Civic Education Curriculum Implementation: Pathway to the Realisation of True Federalism in Nigeria

Abstract

With recourse to the unique geographic and ethnographic composition of Nigeria, the federal system of government was adopted for the most important British colonial possession in West Africa in 1954 through the adoption of the Littleton Constitution. However, the practice of federalism in Nigeria today has left more to be desired. The concern of the paper was therefore to examine the practice of federalism in Nigeria – the defining features of Nigerian federalism and how it differs from the ideal or true federalism. The paper also reviewed the components of civic education considered to be useful in the entrenchment of federalist ideals and principles in the Nigerian school child. The paper went further to recommend the practical approach needed to bring true federalism to reality in Nigeria. It is the considered position of these authors that the clamor for true federalism in Nigeria can be effectuated through effective implementation of the civic education curriculum in Nigerian schools.

Keywords: Civic Education, Curriculum, Implementation, Federalism

JEL Classification: M