Nigeria's Brand Of Federalism: The Trigger For Political Crisis?

Author : Frederick O. Igwenyere

Abstract :Peculiarities of countries have led them to adopt different constitutional mechanisms. One such system is federalism. Nigeria adopted this system during its colonial days due to its complex ethnic and religious makeup. At independence in 1960, the country retained a federal structure with power sharing between the central government and the then three regions. However, the country has had a chequered history concerning federalism. The military incursion into Nigeria’s political life has had a profound, negative impact on the practice of federalism. The regional autonomy, which was the hallmark of the First Republic, was replaced by the administration of Yakubu Gowon, which oversaw the over-centralisation of political and fiscal powers. The degree to which an anomalous or nebulous federal constitution can stifle democracy, the rule of law, and economic growth in a country is examined.

Keywords :Nigeria, Federalism, Constitution, States, Central government.

Conference Name :International Conference On Conflict Resolution And Peace Studies

Conference Place Kopavogur, Iceland

Conference Date 15th Nov 2025