The federal character principle, our achilles heel ogalu bolaji jeffrey abstract nigeria is a heterogeneous state comprising of various ethnic groups this was one of the main reasons why the nigerian constitution order in council 1951, no. The first part examines the evolution of the concept of federal character principle. This principle, which is one of the autochthonous features of nigerian federation. Federal character principle in nigeria nigerian voice.
Sep 16, 2015 the former president of the nigerian bar association nba, dr. The above provision of the constitution enshrined the federal character principle. Implementation and enforcement of the federal character. Federal character principles in nigerian constitution. Federal character and management of the federal civil service. Nigeria adopted the federal character principle to counteract the nationality question that has been bedevilling the polity. The evolution of the concept of federal character principle in the nigeria political scene one may like to understand the phrase federal character principle. Introduction of the federal character principle into nigerias body of laws. Implementation and enforcement of the federal character principle in. What are disadvantages of basing employment on federal. Since nigeria got her independent in 1960 till date. But that should not border any body because igbos did not occupy every ministry before the war. Specifically, the paper examines the dimensions of the interplay between federal character principles in nigeria.
This statement is to ensure the principle that all public service institutions fairly reflect the linguistic, religious, ethnic, and geographic diversity of the country. The federal character principle, which has been enshrined in nigeria s constitution since 1979, seeks to ensure that appointments to public service institutions fairly reflect the linguistic, ethnic, religious, and geographic diversity of the country. Ladies and gentlemen, nigeria is sick federal character in nigerarea is institutionalized tribalism. The nigeria customs service board is pleased to release the list of successful candidates who were carefully selected based on. Nigerian federal state where national unity is threatened by intense completion for the soul of the. Federal character principle is one of the means devised by the nigerian nationalists to prevent the predominance of persons from a few states or ethnic groups in the political governance of nigeria by ensuring that the composition of the government of the federation reflects the federal character of nigeria. Sep 19, 2012 federal character principle was the product of gowon administration when after the civil war when it was believed that igbos occupied major ministries. Abujawrong application of federal character principle by the federal government and its agencies is drawing nigeria backwards rather than propelling it to grow and make progress in the comity. Pdf policy of the federal character principle and conflict. The federal character principle, which has been enshrined in nigerias constitution since 1979, seeks to ensure that appointments to public service institutions.
Ministerial department or agency which fails to comply with any federal character principle or. Federal character commission has the mandate to ensure fairness and equity in the distribution of post and socioeconomic activities, therefore support them to ensure unity in our great nation. This was established by an act of 1996 to address the problems of nigerias socioeconomic and cultural diversity through the application of the principle of federal character that will create a sense of belonging among the citizenry, which the federal character principles was originally meant to address. Federal character principle, a set back for nigeria momah. Comparative government ap nigeria flashcards quizlet. Federal character principle in nigeria, was as a result of the failure of p seudofederalism adopted after the first repu blic. Federal character principle and national integration. Olisa agbakoba san has advocated for the removal of the federal character principle in the constitution. The provisions of the 1999 constitution in sections 14 and 153 consolidated. Mandated to enforce the constitutions federal character principle, which seeks to ensure that the government reflects the countys diversity, the federal character commission attempts to. Nigerian custom recruitment shortlisted candidate 2020. Nigeria is in the position that she is today because of the stringent adherence to federal character principle. The practice of inclusive representation in nigeria. Principle of federal character to ensure geographical spread.
Constitution of the federal republic of nigeria 1999. Its repercussions reverberated in the last saturdays. The first school argues that britain simply imposed federalism on nigeria for her economic and political gains. Influence of the federal character principle on national. Therefore, the federal government of nigeria established the federal character principle as a policy measure to check the problem of. The 1999 constitution of nigeria includes provisions protecting freedom of religious belief and prohibiting religious discrimination. The principle of federal character federal character is the distinctive desire of the people of nigeria to promote unity, and foster national loyalty and give citizens of nigeria a sense of belonging to the nation, notwithstanding the diversities of ethnic origin, culture, language or. The federal character principle as a necessary evil. The federal character principle, which has been enshrined in nigerias constitution since 1979, seeks to ensure that appointments to public. Igeria is a country with certain peculiarities among which. The federal character principle and gender representation.
Federal character principles as it affects national development in nigeria. Constitution, enforcement, implementation, nigeria, principle. The federal character commission fcc is a federal executive body established by act no 34 of 1996 to implement and enforce the federal character principle of fairness and equity in the distribution of public posts and socioeconomic infrastructures among the various federating units of the federal republic of nigeria. The federal character principle and gender representation in. A dilution kayode, a department of political science, faculty of humanities, management and social sciences, federal university, wukari,p. These include the federal character principle, majority representation at the federal level and quota system. Federal character and political integration in nigeria dr. The radio nigeria phone in programme, radiolink, of saturday the 25 th of april brought this issue, once again, on the front burner. The most obvious accommodative strategy adopted in nigeria is the federal character principle. Agbakoba calls for removal of federal character principle. In a federal polity, there is an irrevocable division of power between the central and component units. Ministerial department or agency which fails to comply with any federal character principle or formula prescribed or adopted by the commission. After some decades those bifurcations that necessitated their principle of federal character and. This state of affairs has once again brought the issue of implementation and enforcement of the federal character principle on the front burner of our national discourse.
