Attorney General of Abia State & 2 Ors V Attorney General of the Federation 33 Ors

Idris Legbo Kutigi	......	Justice, Supreme Court
Umaru Atu Kalgo	......	Justice, Supreme Court
Niki Tobi	......	Justice, Supreme Court
Dahiru Musdapher	......	Justice, Supreme Court
Ignatius Chukwudi Pats-Acholonu	......	Justice, Supreme Court
George Adesola Oguntade	......	Justice, Supreme Court
Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen	......	Justice, Supreme Court

This is yet another open quarrel between the State and the Federal Government. This Court is by now thoroughly familiar and used to such quarrels, as they come before it fairly regularly in the last few years or so. The open quarrel dovetails to a subtle one between the concepts of federalism and unitarism in constitutional law and politics. Paradoxically, the two concepts do not have the slightest inkling or knowledge of the open quarrel they are roped in subtly, as they remain quiet in reference and text books. The open quarrel seems to wake them up to their apparent consternation. They seem to be used as conduit pipes in the carriage of the case of each party to a successful end. I will deal with the two concepts in this judgment, albeit briefly.

The cynosure or fulcrum of the quarrel is in respect of some sections of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and some sections of the Monitoring of Revenue Allocation to Local Governments Act, 2005. It looks an apparently short Act of ten sections, but has caused so much anxiety, furore and turbulence. It has caused so much ill feeling and rancour too, particularly in the States. That has caused this large litigation involving the Federal Government and all the states.

The Attorney-General of Abia State, the 1^st plaintiff, ignited the candle that raised the fire. He set the ball rolling as he initiated the first action. He was followed by his colleague of Delta State, the Attorney General of Delta State, the 2^nd plaintiff. The Attorney-General of Lagos State took the third position, not in an examination setting though. He filed the action last and so he too the rear as the 3^rd plaintiff. As the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs are basically similar, this court consolidated the three suits on 20^th October 2005. This was on the application of the 2nd and 3^rd plaintiffs.

Although the suits were consolidated, I should set out the reliefs of each plaintiff. The 1^st plaintiff claims as follows:

"a. A declaration that no laws made by the National Assembly can validly direct the Plaintiff or any other State Government to include a Commissioner of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission as a member of the State Joint Local Government Allocation Committee envisaged by Section 162 of the Constitution.

b. A declaration that no law made by the National Assembly can validly direct the Plaintiffs Joint Local Government Allocation Committee to render monthly Returns to the Federation Account Allocation Committee or at all.

c. A declaration that save and except for laws of the Federation with respect to:

(i) The prescription of such terms and in what manner any amount standing to the credit of the Federation shall be distributed among the Federal and State Governments and the Local Government Councils;

(ii) The prescription of such terms and in what manner the amount standing to the credit of Local Government Councils in the Federation Account shall also be allocated to the States for the benefit of their Local Government Councils;

(iii) The establishment of the Federal Capital Territory Joint Area Council Allocation Committee and the Federal Capital Territory Joint Area Council Committee -

it is the House of Assembly of a State not the National Assembly which may make a Law prescribing the terms and manner in which the amount standing to the credit of the Local Government Councils in a State shall be distributed."

d. A declaration that the provisions contained in Sections 1, 3, 6(1), 7 and 9 of the Monitoring of Revenue Allocation to Local Governments Act, 2005 are, from the date of commencement of the Act, inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and are accordingly null and void and inoperative."

"1. A declaration that Sections 1, 2, 3 and 7 of The Monitoring of Revenue Allocation to Local Governments Act, 2005 as they relate to the Plaintiff are unconstitutional and void being inconsistent with Sections 4, 5, 7 and 162(5), (6) and (8) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999"

2. An order of Perpetual Injunction restraining the Government of the Federation, its functionaries, agencies whomsoever, including the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission or any of its Commissioners, the Accountant-General of the Federation or his representatives from enforcing or purporting to enforce by sanctioning in any way or manner whatsoever directly or indirectly the provisions or any of the provisions of the Monitoring of Revenue Allocations to Local Governments Act, 2005 against the Government of Delta State, its functionaries, public officers, servants and agencies whomsoever."

