federal, State, and Local government giving at least three points.