Detailed Study Of Major Constitutions Basic 5 Nigerian History Lesson Note

LESSON 3: THE NIGERIA COUNCIL CONSTITUTION (1914)

BACKGROUND

Creator: Lord Frederick Lugard Year: 1914 Context: Immediately after amalgamation of Northern and Southern Nigeria

KEY FEATURES

1. Structure of Government:

• Governor-General as head of government
• Nigeria Council with 36 members
• All members appointed by the Governor-General
• No elected representatives

2. Composition of Nigeria Council:

• 6 ex-officio members (government officials)
• 12 official members (senior civil servants)
• 6 nominated European members
• 12 nominated African members

3. Powers of the Council:

• Advised the Governor-General
• Discussed government policies
• Had no real law-making power
• Could not oppose the Governor-General

4. Administration:

• Northern and Southern provinces maintained
• Indirect rule system continued
• Lagos remained the capital
• Central government had limited functions

LIMITATIONS

• Nigerians had no voting rights
• Council members were chosen by British officials
• No real power to make decisions
• Served British interests primarily

LESSON 4: THE CLIFFORD CONSTITUTION (1922)

BACKGROUND

Creator: Sir Hugh Clifford Year: 1922 Duration: 1922-1946 Significance: First to introduce elections in Nigeria

KEY FEATURES

1. Introduction of Elective Principle:

• First constitution to allow Nigerians to vote
• Elections held only in Lagos and Calabar
• Very limited number of people could vote

2. Structure of Government:

• Governor remained head of government
• Legislative Council of 46 members
• 27 official members (appointed by Governor)
• 19 unofficial members (some elected, some appointed)

3. Voting Requirements:

• Must be male and over 21 years old
• Must earn at least £100 per year (very high income then)
• Must be able to read and write English
• Must own property worth at least £500

4. Elected Representatives:

• 4 members elected from Lagos
• 1 member elected from Calabar
• These 5 were the first elected Nigerians in government

5. Powers of Legislative Council:

• Could make laws for Lagos Colony and Southern Nigeria
• Northern Nigeria remained under direct British rule
• Could discuss government budget
• Governor could overrule any decision

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Started democratic process in Nigeria
• Gave some Nigerians voice in government
• Encouraged political awareness
• Led to formation of political parties

LIMITATIONS

• Very few people could vote (less than 3,000 in whole of Nigeria)
• Northern Nigeria excluded completely
• Governor had final authority on all matters
• Only coastal areas participated

LESSON 5: THE RICHARDS CONSTITUTION (1946)

BACKGROUND

Creator: Sir Arthur Richards (later Lord Milverton) Year: 1946 Duration: 1946-1951 Key Innovation: Introduction of regionalism

KEY FEATURES

1. Regional System:

• Nigeria divided into three regions:
  1. Northern Region: Largest, mainly Muslim, indirect rule
  2. Western Region: Yoruba-speaking areas
  3. Eastern Region: Igbo-speaking areas
• Lagos remained separate as federal territory

2. Structure of Government:

• Governor-General for whole Nigeria
• Lieutenant-Governors for each region
• Central Legislative Council in Lagos
• Regional Houses of Assembly

3. Central Legislative Council:

• 45 members total
• 28 official members (appointed by Governor)
• 17 unofficial members (some elected, some appointed)
• 4 elected from Lagos and Calabar
• Others selected by Regional Houses

4. Regional Houses of Assembly:

• Northern House: 18 unofficial, 10 official members
• Western House: 18 unofficial, 10 official members
• Eastern House: 18 unofficial, 10 official members
• Members chosen by Native Authorities and other groups

5. Powers and Functions:

• Regional Houses could discuss local matters
• Central Council made laws for whole Nigeria
• Regions had limited self-government
• Governor-General retained ultimate authority

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Extended representation to all parts of Nigeria
• Introduced regional system of government
• Increased number of Nigerians in government
• Promoted political development in regions

PROBLEMS AND CRITICISMS

• No direct elections to regional houses
• Majority of members still appointed by British
• Regional boundaries created ethnic divisions
• Governor-General still had too much power
• Limited powers for Nigerian representatives

LESSON 6: REASONS FOR INTRODUCTION OF CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS

INTERNAL PRESSURES (FROM NIGERIA)

1. Growth of Nationalism:

• Educated Nigerians demanded participation in government
• Formation of political parties and movements
• Protests and demonstrations against colonial rule
• Newspapers and publications criticizing British rule

2. Elite Pressure:

• Western-educated Nigerians wanted political roles
• Lawyers, doctors, teachers formed political organizations
• Business people wanted economic control
• Traditional rulers sought to maintain relevance

3. Economic Development:

• Growing Nigerian middle class
• Increased trade and commerce
• Need for local participation in economic decisions
• Desire for control over natural resources

4. Social Changes:

• Urbanization and city growth
• Improved education and literacy
• Influence of returning soldiers from World Wars
• Growth of labor unions and workers’ movements

EXTERNAL PRESSURES (FROM OUTSIDE NIGERIA)

1. International Developments:

• Atlantic Charter (1941) promoting self-determination
• Formation of United Nations supporting decolonization
• End of World War II weakening colonial powers
• Cold War pressures from USA and USSR

2. Decolonization Elsewhere:

• Independence movements in India and other colonies
• Success of independence movements in Asia
• Pan-African movement gaining strength
• Pressure from African-American civil rights movement

3. British Economic Situation:

• World War II weakened British economy
• High cost of maintaining colonies
• Need to focus resources on rebuilding Britain
• Changing British public opinion about empire

4. Global Opinion:

• International criticism of colonialism
• United Nations Charter supporting self-determination
• Pressure from Commonwealth countries
• Changing moral attitudes about racial equality