"1. A declaration that the provisions of Sections 1, 2, 3, 6(1), 7 & 9 of the Monitoring of Revenue Allocations to Local Governments Act, 2005 are inconsistent with the provisions of Sections 4, 7 and 162(5), (6) and (8) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and therefore unconstitutional, null and void;"

2. A declaration that the provisions of Sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Monitoring of Revenue Allocations of Local Governments Act, 2005 by imposing a duty and obligation on the State Governments violate the principles of Federalism enshrined in the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999 and relevant case law and are therefore unconstitutional, unlawful null and void;"

3. A declaration that by virtue of the provisions of Sections 4, 7 and 162(6) and (8) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 the House of Assembly of Lagos State is the body competent to make laws for the establishment composition and functions of the State Joint Local Government Account Committee for Lagos State;"

4. A declaration that having regard to the provisions of Sections 7 and 128 of the Constitution of Nigeria the defendant cannot by The Monitoring of Revenue Allocation to Local Governments Act 2005 or any other Act of the National Assembly exercise oversight functions over Local Government administration in any Slate of the Federation.

5. An order of perpetual injunction restraining the Federal Government of Nigeria represented by the 1^st Defendant by itself, agents and servants or howsoever from implementing or giving any effect whatsoever to the said Monitoring of Revenue Allocation to Local Governments Act 2005.

6. An order of perpetual injunction restraining the Federal Government of Nigeria represented by the 1^st Defendant by itself, agents and servants or howsoever from acting in any manner in contravention of the provisions of Sections 4, 7. 128 and 162 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999."

While the 1^st plaintiff seeks four reliefs, the 2^nd plaintiff seeks two reliefs. The 3^rd plaintiff seeks six reliefs. There is yet another aspect of the reliefs. While the 1^st plaintiff’s reliefs seek to nullify sections 1, 3, 6(1), 7 and 9 of the Monitoring of Revenue Allocation to Local Governments Act, 2005, the 2^ndplaintiff’s reliefs seek to nullify sections I, 2, 3, and 7 of the Act. The 3^rd plaintiff’s reliefs seek to nullify sections 1, 2, 3, 6(1), 7 and 9 of the Act.

The Monitoring of Revenue Allocation to Local Governments Act, 2005, which is the bone of contention in this matter, was passed by the National Assembly and assented to by the President on the 12^th day of April 2005. As indicated above, the Act contains ten sections. Section I provides for the establishment and membership of the Joint Local Government Account Allocation Committee for each State. Section 2 provides for the functions of the Committee. Section 3 provides for rendering of monthly returns by the Committee to the Federation Account Allocation Committee. Section 4 provides for Joint Area Councils Account Allocation Committee for the Federal Capital Territory and section 5 provides for the functions of that Committee. Section 6 provides for limitation of power of borrowing by State Governments. Section 7 prohibits State or the Federal Capital Territory to alter, deduct or re-allocate funds standing to the credit of the State Joint Local Government Account or the Federal Capital Territory Joint Area Councils Account. Section 7(3) contains penalty for contravention or breach of the provisions of section 7(1). Section 8 enjoins the Accountant General lo report to each House of the National Assembly on a quarterly basis the payments made to each State under the Act and stating whether or not the payments were correctly made under the Act. Section 9 enjoins the Auditor-General of the Federation to report to the National Assembly at the end of each financial year how the monies allocated to each State for the benefit of the Local Government Councils within the State and the Area Councils in the Federal Capital Territory were spent. Section 10 is the citation clause. The above in brief is the run down of the Act.

All the plaintiffs filed their briefs. So too the 1^st defendant and most of the defendants. The 1^st plaintiff formulated one issue for determination:

"Whether the first defendant has the legislative competence to enact the Monitoring of Revenue Allocation to Local Governments Act, 2005 and whether the said Act is not wholly or partially inconsistent with extant provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999."

"1. Whether the provisions of sections 1(1) and 7(1) of the Monitoring Of Revenue Allocation To ^:Local Governments Act, 2005 are inconsistent with section 162(6) and (8) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 in so far as the Act seeks to regulate the manner the amount allocated to the State for the benefit of the local governments in the plaintiff State is to be distributed in the light of the decision of the Supreme Court in Attorney General, Ogun State v Attorney General, Federation (2002) 10 NWLR 232.

2. Whether sections 1(2), 2 and 3 of the Monitoring Of Revenue Allocation To Local Governments Act, 2005 in so far as they seek to subject the plaintiff State to the authority of the National Assembly do not offend the spirit and letter of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

3. Whether section 7 of the Monitoring of Revenue Allocation to Local Governments Act, 2005 which creates a federal offence and seeks to subject State functionaries to sanctions by the National Assembly in respect of domestic matters of a State over which the plaintiff State House of Assembly has prescriptive powers under section 162(8) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 is not ultra vires and unconstitutional."

