Civil Rule in Nigeria First Republic: 1960-1966 Basic 6 History Lesson Note

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

• Explain the meaning of civil rule
• List the major political parties and leaders
• List the features of cabinet system of government
• Examine the achievements of Alhaji Tafawa Balewa
• Relate the reasons for the collapse of the first republic

Content

What is Civil Rule?

 Civil rule is a system of government where elected civilians (not military officers) govern the country. In civil rule, leaders are chosen through elections and they follow a constitution. The government has different branches (executive, legislative, and judicial) that work together.

Nigeria’s First Republic (1960-1966): The First Republic began when Nigeria gained independence on October 1, 1960, and ended with the military coup of January 15, 1966.

Major Political Parties and Leaders:

1. Northern People’s Congress (NPC)

• Leader: Sir Ahmadu Bello (Sardauna of Sokoto)
• Region: Northern Nigeria
• Ideology: Conservative, Islamic-oriented
• Support Base: Hausa-Fulani people

2. National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC)

• Leader: Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe
• Region: Eastern Nigeria
• Ideology: Pan-Nigerian nationalism
• Support Base: Igbo people and minorities

3. Action Group (AG)

• Leader: Chief Obafemi Awolowo
• Region: Western Nigeria
• Ideology: Democratic socialism
• Support Base: Yoruba people

4. Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU)

• Leader: Mallam Aminu Kano
• Region: Northern Nigeria
• Ideology: Progressive, opposed to traditional rulers
• Support Base: Talakawa (common people) in the North

Features of Cabinet System of Government (Westminster System):

1. Prime Minister as Head of Government

• The Prime Minister leads the government
• Chosen from the majority party in parliament
• Responsible for day-to-day administration

2. Governor-General as Head of State

• Ceremonial leader representing the British Crown
• Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe became the first Governor-General
• Later became President when Nigeria became a republic in 1963

3. Parliament (Legislature)

• House of Representatives: Lower house with elected members
• Senate: Upper house representing regions
• Makes laws for the country

4. Cabinet Ministers

• Appointed by the Prime Minister
• Each minister heads a government department
• Responsible to parliament

5. Collective Responsibility

• Cabinet members work together as a team
• All support government decisions publicly
• If they disagree, they must resign

Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (Prime Minister 1960-1966):

Background:

• Born in 1912 in Bauchi State
• Trained as a teacher
• Became a politician and joined NPC
• Known for his honesty and dedication

Major Achievements:

1. National Unity Efforts

• Worked to bring different ethnic groups together
• Promoted “Unity in Diversity” as national motto
• Tried to balance regional interests fairly

2. Foreign Policy Success

• Made Nigeria respected internationally
• Pursued non-alignment during Cold War
• Supported African liberation movements

3. Economic Development

• Established development plans
• Promoted agriculture and industry
• Built infrastructure like roads and bridges

4. Education Expansion

• Supported primary and secondary education
• Established University of Lagos (1962)
• Promoted technical education

5. Democratic Governance

• Maintained democratic institutions
• Respected rule of law
• Allowed press freedom and opposition parties

Reasons for the Collapse of the First Republic:

1. Ethnic and Regional Tensions

• Politics became divided along ethnic lines
• Each party represented mainly one ethnic group
• Competition between North and South increased

2. Electoral Malpractices

• 1964 Federal Elections: Massive rigging and violence
• 1965 Western Region Elections: Disputed results
• Loss of faith in democratic process

3. Economic Problems

• Corruption in government
• Unequal development between regions
• High unemployment and poverty

4. Political Crises

• Western Region Crisis (1962): Split in Action Group
• Census Controversies: Disputes over population figures
• Coalition Instability: Frequent changes in alliances

5. Religious and Cultural Conflicts

• Disputes over national language
• Religious tensions between Christians and Muslims
• Different views on modernization

6. Weak Institutions

• Army and police were not well-developed
• Judicial system faced political interference
• Civil service was ethnically divided

7. External Influences

• Cold War pressures
• Neo-colonial economic relationships
• Regional conflicts affecting Nigeria

Activities

• Create a chart showing the three major political parties and their leaders
• Role-play a cabinet meeting during Balewa’s time
• Timeline of major events in the First Republic
• Discussion on why ethnic politics was dangerous

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Nigeria’s First Republic lasted from: a) 1960-1963 b) 1960-1966 c) 1963-1966 d) 1960-1967 
2. The first Prime Minister of Nigeria was: a) Nnamdi Azikiwe b) Obafemi Awolowo c) Ahmadu Bello d) Tafawa Balewa 
3. Which party controlled the Northern Region? a) NCNC b) AG c) NPC d) NEPU 
4. The cabinet system of government was also known as: a) Presidential system b) Westminster system c) Federal system d) Military system 
5. The First Republic collapsed due to: a) Economic prosperity b) National unity c) Electoral malpractices and ethnic tensions d) Foreign invasion 

Homework

Write a short essay (8-10 sentences) about Alhaji Tafawa Balewa’s contributions to Nigeria and explain why the First Republic failed. Include at least three specific reasons for the collapse.