BRITISH STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS

1. Managed Transition:

• Prevent violent independence movements
• Maintain friendly relations with independent Nigeria
• Protect British economic interests
• Ensure stable handover of power

2. Economic Interests:

• Maintain access to Nigerian markets
• Protect British investments and companies
• Continue favorable trade relationships
• Secure oil and mineral resources

3. Political Calculations:

• Avoid costly military confrontations
• Maintain influence in West Africa
• Counter French and American influence
• Preserve Commonwealth relationships

LESSON 7: EFFECTS OF CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS ON NIGERIA’S GRADUAL INDEPENDENCE

POSITIVE EFFECTS ON INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT

1. Political Development:

• Democratic Experience: Nigerians learned how elections work
• Political Parties: Formation of major political parties (NCNC, AG, NPC)
• Leadership Training: Nigerian leaders gained government experience
• Political Awareness: More people became interested in politics

2. Administrative Experience:

• Government Skills: Nigerians learned to run government departments
• Law-Making: Experience in making and implementing laws
• Budget Management: Learning to handle public finances
• Civil Service: Training of Nigerian civil servants

3. National Unity and Identity:

• Common Institutions: Shared government institutions across regions
• National Symbols: Development of Nigerian identity
• Inter-regional Contact: Leaders from different regions worked together
• Common Goals: United desire for independence

4. Institutional Development:

• Parliamentary System: Experience with legislative procedures
• Federal Structure: Understanding of federal government
• Legal System: Development of Nigerian legal traditions
• Electoral System: Knowledge of democratic processes

REGIONAL AND ETHNIC EFFECTS

1. Positive Regional Effects:

• Local Government: Regions developed their own institutions
• Cultural Recognition: Different cultures gained political expression
• Economic Development: Regions could focus on local needs
• Leadership Emergence: Regional leaders gained prominence

2. Negative Regional Effects:

• Ethnic Division: Regions became associated with ethnic groups
• Competition: Inter-regional rivalry and jealousy
• Unequal Development: Some regions advanced faster than others
• Separatist Tendencies: Some groups preferred regional independence

3. Impact on Major Ethnic Groups:

• Hausa-Fulani: Dominated Northern Region politics
• Yoruba: Led Western Region development
• Igbo: Controlled Eastern Region affairs
• Minorities: Often overshadowed by major groups

GRADUAL TRANSFER OF POWER

1. Step-by-Step Process:

• 1922: Limited elections introduced
• 1946: All regions included in government
• 1951: Increased Nigerian participation
• 1954: Federal system established
• 1960: Full independence achieved

2. Peaceful Transition:

• No Violence: Independence achieved without war
• Negotiated Process: Peaceful discussions with Britain
• Prepared Leadership: Nigerian leaders ready to take over
• Stable Institutions: Government systems already working

3. Continued British Influence:

• Commonwealth Membership: Nigeria remained in Commonwealth
• Economic Ties: Strong trade relationships continued
• Legal System: British legal traditions maintained
• Language: English remained official language

CHALLENGES CREATED

1. Political Challenges:

• Regional Conflicts: Competition between regions
• Ethnic Tensions: Different groups fighting for power
• Religious Divisions: North-South religious differences
• Weak Center: Federal government had limited power

2. Economic Challenges:

• Uneven Development: Regions developed at different rates
• Resource Control: Disputes over natural resources
• Foreign Dependence: Economy still controlled by Britain
• Limited Industrialization: Focus remained on raw materials

3. Social Challenges:

• Educational Imbalances: South more educated than North
• Cultural Conflicts: Traditional vs. modern values
• Urban-Rural Divide: Cities developing faster than villages
• Elite-Mass Gap: Educated elites separated from common people

SUMMARY AND REVIEW

KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER

1. Constitution Definition: A set of basic rules and laws that guide how a country is governed
2. Major Constitutional Reforms:

• Nigeria Council (1914) – Lord Lugard
• Clifford Constitution (1922) – Sir Hugh Clifford (elective principle)
• Richards Constitution (1946) – Sir Arthur Richards (regionalism)
• Plus Macpherson (1951) and Lyttleton (1954) constitutions

3. Reasons for Reforms:

• Internal pressures (nationalism, elite demands, social changes)
• External pressures (international developments, decolonization)
• British strategic considerations (managed transition)

4. Effects on Independence:

• Positive: Democratic experience, leadership training, institutional development
• Negative: Regional divisions, ethnic tensions, economic dependence
• Overall: Enabled peaceful transition to independence in 1960

TIMELINE SUMMARY

• 1914: Amalgamation and first constitution
• 1922: First elections (Lagos and Calabar)
• 1946: Three regions created
• 1951: Increased self-government
• 1954: Federal system established
• 1960: Independence achieved

EVALUATION QUESTIONS

WEEK 8 QUESTIONS

1. What is a constitution?
2. List three functions of a constitution.
3. Name the creator of the 1914 Nigeria Council Constitution.
4. What was introduced for the first time in the 1922 Clifford Constitution?
5. Which constitution introduced regionalism in Nigeria?

WEEK 9 QUESTIONS

1. List the three regions created by the Richards Constitution.
2. Give three reasons why constitutional reforms were introduced in Nigeria.
3. Mention two positive effects of constitutional reforms on Nigeria’s independence.
4. State two negative effects of regionalism in Nigeria.
5. In what year did Nigeria gain independence?

ESSAY QUESTIONS

1. Explain the key features of any two British constitutional reforms in Nigeria.
2. Discuss four reasons why the British introduced constitutional reforms in Nigeria.
3. Analyze the positive and negative effects of British constitutional reforms on Nigeria’s journey to independence.
4. Compare the Clifford Constitution (1922) and the Richards Constitution (1946).