3.1 Whether the provisions of Sections I, 2, 3, 6(1), 7, and 9 of the Monitoring of Revenue Allocation to Local Governments Act 2005 are not inconsistent with the provisions of Sections 4, 7, and 162(5), (6) and (6) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and therefore unconstitutional, null and void.

3.2 Whether or not Sections 1, 2, and 3 of the Monitoring of Revenue Allocation to Local Governments Act 2005, by imposing a duty and obligation on the State Government in matters within its legislative competence are not in violation of the principles of Federalism enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and relevant case law on the issue.

3.3 Whether by virtue of the provisions of Sections 4, 7 and 162(6) & (8) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, the House of Assembly of Lagos State is not the body competent to make laws for the establishment and composition and functions of the State Joint Local Government Account Committee for Lagos State.

3.4 Whether having regard to the provisions of Sections 7 and 128 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the defendant can by the Monitoring of Revenue Allocation to Local Governments Act 2005 or any other Act of the National Assembly exercise oversight functions over Local Government Administration in any State of the Federation."

The 1^st defendant, the Attorney-General of the Federation formulated the following issues, for determination:

"1. Whether the 1^st Defendant (representing the National Assembly in this case) has the legislative competence to enact the Monitoring of Revenue Allocation to Local Government Act, 2005.

2. Whether the said Act is not wholly or partially inconsistent with extant provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1900.

Learned counsel for the 1^st plaintiff, Chief Solo U. Akuma, submitted that the 1^st defendant has not the legislative competence to enact some sections of the Monitoring of Revenue Allocation to Local Governments Act, 2005. He referred to sections 4, 7, and 162 of the Constitution and the following cases: Attorney-General of Abia State v Attorney-General of the Federation (2002) 6 NWLR (Pt 763) 264; Attorney-General of the Federation v Attorney-General of Abia State (No. 2) (2002) 6 NWLR (PL764) 542; Attorney-General of Ogun State v Attorney-General of the Federation (2002) 18 NWLR (Pt 798) 232. Referring to sections I, 2, 3 and 7 of the Monitoring of Revenue Allocation to Local Governments Act, 2005, learned counsel submitted that the provisions are unconstitutional and void, being inconsistent with sections 4, 5, 7, 162(5), (6) and (8) of the Constitution. Counsel urged the court to apply the blue pencil rule to the Act enabling the severance of sections 4 and 5 of the Act and the nullification of sections I, 2, 3 and 7 thereof.

Learned counsel pointed out that the 1^st plaintiff has no complaint against the Act in so far as it seeks in sections 4 and 5 to make provisions relating to the Federal Capital Territory only. He urged the court to grant the reliefs as in paragraph 10 of the Statement of Claim.

Learned counsel for the 2^nd plaintiff, Professor Fidelis Oditah, QC, SAN, submitted on Issue No 1 that the provisions of sections I, 2, 3 and 7 of the Monitoring of Revenue Allocation to Local Governments Act, 2005, are inconsistent with sections 4, 5, 7 and 162 of the Constitution in so far as the Act seeks to create offence and regulate the manner the amount allocated to the State for the benefit of the Local Governments in the 2^nd plaintiff's State is to be distributed. He took each of the sections of the Act and the Constitution in some detail. He referred to Attorney-General, Ogun State v Attorney-General of the Federation (2002) 18 NWLR (Pt. 798) 232; Attorney-General of Lagos State v Attorney-General Of the Federation (2003) 12 NWLR (Pt. 833) 1; Attorney-General of Ogun State v Attorney-General of the Federation (1982) SC 1; Attorney-General of Abia State v. Attorney General of the Federation (2002) 2 NWLR (Pt 763) 264 Attorney-General of Ondo State v Attorney-General of the Federation (2002) 9 NWLR (Pt. 772) 222 and MacFoy v UAC (I961) WLR 3. Relying on Cambridge International Dictionary of English, learned Senior Advocate brought out the difference between the words, "allocate" and "distribute" as they relate to section 162(5) and 162(8) of the Constitution respectively.

