British Colonial Political Administration In Nigeria: Indirect Rule System SS2 Nigerian History Lesson Note

When the British took control of Nigeria, they needed a way to govern the large area and its many different peoples. They chose a system called “Indirect Rule.” This system meant the British ruled through local chiefs and traditional rulers instead of directly controlling everything themselves. Indirect Rule was created by Lord Frederick Lugard, who became Nigeria’s first Governor-General after the 1914 amalgamation. This lesson explains how Indirect Rule worked, why the British used it, and how it affected different parts of Nigeria.

What Was Indirect Rule?

Basic Concept

Indirect Rule was a system where:

• The British were at the top of the government
• Traditional rulers (kings, chiefs, emirs) kept some of their power
• These rulers took orders from British officials
• The rulers then gave these orders to their people
• Local customs and systems were kept if they didn’t interfere with British goals

The Chain of Command

Indirect Rule had levels of authority:

• British Governor at the top
• British Residents in charge of provinces
• British District Officers managing smaller areas
• Native Authorities (traditional rulers and their councils)
• Village heads and family leaders at the bottom

Native Authorities

The most important part of Indirect Rule was the Native Authority system:

• Traditional rulers were recognized as “Native Authorities”
• They collected taxes for the British
• They maintained law and order
• They ran local courts using traditional laws
• They carried out British instructions
• They were paid salaries by the colonial government

Why the British Used Indirect Rule

Practical Reasons

The British had several practical reasons for using Indirect Rule:

• Limited Resources
  1. Not enough British officials to rule directly
  2. Too expensive to hire more officials
  3. Nigeria was very large with many people to govern
• Lack of Knowledge
  1. British didn’t understand local languages and customs
  2. Traditional rulers knew their people and how to control them
  3. Local systems were already working, so why change them?
• Easier Acceptance
  1. People would accept rules from their traditional leaders
  2. Less resistance than to direct British control
  3. Fewer soldiers needed to keep order

Political Philosophy

Lord Lugard had specific ideas about colonial rule:

• Preserving Traditional Structures
  1. He believed traditional systems should be maintained
  2. Thought sudden change would cause problems
  3. Wanted evolution, not revolution, in government
• “Dual Mandate”
  1. Lugard’s idea that colonialism should benefit both Britain and Africans
  2. Britain would get resources and markets
  3. Africans would get “civilization” and development
  4. Traditional rulers would help achieve both goals

How Indirect Rule Worked in Different Parts of Nigeria

Northern Nigeria

Indirect Rule worked best in Northern Nigeria because:

• Strong Emirate System
  1. The Sokoto Caliphate had a well-organized system
  2. Emirs (Muslim rulers) had clear authority
  3. People were used to obeying the Emirs
  4. Islamic administrative systems were already in place
• Implementation in the North
  1. Emirs kept their positions and palaces
  2. They collected taxes and kept a portion
  3. They ran courts using Islamic law (Sharia)
  4. British Residents simply supervised and advised
  5. The system caused minimal disruption to northern society

Western Nigeria (Yorubaland)

Indirect Rule had mixed results in Yorubaland:

• Yoruba Kingdoms
  1. Yoruba had kings (Obas) with traditional powers
  2. But Obas ruled with councils of chiefs
  3. Obas couldn’t make decisions alone like northern Emirs
  4. Some Obas had lost power during wars before British arrival
• Implementation in the West
  1. British restored power to some Obas who had lost it
  2. This changed traditional balances of power
  3. Some people resisted paying taxes to Obas
  4. The system worked in some areas but caused problems in others
  5. Educated Yoruba people often questioned the authority of traditional rulers

Eastern Nigeria (Igboland)

Indirect Rule failed most significantly in Eastern Nigeria:

• Decentralized Systems
  1. Igbo people had no kings or centralized authority
  2. They had democratic village systems
  3. Decisions were made by village councils and age groups
  4. Authority came from achievement, not birth
• The “Warrant Chief” System
  1. British appointed “Warrant Chiefs” who had no traditional right to rule
  2. These Chiefs were given powers they never had before
  3. Many abused their new authority
  4. People did not recognize their legitimacy
  5. Led to the Aba Women’s Riots of 1929 when women protested against the system

Tools of Indirect Rule

Native Courts

The British set up native courts:

• Run by traditional rulers or Warrant Chiefs
• Used local laws and customs
• Handled most local disputes and crimes
• Serious cases went to British courts
• Created a dual legal system

Native Treasuries

Money was managed through Native Treasuries:

• Collected taxes from local people
• Paid salaries to Native Authority staff
• Funded local projects like markets and schools
• Supervised by British officials
• Gave traditional rulers financial power

Native Police

Law was enforced by native police:

• Worked for the Native Authority
• Controlled by traditional rulers
• Collected taxes
• Arrested lawbreakers
• Carried out orders from British officials

Changes to Traditional Authority

New Powers for Traditional Rulers

Traditional rulers got some new powers:

• Regular salaries from the government
• Control over local police
• Authority to collect taxes
• Power to make local regulations
• British backing for their decisions

Limits on Traditional Authority

But they also lost some powers:

• Could be removed by British officials if they didn’t cooperate
• Couldn’t make war or foreign policy
• Couldn’t make major decisions without British approval
• Had to follow British instructions
• Lost some of their religious authority

Creation of New “Traditional” Positions

In some places, the British created new positions:

• Appointed chiefs in areas without chiefs
• Created higher chiefs over smaller chiefs
• Made hierarchies where none existed before
• Changed the meaning of traditional titles
• Invented “traditions” to suit their needs

Effects of Indirect Rule

Political Effects

Indirect Rule changed Nigeria’s political landscape:

• Strengthened Some, Weakened Others
  1. Some rulers became more powerful than before
  2. Others lost their traditional influence
  3. Created new elites who owed loyalty to the British
  4. Undermined democratic traditions in some areas
• Regional Differences Deepened
  1. Different applications of Indirect Rule increased differences
  2. North remained more traditional and hierarchical
  3. South saw more Western influence and change
  4. Set the stage for regional politics after independence

Social Effects

Society changed under Indirect Rule:

• New Social Classes
  1. Chiefs and their families became a privileged class
  2. Western-educated Nigerians formed a new elite
  3. Traditional social balances were disrupted
  4. Created tensions between old and new elites
• Cultural Preservation and Change
  1. Some traditions were preserved under Indirect Rule
  2. Others were modified or suppressed
  3. British decided which traditions were “acceptable”
  4. Cultural practices became classified as “primitive” or “civilized”

Administrative Effects

Government systems were transformed:

• Creation of Local Government
  1. Native Authorities became the basis for local government
  2. Established the pattern of hierarchical administration
  3. Created boundaries that didn’t always match ethnic lines
  4. Some of these structures continued after independence
• Training in Governance
  1. Some Nigerians gained experience in administration
  2. But many were limited to lower positions
  3. Few were prepared for top leadership roles
  4. Created gaps in administrative experience

Criticisms of Indirect Rule

Nigerian Criticisms

Many Nigerians criticized Indirect Rule:

• Empowered Autocratic Rulers
  1. Some rulers became more oppressive with British backing
  2. People had less protection from abusive chiefs
  3. Traditional checks on power were removed
  4. Created “petty tyrants” in some places
• Slowed Modernization
  1. Focus on tradition limited progress
  2. Education was not strongly promoted
  3. Modern skills and knowledge spread slowly
  4. Kept Nigeria “backward” compared to some other colonies
• Divided and Ruled
  1. Created or deepened divisions between groups
  2. Made it harder to form a unified opposition to colonialism
  3. Different systems in different regions prevented unity
  4. Played groups against each other

British Criticisms

Even some British officials criticized the system:

• Inefficiency
  1. Some traditional rulers were not good administrators
  2. Progress was slow in many areas
  3. Development goals were hard to achieve
  4. Multiple systems created confusion
• Corruption
  1. Some Native Authorities misused their power
  2. Tax collection led to abuses
  3. Courts could be unfair or biased
  4. British supervision was often inadequate

Legacy of Indirect Rule

Post-Independence Governance

Indirect Rule shaped Nigeria after independence:

• Federal System
  1. Nigeria adopted federalism partly because of regional differences
  2. States often followed colonial administrative boundaries
  3. Power-sharing between levels of government continued
  4. Regional identities remained strong
• Traditional Rulers Today
  1. Traditional rulers still exist in Nigeria
  2. They have no constitutional powers but have influence
  3. Some are still involved in local governance
  4. Their role continues to evolve

Ethnic Politics

Indirect Rule influenced ethnic relations:

• Ethnic Identity Strengthened
  1. Administrative boundaries often followed ethnic lines
  2. People began to think more in terms of ethnic groups
  3. Competition between groups for resources increased
  4. Set patterns that continue in Nigerian politics
• Regional Development Gaps
  1. Different applications of Indirect Rule led to uneven development
  2. Educational disparities between regions
  3. Economic differences between areas
  4. These gaps continue to cause tensions