The disadvantages of a Unitary system of Government
Posted by Chester Morton / Sunday, 24 April 2016 / No comments
Introduction
A unitary system of government can be defined as that system of government in which the powers of government are concentrated in
a central government and that there are no other levels of government except it derived from the centre.
DISADVANTAGES
Dictatorial tendency
One
of the disadvantages of a unitary system of government is the tendency
to become dictatorial. This is so because, under the system, all powers are concentrated in the hands of one central authority so there is the tendency to become dictatorial.
The burden of work on central
government
Another
disadvantage of a unitary system of government is that because all the powers are
concentrated at the centre, the burden of work becomes too heavy.
No room for experimentation
Another
disadvantage of the unitary system is that there is no room for experiment. When the central government rolls out
policies, unless otherwise stated, they are implemented nationwide. There is, therefore, no
room to experiment and see the pitfalls and loopholes for correction before it is rolled out on a national scale.
Uneven distribution of national
cage
Under
some circumstances, the distribution
of national resources is not as even as professed. Some parts of unitary
states are neglected in the allocation of national resources. This leads to the uneven development of the country.
Neglect of minority interests
Another
disadvantage of a unitary system of government is that some minority
interests could be neglected. This may occur when there is nobody to directly
lobby for development in their area.
Crushes local initiatives
In
a unitary state, many of the
citizens wait for the central government to initiate every policy and
also, implement them.
They are not used to starting anything on their own. The disadvantage is
that the locals do not take any initiatives on their own.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
1. a. What is a unitary system of government?
b. Highlight five disadvantages of a unitary system of government.
2. Give six reasons why some countries do not operate a unitary system of government.