Learned Senior Advocate submitted on Issue No 2 that where a court grants a declaration, it will also grant an order of injunction to preserve the declaration. He referred to Attorney-General of Federation v Attorney-General of Abia state (No, 2) (2002) 6 NWLR (Pt 764) 542. He urged the court to grant the reliefs sought by the 2^nd plaintiff against the 1^st defendant.

Learned counsel for the 3^rd plaintiff, Mr. A. R. Ipaye submitted that sections I, 2, 3, 6(1), 7 and 9 of the Monitoring of Revenue Allocation to Local Governments Act, 2005 are inconsistent with the provisions of sections 4, 7, 162(5), (6) and (8) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and therefore unconstitutional, null and void. He also submitted that it is unconstitutional for an Act of the National Assembly to impose a duty or obligation on a State Government in matters within the legislative competence of the state Legislature. He also took each of the sections of the Act and the Constitution in some detail. He referred to Attorney-General of Ogun State v Attorney-General of the Federation (2003) 12 SC 1; Attorney-General of Lagos State v Attorney-General of the Federation (2003) 6 SC (Pt. 1) 61; Bailey v Diexel Furniture Co. 259 US (1921) at pages 449 to 453 and 450; Attorney-General of Ogun State v Attorney-General of the Federation(1982) 13 NSCC 1..

Learned counsel for the 1^st defendant, Mr. Duro Adeyele, submitted on Issue No 1 that the combined effect, of sections 7(6) (a) and 162(5) of the Constitution is that the National Assembly has the constitutional power to allocate public revenue to Local Governments in the Federation and the consequential constitutional power to prescribe the tenure and manner upon which such allocations may be made. To learned counsel, the only way the National Assembly may make such prescription is to enact an Act like has been done instanta. vide the Monitoring of Revenue to Local Governments Act, 2005. He referred to Attorney- General of Bendel State v Attorney-General of the Federation (1983) NSCC 181 at 192. He submitted that the decision of this Court in Attorney-General of Abia State v Attorney-General of the Federation (2002) 6 NWLR (Pt. 763) 264 buttressed the position he has taken. He referred specifically to the statement of Ogundare, JSC that "there is also power given to the National Assembly pursuant to section 7(6)(a) to make provisions for statutory allocation of public revenue to Local Government Councils in the Federation”.

Counsel submitted on Issue No 2 that the Monitoring of Revenue Allocation to Local Governments Act, 2005 is not inconsistent with extant provisions of the Constitution as the Act was validly enacted. Relying on the case of Attorney-General of Ondo Slate v. Attorney-General of the Federation (2002) FWLR (Pt 111) 1972 at page 2146, learned counsel pointed out that the Federal Government seeks to check the twin vices of corruption and abuse of power by the enactment of the Act.

Taking the case of Attorney-General of the Federation v. Attorney-General of Abia State(No 2) (2002) 6 NWI.R (PI. 764) 542, learned counsel contended that this court decided the case in the way it did because the National Assembly had not enacted any law relating to revenue allocation as it is empowered to do by section 162(2) of the Constitution. He distinguished the case of Attorney-General of Ogun State v. Attorney-General of the Federation (2002) 18 NWLR (Pt. 798) 232 from this case. He relied on section 162(5) of the Constitution. He urged the court to dismiss the claims of the plaintiffs in their entirely.

All the defendants who filed briefs have urged this court to grant the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs. A few of them have asked for other reliefs not contained in the actions of the plaintiffs. I do not intend to take the length and breadth of their briefs but I should give a summary of their submissions. As parties, they are entitled to be heard and they must be heard.

The 2nd defendant, the Attorney-General of Adamawa State, submitted that the exercise of jurisdiction over any amount standing to the credit of Local Government Councils in the Stale is the absolute prerogative of Adamawa State Government, as proscribed by the Adamawa Stale Joint Local Government Account (Distribution and Fiscal Committee) Law, 2001.

The 3"' defendant, the Attorney-General of Akwa-Ibom State, examined the provisions of the Act in question and submitted that they offend the spirit and letter of principles of federalism which enable each level of Government to be supreme within its sphere of authority.

The 4^th defendant, the Attorney-General of Anambra State, submitted that there is no provision in the 1999 Constitution that vests in the National Assembly with power to legislate for the establishment of the State Joint Local Government Account Allocation Committee.

