COMPARING FEDERAL SYSTEMS: Assessing Nigerian Federalism Through K.C Wheare’s Framework
INTRODUCTION This paper explores the nitty-gritty of federal systems through comparison and contrast. Scholars have long argued that without comparison, true knowledge remains incomplete. Therefore, this study examines the similarities and differences among federal states to determine which can truly be said to practice federalism. The analysis is guided by the ideas of Kenneth Clinton Wheare, a foremost classical scholar who developed the concept of the coordinated federal system. This paper specifically compares Nigerian federalism with that of the United States in order to determine which country more closely practices the principles of a true federation through the lens of Wheare’s theory. Furthermore, the study evaluates which of these systems particularly Nigeria’s quasifederal structure that requires restructuring to achieve a truly coordinated and independent federal arrangement. This assessment is based on Wheare’s five key principles of federalism: the principle of balance, t...