Nigeria’s Journey to Independence: Key Constitutions Explained
Constitutional Development in Nigeria
a) Meaning of Colonization and Constitution
- Colonization
- Definition: When one country controls another country.
- Example: Britain colonized Nigeria.
- Constitution
- Definition: A set of rules for governing a country.
- Example: Nigeria has a constitution that guides how the government works.
b) Pre-independence (Colonial Constitution of Nigeria)
i) Clifford Constitution (1922-1946)
- Clifford Constitution 📜
- Introduced in 1922.
- Allowed Nigerians to elect representatives for the first time.
- Limited voting to wealthy men.
- Example: Only a few Nigerians could vote, mostly rich men.
ii) Richard Constitution (1946-1951)
- Richard Constitution 📜
- Started in 1946.
- Aimed to bring unity among Nigerians.
- Introduced regional councils.
- Example: Nigerians had more say in their local government.
iii) Macpherson Constitution (1951-1954)
- Macpherson Constitution 📜
- Established in 1951.
- Created a central government with a House of Representatives.
- Involved Nigerians in its creation.
- Example: Nigerians could participate more in making laws.
iv) Lyttleton Constitution (1954-1960)
- Lyttleton Constitution 📜
- Introduced in 1954.
- Moved Nigeria towards a federal system.
- Divided Nigeria into regions with their own governments.
- Example: Each region could make some of its own decisions.
c) The Independence Constitution (1960)
- Independence Constitution 🎉📜
- Started in 1960.
- Made Nigeria an independent country.
- Created a parliamentary system with a Prime Minister.
- Example: Nigeria could now govern itself without British control.
Summary of Key Features
- Clifford Constitution
- Elected representatives, limited voting rights.
- Richard Constitution
- Regional councils, promoted unity.
- Macpherson Constitution
- Central government, Nigerian involvement.
- Lyttleton Constitution
- Federal system, regional governments.
- Independence Constitution
- Sovereign nation, parliamentary system.
Importance
- Step-by-Step Progress
- Each constitution gave more power to Nigerians.
- Helped prepare Nigeria for self-governance.
- End of Colonization
- Independence Constitution marked the end of British rule.
- Allowed Nigerians to govern themselves.
- Path to Unity and Development
- Constitutions aimed to bring Nigerians together.
- Helped in building the nation’s political structure.
By understanding these points, you will better understand how Nigeria moved from being a colony to an independent country
Features of Clifford Constitution of 1922
Class Activity Discussion on Constitutional Development in Nigeria
a) Meaning of Colonization and Constitution
- What is colonization? Colonization is when one country takes control over another country, ruling and making decisions for them.
- What is a constitution? A constitution is a set of rules that outlines how a country is governed.
b) Pre-independence (Colonial Constitution of Nigeria)
i) Clifford Constitution 1922-1946
- What is the Clifford Constitution? The Clifford Constitution was introduced in 1922 and was the first to allow Nigerians to elect their representatives.
- What were the key features of the Clifford Constitution? It created a legislative council with elected Nigerian members but limited the voting rights to wealthy men.
ii) Richard Constitution 1946-1951
- What is the Richard Constitution? The Richard Constitution came into effect in 1946 and aimed to promote unity among Nigerians.
- What were the key features of the Richard Constitution? It introduced regional councils, giving more power to local governments but kept most power with the British.
iii) Macpherson Constitution 1951-1954
- What is the Macpherson Constitution? The Macpherson Constitution was established in 1951 and involved more Nigerian input in its creation.
- What were the key features of the Macpherson Constitution? It created a central government with a House of Representatives and regional assemblies, giving Nigerians more control.
iv) Lyttleton Constitution 1954-1960
- What is the Lyttleton Constitution? The Lyttleton Constitution, introduced in 1954, moved Nigeria towards a federal system of government.
- What were the key features of the Lyttleton Constitution? It divided Nigeria into regions, each with its own government, and gave more power to regional leaders.
c) The Independence Constitution (1960)
- What is the Independence Constitution? The Independence Constitution was Nigeria’s first constitution as an independent country in 1960.
- What were the key features of the Independence Constitution? It established Nigeria as a sovereign nation, with a parliamentary system and a Prime Minister.
- Why is the Independence Constitution important? It marked the end of British rule and allowed Nigerians to govern themselves.
General Questions
- Why did Nigeria have different constitutions before independence? Each new constitution gave more power to Nigerians and helped prepare the country for self-governance.
- How did colonization affect Nigeria’s development? Colonization brought changes in governance, education, and infrastructure but also led to exploitation and cultural changes.
Evaluation Questions with Options
- Colonization is when one country _____ another country. a) frees b) protects c) controls d) leaves
- A constitution is a set of _____ for governing a country. a) games b) rules c) letters d) stories
- The Clifford Constitution was introduced in _____. a) 1900 b) 1922 c) 1946 d) 1951
- The Clifford Constitution allowed Nigerians to _____ their representatives. a) ignore b) elect c) remove d) support
- The Richard Constitution started in _____. a) 1922 b) 1946 c) 1951 d) 1960
- The Richard Constitution aimed to promote _____ among Nigerians. a) division b) unity c) conflict d) independence
- The Macpherson Constitution was introduced in _____. a) 1951 b) 1946 c) 1960 d) 1954
- The Macpherson Constitution created a central government with a _____ of Representatives. a) House b) Senate c) Council d) Committee
- The Lyttleton Constitution started in _____. a) 1946 b) 1951 c) 1954 d) 1960
- The Lyttleton Constitution moved Nigeria towards a _____ system. a) monarchy b) federal c) unitary d) colonial
- The Independence Constitution was introduced in _____. a) 1946 b) 1954 c) 1960 d) 1979
- The Independence Constitution established Nigeria as a _____ nation. a) colonized b) united c) sovereign d) divided
- The Independence Constitution allowed Nigerians to _____ themselves. a) govern b) punish c) educate d) employ
- The Lyttleton Constitution divided Nigeria into _____. a) cities b) regions c) countries d) continents
- Different constitutions before independence gave more _____ to Nigerians. a) power b) wealth c) land d) problems