The 6^th defendant, the Attorney-General of Bayelsa State, submitted that it was abundantly clear that sections 1, 2 and 3 of the 2005 Act are inconsistent with sections 4, 5, 7, and 162(6) of the Constitution as they affect the spirit and letter of the principles of federalism. He also submitted that the Act has grossly eroded the autonomy of the State House of Assembly to make laws in respect of Local Government finances.

The 9^th defendant, the Attorney-General of Cross River State, submitted that there is no provision in section 162 of the Constitution that enables the National Assembly to make laws to control and monitor the revenue accruing to the Local Governments of the various States in the Federation from the Federation Account.

The 10^th defendant, the Attorney General of Ebonyi State, submitted that the Federal Government cannot in any way exercise supervisory authority over a State Government and that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 guarantees that as a Federation of States, all the States in the Federation are to an extent autonomous as it concerns the internal governance and smooth running of its affairs.

The 11^th defendant, the Attorney-General of Edo State, submitted that sections I, 2, 3, 6(1), 7 and 9 of the Monitoring of Revenue Allocation to Local Governments Act, 2005 are inconsistent with the substantive provisions of sections 7 and 162(5), (6) and (8) of the 1999 Constitution and are therefore inoperative, null and void to the extent of their inconsistencies. He also submitted that the purport of the Monitoring of Revenue Allocation to Local Governments Act, 2005 offends the spirit of federalism as entrenched in our Constitution.

The 12^th defendant, the Attorney-General of Ekiti State, submitted that sections 1, 2, 3, 6(1), 7 and 9 of the 2005 Act which seek to impose duty and obligations on the State Government in the distribution of allocation to the Local Governments constitute an inconsistency with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and to the extent of that inconsistency, is null and void.

The 15^th defendant, the Attorney-General of Imo State, submitted that Local Government is not an item in the Exclusive Legislative List or the Concurrent Legislative List. It should ordinarily be regarded as an item in the residual list.

The 22^nd defendant, the Attorney-General of Kwara State, asserted that it is only the State House of Assembly that has the necessary legislative competence on Local Government finances except as otherwise permitted by the Constitution.

The 23^rd defendant, the Attorney-General of Nasarawa State, urged the court to declare that the 2005 Act in its entirety is unconstitutional, invalid, null and void, as under the 1999 Constitution, the National Assembly has no legal or constitutional power to legislate upon matters in respect of Local Government Councils.

The 24^th defendant, the Attorney-General of Niger State, submitted that any exercise of legislative power by the National Assembly to legislate and vest competence in a Committee regarding the distribution of fund to Local Government is a usurpation of the powers of the State House of Assembly.

The 25^th defendant, the Attorney-General of Ogun State, submitted that the 2005 Act is a trespass on the legislative powers of the States, and described the Act as a coloured legislation.

The 26^th defendant, the Attorney-General of Ondo State, submitted that Local Government as an item belongs lo the residual list which only the State can legislate upon.

The 27^th defendant, the Attorney-General of Osun State, who dealt at some length with the blue pencil rule, submitted in addition that sections 4, 5, 6(2), 8 and 10 of the Act should also be declared a nullity.

The 28^th defendant, the Attorney-General of Oyo State, submitted that the powers given to the National Assembly, vide section 162 of the Constitution are limited.

The 30^th defendant, the Attorney-General of Rivers State, submitted that having taken the position that sections I, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 9 of the 2005 Act are inconsistent with the constitutional provisions, the court on the authority of sections 1(3) and 315 of the Constitution should declare the entire Act null and void.

The 31^st defendant, the Attorney-General of Sokoto State, submitted that the 2005 Act is an undisguised encroachment on the constitutional powers and functions of the States with regard lo the allocation of revenue to Local Government Councils in the States.

The 33^rd defendant, the Attorney-General of Yobe State, submitted that the law passed by the National Assembly (the 2005 Act) completely negates the provision of section 162(8) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and therefore invalid.

Finally, the 34^th defendant, the Attorney-General of Zamfara State, submitted that the National Assembly cannot make a law imposing obligation on States to create or compel the inclusion of Federal functionaries in the State bodies.

Learned counsel for the 3^rd plaintiff, in his Reply Brief, submitted that section 4(5) of the Constitution does not apply where the subject matter of law in contention has been expressly reserved to the State Assembly either by specific provision of the Constitution or by virtue of it being a residual matter. He contended that the matter is a residual one. To learned counsel, sections 7(6)(a) and 162(5) of the Constitution can only justify allocation and must be interpreted in the light of other provisions of the Constitution and indeed the accepted principles of federalism.