Federal character of nigeria, according to the cdcs report of 1977, refers to the distinctive desire of the peoples of nigeria to promote national unity, foster national loyalty and give. Nigeria adopted the federal character principle to counteract the nationality question that has been bedeviling the polity. The president must appoint ministers from each state within nigeria each ethnic group is given a certain amount of federal positions based off regional population. Federal character and management of the federal civil. The second school believes that nigerian federalism. The phrase federal character was first used by the late general murtala ramat muhammed in his address to the opening session of the constitution drafting committee on saturday the 18 th of october 1975. Federal character principle, a set back for nigeria.
The former president of the nigerian bar association nba, dr. I see lots of answers relating to the lost of talent,or that square pegs are put in round holes while this is completely true,my submission is that the main disadvantage of the federal character principle is that the much needed unity and complet. Keywords nigeria, federal character, nation building, principles and integration. Federal character and national integration in nigeria. Federation shall reflect the federal character of nigeria. This paper attempts to distil nigerian federalism and the federal character principle, so as to determine the nexus between the two and to ascertain the effectiveness of the latter on the former. The lower house of nigerias parliament is called the. Various other provisions were made in the constitution to ensure that the federal character principle was operative in the political process nnoli, 1996 in adeosun, 2011. This paper attempts to distil nigerian federalism and the federal character principle, so as to determine the nexus. Performance at the recruitment examinationinterview. Constitution of the federal republic of nigeria 1999 arrangement of sections chapter i general provisions part i federal republic of nigeria 1.
Sc9622485 title federal character principle and personnel management in nigeria. Section 153 of the 1999 nigerian constitution established the federal character commission, as a federal executive. While this principle was intended to be helpful and pro tective, it is applied through a controversial indigene concept, whereby certain groups are considered native to a particular area indigenes and others nonnative. University of nigeria research publications author nwanegbo, chukwuemeka innocent pgm.
How has federal character principle help in nurturing the system. In effect, the federal character principle has all but reduced sources of tensions, not least due to the creation of additional areas for controversy. Part ii powers of the federal republic of nigeria 4. After about three decades of the introduction of the principle, this paper seeks to determine whether the application of the federal character principle in solving national question possesses the potentials for achieving national integration which is the prerequisite for. Federal character principle the principle is one of the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy set out in chapter ii of the constitution of the federal republic of nigeria, 1999 as amended the constitution. Nigerias federal character and its discontents the news. Federal character, is the peculiar character of a peculiar country, where vacancies are filled not on merit, but rather on the tribe of the candidate. Federal character principle was the product of gowon administration when after the civil war when it was believed that igbos occupied major ministries.
Invoking the principle was, therefore, an attempt at the institutionalization of accommodation as evident in section 14 3 of the 1979 constitution. Federal character and federalism in nigeria ibadan, heinemann, 1989, 1 hereafter ekeh and osaghae, federal character. Policy of the federal character principle and conflict management in nigerian federalism article pdf available in african journal of business management 623. Implications of separation of powers and federal character. The federal character principle, which has been enshrined in nigerias constitution since 1979, seeks to ensure that appointments to public service institutions fairly reflect the linguistic, ethnic, religious, and geographic diversity of the country. Near abuja shopping mall, maputo st, zone 3, fctabuja, nigeria. Nigeria adopted the principle of federal character and doctrine of separation of powers due to inherent problems of disunity and possible altercations arising from the relationship among arms of government. The principle of federal character federal character is the distinctive desire of the people of nigeria to promote unity, and foster national loyalty and give citizens of nigeria a sense of belonging to the nation, notwithstanding the diversities of ethnic origin, culture, language or religion which may exist and which in their. The public organizations include both federal and state ministries in nigeria while the. By reuben abati there has been so much concern about how the federal character principle has since its introduction in 1979, promoted mediocrity within the public service, and retarded national growth and progress. The constitution enshrines a federal character principle, a type of quota which seeks to balance the apportionment of political positions, jobs and other government benefits evenly among nigerias many peoples but is distorted by a second principle, that of indigeneity, which makes the right to such benefits dependent upon where an. The federal character principle which made its debut into the nigerian political and public administrative landscape through the drafting and adoption of the 1979 constitution of the federal republic of nigeria appeared to be a normative expression of the historical belief of nigerians in equal access to and participation in the political and.
Character principle in the nigerian civil service is a distraction from. It is against this background that this paper examines the principle and practice of federal character in nigeria visavis national integration. The federal character was stated in nigeria s 1999 constitution. Conclusion we have been able to demonstrate in this article that central to the agitations for true federalism in nigeria is about struggle for access to national resources. After some decades those bifurcations that necessitated their. According to ladipo adamolekun, john erero and basil oshionebo in the journal of federalism 1991 214. Introduced after the civil war to promote national integration, and to address the fears of sections of the country which felt marginalized, the federal character principle. The consequences of the interplay on national development were also examined. The underlying purpose of the principle in a multi ethnic society as nigeria, is to ensure equal. Federal character commission, it intended the body to enforce the countrys federal character principle. Nigeriaworld feature article the principle of federal.
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