In 1922, sir clifford introduced the first formal constitution for the country. The main essence of richards constitution was to promote unity in nigeria and to ensure greater participation of nigerians in the discussion of their own affairs. Thus, the key features of the 1963 constitution were the establishment of nigerias first republic under a parliamentary system of government by replacing the governorgeneral appointed. The 1914 constitution, the 1922 constitution, the 1946 constitution, the 1951 constitution, the 1954 constitution and the 1960 constitution.
Constitutional development in nigeria from 1914 till date 1. The constitutions setup a legislative council and executive council. What are the weaknesses of the nigeria 1999 constitution. The clifford constitution of 1922 abolished the nigerian council of 1914 as it was replaced by a new legislative council through which nigerians will be given access to power via electoral principles. Nze with paul king 1 history and development of federalism nigeria is a federal republic in west africa. Historical development of the nigerian constitution. Introduction of the first elective principle in nigeria and in west africa. Contents features of clifford constitutionmerits of clifford constitutiondemerits of clifford constitution features of clifford constitution there was an executive council for the whole country. In 1922 a new constitution revoking the 1914 constitution was promulgated under governor clifford. Download pdf this document is the constitution of nigeria from 1979.
Its very important to know that theres no perfect constitution anywhere in the world. Features of the clifford constitution of 1922 passnownow. It also defines the basic features of the state and the relation between the citizens and the state. The current constitution was enacted on 29 may 1999, inaugurating the nigerian fourth republic. Founded 1963 although nigeria gained independence from the united kingdom on 1 october 1960, the nation retained the british monarch, elizabeth ii, as titular head of state until the adoption of a new constitution in 1963 declaring the nation a republic the name nigeria is derived from the word niger the name of the river that constitutes the most remarkable geographical feature of. The constitution of nigeria is the supreme law of the federal republic of nigeria. This writeup is the first in the series i would intermittently be adding to the series,the next is the clifford constitution of 1922. The clifford constitution of 1922 also gave way to the establishment of political parties in nigeria. The only novel and democratic aspect of this constitution was its elective principle, provided only for lagos, the capital city, and calabar, a town in the southeastern corner of the country. Constitutional and political development in nigeria part ii. The 1922 constitution the clifford constitution in 1922 a new constitution revoking the 1914 constitution was promulgated under governor clifford.
The constitution came into operation on 1 january 1947 features of the richard constitution of 1946. Constitution of the federal republic of nigeria pdf download. The constitution came into operation on 1 january 1947. Notably, this constitution gave rise to the first division of nigeria into geopolitical regions, the three main regions namely. Major changes were introduced to the legislative structure through a 1922 constitution. The constitutional history of nigeria began with the conquest of lagos in 1861 by the british. Clifford constitution of 1922 which was widely believed to have introduced the first elective principle in the colonial era in nigeria, should have addressed the imbalance in the polity, rather it disenfranchised women, and this was one instance of marginalization and discrimination against women. Features of nigeria constitutional law and development hubpages. Let us take a second to hunt down the history of nigerian constitution from 1922 to. The history and development of constitution in nigeria. Clifford constitution of 1922 oyedijioluwaseunbabatunde. History of nigerian constitutional development the jet lawyer.
For nearly a quarter of a century, nigeria was ruled under the instrument of the clifford constitution of 1922. The constitution of 1946 was passew when the westminster style parliamentary constitution was enacted in the country. Thus, in the colonial era, the constitution, where it existed, rather than being an instrument of empowerment was an instrument of domination. History of constitutional development in nigeria, an overview.
In nigeria, the history of political parties is as old as the history of the british imposition and colonization of the largest nation of the black people. Apr 16, 2020 history of political parties in nigeria. The clifford constitution of 1922 features, merits. Features of richards constitution of 1946 nigerian infopedia. This first set of constitutions was passed in the following years. Here are the merits of clifford constitution of 1922 1. Constitutional development in nigeria before independence.
