Nigerian Constitution JSS1 Civic Education Lesson Note

Topic: Nigerian Constitution

OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, students should be able to

Define the Constitution

State the Sources of the Nigerian Constitution

What is a Constitution? 

A constitution is the fundamental law, written or unwritten, which establishes the character of a government. A constitution is also a body of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is acknowledged to be governed. 

It is the basic principle that all citizens must abide by. It prescribes the extent and manner of the exercise of a nation’s sovereign power. It is the fundamental and entrenched rules governing the conduct of an organization or nation-state, and establishing its concept, character, and structure. It is usually a short document, general and embodying the aspirations and values of its writers and subjects.

Sources of the Nigerian Constitution

The Nigerian Constitution can be sourced from the following: 

Conventions: Conventions are rules of practice that have been accepted because of their long usage.

Common Law: Law based on people’s customs and beliefs, which the courts also recognize is also a source of the Nigerian constitution

Historical Documents: Documents containing historical records of people and their traditions

Judicial Precedents: Law emanating from previous court judgments, usually from superior courts. They can also be called case laws.

Act of Legislature: Laws made by the state and national assemblies

Features of the Nigerian Constitution

The Nigerian Constitution  (1999) has eight different chapters; each of the chapters has sub-sections and parts.

The prelude to the chapters  states:

We the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 

Having firmly and solemnly resolved, to live in unity and harmony as one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign nation under God, dedicated to the promotion of inter-Africa solidarity, world peace, international cooperation, and understanding, And to provide for a constitution to promote good government and welfare of all persons in our country, on the principles of freedom, equality and justice, and to consolidate the unity of our people, do hereby make, enact and give to ourselves the following constitution.