Nigeria as a Federation

Subject : 

Civic Education

Term :

First Term

Week:

Week 8

Class :

JSS 2 / BASIC 8

 

Previous lesson: Pupils have previous knowledge of

 

COURAGE

 

that was taught in their previous lesson

 

Topic:

 

Nigeria as a Federation

 

Behavioural objectives:

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

 

• Say the features of Nigeria as a federation
• List the needs for federation
• Write out items that belong to the exclusive and concurrent list

 

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

 

Nigeria as a Federation

 

Federation is a group of organizations, clubs or people that have joined together to form a single group. Nigeria as a federation is a group of race that came together to form it. Up to 1914, Northern Nigeria was separated from Southern Nigeria. Lord Lugard amalgamated the northern and southern protectorates in 1914.

 

A federation is a political system whereby a group of states come together to form a single and stronger country.  Nigeria is a good example of a Federation. It is made up of one central Government with 36 state governments. Other examples outside Nigeria include: USA, Canada, Argentina, Malaysia, India, etc

Needs for federation

States need Federation for the following reasons:

1. There is need to pool the resources of all states together as no one state can produce all its needs alone.
2. There may be need for federation in order to promote unity in spite of diversity emanating from our cultural and historical perspective.
3. A country may need a federation in order to control the activities of the state to prevent the state from withering away.
4. A federation is equally a matter of necessity in order to take care of needs of the people as the component parts will be capable of meeting the immediate needs of the people.
5. Federation is also important in order to bring the government of a state closer to the people.

Characteristics of a federation

1. There is supremacy of the central government over the states Known as exclusive power.
2. States also have their own constitutionally defined constitution. This is known as Residual powers.
3. There is also supremacy of the constitution.
4. There are 3 organs of government in a federation, namely Legislative, Executive, and the judicial organs.
5. There is also the division of the federation into number of states, as we have 37 states in Nigeria.
6. There is also bicameral legislature at the central level and unicameral legislature in the states.
7. The highest court is the Supreme Court and there is equally the promotion of the independence of the judiciary.
8. There is also separation of power and the existence of the rule of law.

 

Need for Federation

 

National Integration – Integration is the combination of two or more things so that they work together. The coming together of a group of people to form Nigeria as a nation has made Nigeria a powerful, strong and reliable nation.

Unity in Diversity – A group of people, their culture and tradition may vary from one place to another and yet having the same mind to be together and work together. This one mind to work together will remove whatever is the racial difference and there by create unity in diversity within the nation.

Controlling activities of states – Since federation is the combination of smaller race and people to form a larger one, there is need for controlling body of such small groups

 

State Government Autonomy

 

The states have constitutionally defined control over their own affairs. Members of the state government are close to the people. They plan for the people and execute all their plans. The power to execute without being hindered has been vested on them to an extent. As federal government establish schools in each state, the state government also do likewise and controls all that happens in their own schools.

 

Central Government controls State

 

The central government has policies in various areas, these policies are what the various state governments follow in what they do.

 

Constitution of Federal Government

 

This allows for separation of power.

 

Exclusive – all that the federal government is to do are stated in the exclusive list

 

Residual – all that the state government are to do are stated in the residual list

 

Concurrent list – all that the federal and state governments are to do jointly are stated in the concurrent list

 

Features of Nigeria Federation

 

There is constitutional division of powers between the levels of government. In Nigeria, the constitutional powers are divided into exclusive, concurrent and residual list. Only the federal government can legislate on the exclusive list which includes defense, police affairs, fiscal and monetary policies. Both the federal and state government could legislate on concurrent list which include education, etc. it is only the state that is competent to legislate on the residual list which contains such items like land, chieftaincy titles, etc.

A federal state has a bicameral legislature, i.e. two houses of legislature.

The constitution of a federal state is supreme, i.e. sovereignty can only be located in the constitution.

The constitution of a federal state is often written and rigid.

A federal state is heterogeneous and geographically large.

Dual loyalty is entertained in a federal state. For instance, a Nigerian can at the same time be a Lagosian.

There is a body charged with fostering good relations among different levels of government.

 

 

 

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. Define Federation? 
2. Identify FIVE features of Nigerian Federation?
3. What is the Meaning of bicameral legislature
4. Why is the constitution of the state often written and rigid?
5. Give the meaning of the term federation
6. State and explain four needs for federation.
7. Highlight five characteristics of Federation.
8. Mention four countries that are federation.