The clifford s constitution of 1922 was a watershed in the political and constitutional development of nigeria. Northern nigeria was not represented in the new legislative council as it comprised members from the south alone. It brought about the development of early political parties that worked pari passu with the nationalists movements that fought the colonial government in africa. With the provision of the elective principles in the clifford 1922 constitution, herbert macaulay formed the first political party in nigeria the nigerian national democratic party nndp in 1923 which contested election. Click here to read the clifford constitution of 1922 and its features like every other constitution of a state, the clifford constitution of 1922 has its advantagesmerits and disadvantagesdemerits. The 1922 constitution was named after the then governor of nigeria, sir hugh clifford. With an estimated population of about million people, nigeria is the most populous country in africa. The fundamental features of nigeria constitutional law are. The preindependence generation is made up of 6 constitutional instruments, including.
A constitution amendment of the existing 1922 constitution resulted to the 1946 constitution, also known as the richard constitution, in recognition of then british governorgeneral of nigeria, sir arthur richards. The constitution on nigerias social and political issues. On assuming office in 1919, sir hugh clifford, the governor, was pressured by the then west african congress, led by caseley hayford, to provide constitutions in west african subject states. Sir arthur richard introduced the richards constitution of 1946.
The nigerian council of 1914 created after the amalgamation of the southern and northern protectorates in the same year marked the beginning of political and constitutional development in nigeria. The clifford constitution was named after the then governor of nigeria. Constitutionalism and the reinvention of the nigerian. Nameyear of constitution constitution making authority major features constitution of the colony and protectorate of nigeria, 1914 colonial amalgamated the colony and protectorate of southern nigeria and the protectorate of northern nigeria, into a single colony the hugh clifford constitution, 1922 colonial consolidated unification. Abubakar momoh, the history and politics of constitution making in nigeria 19221999 in segun jegede ed, path to peoples. The legislative council the constitution provided for a legislative council in place of the nigerian council of lord lugard. The name nigeria is derived from the word niger the name of the river that constitutes the most remarkable geographical feature of the country. What are the main features of clifford constitution in 1922. Under this constitution, a nigerian legislative council was constituted, but its jurisdiction was limited to the southern provinces, i.
It is important to know that these features can be further divided depending on the area the author of any book wants to elaborate on. Thus, in the colonial era, the constitution, where it existed, rather than being an instrument of empowerment was an. Lord lugard who associated with the political history of amalgamation the north and southern protectorates of nigeria and who became the first governor of the amalgamated territory of what we come to know as nigeria today ruled the country without any constitution in the real sense of the term. Constitutional and political development in nigeria part. This constitution shall have the force of law throughout nigeria and, subject to the provisions of section 4 of this constitution, if any other law including the constitution of a region is inconsistent with this constitution, this constitution shall prevail and the. In 1923, herbert macaulay founded the first political party in nigeria, the nigerian national democratic party nndp and also established a newspaper called the west african pilot. Clifford constitution of 1922 oyedijioluwaseunbabatundes blog. Federalism, the constitution and resource control history by jmslimxm.
He was pressured to do this by the caseley hayfordled west african congress in 1922, which was the year the first constitution was constituted for nigeria and a host of other west african countries colonized by the british, namely gambia, sierra leone and gold coast. Posts about clifford constitution of 1922 written by oyedijioluwaseunbabatunde. There was no member of the executive council from nigeria. Nigeria independence constitution, 1960 republican constitution 1963 the 1979 and 1989 constitutions 1999 constitution origin, features, strength and. Mar 09, 2020 constitutional development in nigeria from 1914 till date 1.
The nigerian constitution is the superior law of the territory and the acts of people and parliament should not contradict it. Sir, hugh clifford succeeded lugard as the then governor of nigeria and grafted the 1922 constitution. Elective principle the clifford constitution brought the elective principle into nigeria which paved way for elective. According to the history of nigeria, there were four constitutional periods before the independence. This was followed a year after by the declaration of lagos as a new crown colony or settlement burn. Bernard bourdillon, the governor of nigeria between 1935 and 1943, prepared room for the constitution. History of political parties in nigeria information. Jan 15, 2017 constitutional and political development in nigeria part ii. The constitution, in nigeria s situation, is the supreme law of the land which all acts of individuals and of parliament must not contravene. Features of the 1963 constitution both the 1960 independence constitution the 1963 republic constitution were the same.
