History Lesson Note JSS1(Basic 7) Third Term

History Notes for Year 7 – Edudelight.com

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN NIGERIA

HISTORY SCHEME OF WORK JSS ONE THIRD TERM

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN NIGERIA

Weeks 1 – 5: Major Centralized states in Pre-colonial Nigeria

1. Meaning of centralized states.

2. Characteristics of centralized states

3. Examples

• Hausa states
• Kanem Borno
• Nupe
• Oyo Empire
• Igala
• Kingdom
• Benin Empire
• Niger Delta
• City States
• Calabar

Weeks 6 – 10: Non- centralized states in pre-colonial Nigeria

1. Meaning of Non- centralized states

2. Characteristics of Non- centralized states

3. Examples of Non- centralized states in non-colonial Nigeira.

• Tiv
• Idoma
• Igbo
• Urhobo
• Ijo (Ijaw)
• Oro (ORON)
• Ibibio
• Anang

Weeks  11– 12: REVISION AND EXAMINATION

WEEK 1-5

TOPIC; MAJOR CENTRALIZED STATE IN PRE-COLONIAL NIGERIA

MEANING OF A CENTRALIZED STATE

A state refers to a group of people that live in a political community under one government.

A centralized state can therefore be defined as a territory that is governed by a single central authority. This authority could be headed by an individual or a group of individuals.

For example, in pre-colonial Nigeria we had traditional institutions such as the Shehu of Bornu, Sultan of Sokoto and Emirs for Hausa states in the North,Obas in the Yoruba speaking areas of the south-west and among the Edo speaking people of Benin Empire,etc

In a centralized state, the territory is governed under fixed laws and policies .Even if there are local authorities, they follow a single policy executed after it has been ratified by the central authority.

CHARACTERISTICS OF CENTRALIZED STATES

1. Single constitution; A centralized state is governed by only one constitution, this constitution is controlled and enforced by the ruler and his subordinates.
2.  power resides with the central government;; The central government does not share power with other smaller units of governments.
3. They are mostly governed by monarchs; most centralized states are governed by an emperor, a king or a queen.
4. Flexible constitution; The laws are most often easy to change. This gives room for quick decision making when there is an emergency, it also gives opportunity for progress.
5. Policies Are Centrally Planned; policy formulation is done by the central government while implementation cuts across all subordinate units
6. Singular Executive; There is only one executive body that enforces of the land which operates from the central, it is headed by the ruler for instance,an Emir,an oba,etc
7.  Singular Legislature; There is only one legislature house that makes law for the entire territory, it also operates from the central
8. Singular judiciary; the judiciary at the central oversees all issues pertaining to law s of the land.

ADVANTAGES OF CENTRALIZED STATES

1. It makes government strong and powerful.
2. it creates sense of oneness and unity
3. it reduces costs of governance
4. it helps the control of finance

DISADVANTAGES OF CENTRALIZED STATES

1. It may lead to dictatorship
2. It may lead to imbalance in economic development of the states.
3. Grassroots participation in governance is discouraged
4. it hinders the raising of future leaders at the grassroots

EXAMPLES OF CENTRALIZED STATES IN PRE-COLONIAL NIGERIA

These include

HAUSA STATES, KANEM-BORNO EMPIRE, NUPE KINGDOM, OLD OYO EMPIRE,IGALA KINGDOM,BENIN EMPIRE,NIGER DELTA CITY STATES,AND CALABAR.

CLASSWORK

1. Explain the meaning of centralized states
2.  identify the characteristics of centralized states
3. mention three examples of centralized states in pre-colonial Nigeria