Reacting to the case of Attorney-General of Bendel State v. Attorney-General of the Federation particularly the decision of Uwais, JSC (as be then was) cited by learned counsel for the 1^st defendant, counsel submitted that the decision does not lake cognisance of the fact that under the 1999 Constitution, the obligation to maintain a State Joint Local Government Account is placed squarely in the Government of the State by section 162(7) of the 1999 Constitution. He argued that in the context of the constitutional provision, it would be wrong to contend that the Committee to maintain and manage the account in the State must be established by Federal law. In a Federal system, and in the absence of an express provision enabling it in that regard, the Federal Legislature undoubtedly has the power to make provisions for the allocation of revenue to all component units but it lacks the power to establish a management committee for a State or its Local Government Councils, counsel argued.

While conceding that the allocation to States and Local Government Councils of funds is done directly by the Federal Government on a monthly basis even before the release of funds, he argued that once the allocation is so done and funds released, the Federal Government becomes functus officio, otherwise the National Assembly would be in a position to specify budgetary items, contracting regulations, disbursement methods, accounting processes, etc. for States and Local Government Councils which would more or less amount to take over of the administration of those tiers of government.

Taking the case of Attorney-General of Ondo State v. Attorney-General of the Federation cited by counsel for the 1^st defendant, learned counsel submitted that the case cannot apply to the facts of this case. He argued that in the face of express and unambiguous constitutional provisions, there can be no room for implied legislative powers. He called in aid section 7(1) of the Constitution. He contended that although the National Assembly could establish the ICPC to fight corruption nationwide, the same excuse must not be allowed for the Federal Government take over of the supervision of Local Government Councils and other constitutional functions of States.

On the argument of counsel for the 1^st defendant in respect of a first charge, learned counsel relied on the case of Attorney-General of Lagos State v Attorney-General of the Federation. On the issue of estoppel raised by counsel for the 1^st defendant, learned counsel submitted that the defence is not available to the 1^st defendant as unconstitutional legislation cannot be legitimized by collusion of legislators.

I indicated in the opening paragraph of this judgment that apart from the open quarrel between the Federal and State Governments, there is also a subtle quarrel between the concepts of federalism and unitarism. I will deal briefly with these concepts as a necessary adjunct to the examination of the provisions of the Constitution and the Monitoring of Revenue Allocation to Local Governments Act, 2005.

Federalism, as a legal and political concept, generally connotes an association of states; formed for certain common purposes, but the states retain a large measure of their original independence or autonomy. It is the coordinate relationship and distribution of power between the individual states and the national government, which is at the centre. Federalism, as a viable concept of organizing a pluralistic society such as Nigeria, for governance, does not encourage so much concentration of power in the centre, which is the Federal Government. In Federalism, the component States do not play the role of errand boys. The other extreme is also true and it is that they do not exercise sovereignty, which only belongs lo the nation as a sovereign entity. States in a Federation rather exercise the middle role, if I may say so, for lack of better expression, of exercising legislative and fiscal autonomy as provided for in the Constitution.

Professor Wheare, in his Book titled, Federal Government Oxford University Press (1963) said at page 93:

"The peculiar federal problem is this. The federal principle regimes that the general and regional governments of a country shall be independent each of the other within its sphere, shall be not subordinate one to another but co-ordinate with each other. Now if this principle is to operate not merely as a matter of strict law but also in practice, it follows that both general and regional government must each have under its own independent control financial resources sufficient to perform its exclusive functions. Each must be financially co-ordinate with the other. To quote some words from The Federalist: “It is, therefore, as necessary that the state governments should be able to command the means of supplying their wants, as that the national government should possess the like faculty in respect to the wants of the union."

The operative and telling sentence for our purpose is "... the general and regional governments of a country shall be independent each of the other within its sphere..." The most pungent words are "within its sphere".

Normally, a Federal Constitution, by its federal nature, cleanly and clearly arranges the functions of the Federal and State Governments so much so that it is easy to identify the sphere of each other, and here the word "sphere" generally means an area or range of activity in terms of functionality.

Federalism in government, Professor Nwabueze said, seeks to achieve two objectives. By taking away certain powers from the centre and localizing them in certain groups which it establishes into distinct governmental units existing independently of the centre and of each other; it greatly reduces the power of the majority at the centre and thus minimizes the danger of its domination of the other groups; at the same time it enables each group to develop at its own speed and along its own characteristic lines within the unity of the whole. See Constitutional Law of the Nigeria Republic, Butterworths (1964) at pages 148 to 149.