Merits and demerits of clifford constitution of 1922. Considering the provisions of clifford constitution, the legislative council was composed of 46 members of which official members including the governor and 19. Demerits of 1922 clifford constitution one glaring or major defects of the 1922 cliffords constitution was the isolation of the north from the legislative council. He appealed to the northern leaders to join the southern leaders in the.
On the whole, looking at the supremacy of the constitution and governance in nigeria, it is instructive to note that there has been poor culture of constitutionalism in nigeria. It is a phenomenon that had existed even during the british rule and dominance of the political reign of the niger area people. Constitution of the federal republic of nigeria 1979. This led to the making of the clifford constitution of 1922. The importance of a constitution in any given society cannot be overemphasized. Constitutionalism and the reinvention of the nigerian state. Oct 11, 2014 posts about clifford constitution of 1922 written by oyedijioluwaseunbabatunde. Nigeria 1999 constitution is not an autochthonous constitution because the constitution was drafted by humanistic galaxy of mobs mobocrats or militocrats that never represent the interest of. Clifford constitution of 1922 features, merits and demerits. Constitutional development in nigeria from 1914 till date. Merits and demerits of clifford constitution of 1922 oldnaija. It is the fundamental and organic law of a nation or state that establishes. It spans an area of just under 925,000 square kilometres and has a. Aug 03, 2019 the fundamental features of nigeria constitutional law are.
Nigeria is a country of 923,768 square kilometres 356,669 sq mi, bound to the west by benin republic, to the north by the niger and chad republic, east by the republic of cameroon, and. It includes chapters on general provisions, fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy, citizenship, fundamental rights, the legislative, the executive, the judiciary, federal capital territory and. Sir hugh clifford enacted the clifford constitution in the year 1922, after the amalgamation of the southern and northern protectorates in 1914 the features of the clifford constitution of 1922. It operates the presidential system of government with three distinct but complementary arms namely the executive, the legislature and the judiciary, each acting as a check on. History of nigerian constitutional development the. Strengths and weaknesses of each constitution largely lie with those that practice it, particularly the decision makers. Sir hugh clifford constitution 1922 1925 the clifford constitution was named after the then governor of nigeria. The constitution abolished the lagos legislative council and established a national legislative body with fortysix members, four of whom were elected.
The richards constitution of 1946 came into existence as a result of the defects in the clifford constitution of 1922, which was greatly criticised by the nationalists. At this stage, election was restricted to the municipalities lagos and calabar with grossly unacceptable elitist pre. It introduced the first electoral system in nigeria. Oct 15, 2012 the constitutional history of nigeria began with the conquest of lagos in 1861 by the british. The only difference were the provision for ceremonial president 1963 in place of the queen of england 1960 and the judicial appeals system which terminated with the supreme court 1963 rather than the judicial committee of the brishpray limit 1960. This constitution shall have the force of law throughout nigeria and, subject to the provisions of section 4 of this constitution, if any other law including the constitution of a region is inconsistent with this constitution, this constitution shall prevail and the other law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void.
Nameyear of constitution constitutionmaking authority major features constitution of the colony and protectorate of nigeria, 1914 colonial amalgamated the colony and protectorate of southern nigeria and the protectorate of northern nigeria, into a single colony the hugh clifford constitution, 1922 colonial consolidated unification. It is commonly known that one of the sources of the constitution is another organic law. It lays down rules regarding the organisation, powers and functions of government. Clifford constitution of 1922 28 replies the clifford constitution of 1922 abolished the nigerian council of 1914 as it was replaced by a new legislative council through which nigerians will be given access to power via electoral principles. Features of clifford constitution of 1922 nigerian infopedia.
The clifford constitution gave room for more participation and representation in the government than the 1914. Features of nigeria constitutional law and development. History of nigerian constitutional development the jet. Sir hugh clifford was appointed governor of nigeria after lord fredrick lugard. It seemed to be a response to the 1920 ncbwa demand for elective principles in west africa. The man that formulated the first constitution for nigeria was sir hugh clifford. Sir hugh clifford enacted the clifford constitution in the year 1922, after the amalgamation of the southern and northern protectorates in 1914. Nigeria features clifford 1922 richards 1946 macpherson 1951 littleton 1954.
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