This Court has construed federalism and the federal structure in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999. In Attorney-General of Lagos State v Attorney-General of the Federation, this court held that by the doctrine of federalism which has been adopted by virtue of section 2(2) of the 1999 Constitution, the autonomy of each government, which presupposes its separate existence and its independence from the Federal Government, is essential to federal arrangement. Therefore each government exists not as an appendage of another government but as an autonomous entity in the sense of being able to exercise its own will in the conduct of its affairs, free from direction by another government.

In Chief Olafisoye v Federal Republic of Nigeria (2004) 4 NWL R (Pt. 864) 580, this court also held that the concept of State autonomy must he examined in the context of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999. This is because it will not be a useful exercise to lake the concept outside the constitutional arrangement and therefore in a vacuum or in vacuo.

Unitarism, on the other hand, is a constitutional arrangement where the Constitution concentrates at the central or national level, a very strong central command, making the regional or groups parasitic on the centre, in the sense that they do not enjoy any autonomy. It is an arrangement in which there exists a strong central government and weak regional governments. In some aspects, it is an arrangement where two or more areas or groups have joined together with a common aim, objective and purpose, controlled essentially by a single government, so to say. Unlike federalism, unitarism has not that clear bifurcation of legislative functions in terms of the central and regional Governments. Britain is an example of unitarism. As a matter of fact, it is one of the oldest if not the oldest unitary Government in the world.

Nigeria, as a Federation, operates federalism. This is made possible by the Federal Constitutions enacted in the past, culminating in the current Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Chapter 1, Part 1, clearly describes Nigeria as a Federal Republic. The Part contains three strongly worded sections.

In the true culture and tenet of federalism, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, makes a clear distinction between legislative powers of the National Assembly and House of Assembly of a State. Section 4 is the source of the legislative powers of the Legislatures. While section 4(1) to (4) provides for the legislative powers of the National Assembly, section 4(6) and (7) provides for the legislative powers of the House of Assembly of a State. Section 4(5) provides for the common law doctrine of covering the field.

Let me first take briefly the legislative powers of the National Assembly. By section 4l(l), the legislative powers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are vested in the Senate and the House of Representatives which are duly provided for in sections 47 to 49 of the Constitution.

The main enabling provision of law making of the National Assembly is in section 4(2). It reads:

"The National Assembly shall have power to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the federation or any part thereof with respect to any matter included in the Exclusive Legislative List set out in Part 1 of the Second Schedule to this Constitution.”

By the provision, the law making power of the National Assembly is not restricted to the Federal Government but also extends to any part of the Federation if the matter is in the Exclusive Legislative List. The second arm of section 4(2), like the first arm, is not open ended. It is restricted to matters included in the Exclusive Legislative List set out in Part I of the Second Schedule to the Constitution. In other words, and putting it in a positive language, the National Assembly is vested with legislative powers across the country if the subject matter is an item contained in the Exclusive Legislative List set out Part 1 of the Second Schedule to the Constitution. Putting in a negative language, the National Assembly cannot exercise legislative powers in matters not included in the Exclusive Legislative List set out in Part 1 of the Second Schedule to the Constitution.

In addition to the provision of section 4(2), section 4(4) vests in the National Assembly the power lo make laws with respect to the following matters

(a) any matter in the Concurrent Legislative List set out in the first column of Part II of the Second Schedule to this Constitution to the extent prescribed in the second column opposite thereto; and

(b) any other matter respect to which it is empowered to make laws in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution

Unlike the constitutional arrangement in the I963 Constitution, the Concurrent Legislative List is no longer a free shopping centre for both the Federal and State Governments. On the contrary, Concurrent Legislative List clearly sets out those items that the National Assembly can freely legislate. So too the House of Assembly of a State as it relates to section 4(7)(b) of the Constitution. Section 4(4) (b)) is an omnibus and generic provision anticipating what is not covered by section 4(2), and 4(4)(a) of the Constitution.

I skipped section 4(3). It is intentional. I wanted to first deal with the legislative powers of the National Assembly before I move to section 4(3) which looks double-barrelled in the sense that it deals with both the National Assembly and House of Assembly of a State. By the subsection, the power of the National Assembly to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the federation with respect to any matter included in the Exclusi