Calling for a new constitutional conference is a ploy for buying time and digging in. Pdf on jan 1, 2014, nonso attoh and others published nigerias. History of nigerian constitutional development the jet lawyer. Pdf abstract this paper scrutinises against the background of the. Get a fullyhyperlinked free pdf softcopy of the 1999 nigerian constitution, as amended. Preamble we, the multinational people of the russian federation, united by a common destiny on our land, asserting human rights and liberties, civil peace and accord, preserving the historic unity of the state, proceeding from the commonly recognized principles of equality and selfdetermination of the peoples honoring the memory of our ancestors. In 1948, sir john stuart macpherson succeeded sir authur richards as the governorgeneral of nigeria and soon after he resumed office, he began to draft a new constitution for the nigeria which is known as the macpherson constitution of 1951.
Article of the constitution is repealed and the following. The central legislative council known as the house of representatives consisted of. The man that formulated the first constitution for nigeria was sir hugh clifford. The military governments do not sincerely believe that nigeria needs a new constitution. It is the fundamental and organic law of a nation or state that establishes. Unlike the richards constitution of 1946, the macpherson con stitution was a major step. Central legislative council the macpherson constitution made provision a central legislative council also called house of representatives. The macpherson constitution was very important because it was a result of wide consultations with the people of nigeria, culminating in a constituent assembly convened at ibadan, oyo state in 1950.
Macpherson constitution was not unilaterally made, the whole country participated in the making of the constitution which was completed on saturday, june 30, 1951. It introduced a revenue allocation formula in nigeria. How many revisions did the constitution of nigeria overcome. Apr 16, 2020 later in 1951, nigeria again had another constitution. After 2 years of operation, the 1951 constitution broke down, as a result of ethnic rivalry.
Download the 1999 constitution of the federal republic of nigeria, as amended, free pdf copy for desktop and mobile. The 1960 constitution made provision for the office of the prime minister while that of 1951 did not. Constitutional development in nigeria from 1914 till date. Constitution of the republic of ghana amendment act, 1996. The macpherson constitution 1951 replaced the richards constitution. What is the main difference between 1963 and 1979 constitution in nigeria. And whereas an executive council is established in and for the colony of nigeria by the nigeria letters patent, 1946 to 1949b, and it is provided by the nigeria protectorate and cameroons order in council, i946c as amended by the. The main features of the constitution of 1951 was devolution to regional governments of legislative and financial power on specified range of subjects by the colonial central government. The 1963 republican constitution which the nigeria parliament purposed to enact in 1963 following the earlier colonial comriderts and suspect in no different it remains an act of parliament not a constitution, the material different between the 1960 and 1963 constitute is that the latter 1963 constitution declared nigeria a republic and. The 1947 constitution also set up regional houses of assembly in the east, west and north, with a house of chiefs in the north.
It spans an area of just under 925,000 square kilometres and has a. After the annexation of lagos by the british in 1861, a legislative and executive council was constituted for it. It came into effect on january 1, 1914 and has been amended a number of times including 1914, 1922, 1946. While other nations continuously amend their constitutions, nigeria recreated its constitutions nine times in 1922, 1946, 1951, 1954, 1960, 1963, 1979, 1989 and 1999. This time around, it was the macpherson constitution. History of nigerian constitutional development the.
Consequently, there is a huge gap between the promise of nigerias rather welldesigned federal constitution and the practice of nigerias federal democracy. What is a constitution and what is it impact on the prosperity of a country like nigeria. Historical development of the nigerian constitution. The constitutions enacted during this period were those of 19 which came into effect on 1 january 1914, 1922, 1946, 1951 and 1954.
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. The approach adopted is historical, from the legislation process of 1861 of lagos colony to 1914 as the period of national formation to 1999 constitution, including the unique features of each constitution. In 1948, sir john stuart macpherson succeeded sir authur richards as the governorgeneral of nigeria and. Constitutional development in nigeria from 1914 till date 1. The postindependence generation is however made up of. Mar 17, 2016 history of nigerian constitutional development introduction. It came into effect on january 1, 1914 and has been amended a number of times including 1914, 1922, 1946, 1951 and 1954. Introduction my association with ajayi crowther university dates back to 2007 when i was. Here are the features of macpherson constitution of 1951. Laid beore parliament coining into operation provisions referred to in subsection 2 oj section 3. Later in 1951, nigeria again had another constitution. History of nigerian constitutional development 1914 1960.
The 1951 constitution gave the balance of power to nigerians. The nigerian independence constitution of 1960 oldnaija. Amongst growing calls for selfgovernance, such as the 1948 accra riots and unrest which led to the arrest of the big six, the coussey committee was commissioned by the united kingdom government. He appealed to the northern leaders to join the southern leaders in the.
Notably, this constitution gave rise to the first division of nigeria into geopolitical regions, the three main regions namely. Nze with paul king 1 history and development of federalism nigeria is a federal republic in west africa. 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. The preindependence generation is made up of 6 constitutional instruments, including. Difference between 1963 and 1979 constitution in nigeria. The current constitution was enacted on 29 may 1999, inaugurating the nigerian fourth republic. The macpherson constitution of 1951 reinforced federalism in nigeria, appointing governors at the head of these 3 regions, and the lyttelton constitution of 1954 granted legislative power to. The 1951 constitution exercised a limited franchise where only male tax payers voted in the north while both males and females voted in the east and west, unlike the 1960 constitution where every eligible citizen of nigeria can vote. In order to express the criticisms, the nationalists of the herbert macaulay and dr nnamdi azikiwe toured important towns in the country, educating the people on the political issues at stake and collecting donations to send a protest delegation to london. They date back as far as the 5th century bc, when communities living around the southern slopes of the jos plateau make wonderfully expressive terracotta figures in a tradition known now as the nok culture, from the nigerian village where. This first set of constitutions was passed in the following years. A confirmation email will be sent to the email address you provided. With an estimated population of about million people, nigeria is the most populous country in africa. Protectorates, institutionalizing the current federal government system.
That has been the journey so far of nigerias constitution development, from the colonial era to the current 1999 edition, as amended. In the book, the introductory part covers the historical overview of ghanas legislature and the composition of the parliament of ghana. The constitution entered into force on 24 december 1951, in accordance wih article 44. Sir john macpherson was responsible for creating this constitution and its main highlight was the reported wide consultations with the different strata of the nigerian society before the constitution was created in 1951 also read. The second phase of nigerian constitution under the british imperial. This book also has a pictorial representation on an a2 poster. Past constitutions colonial era 19141960 nigerias first constitutions were enacted by order in council during the colonial era, when the country. The federal republic of nigeria shall not be governed, nor shall any persons or group of persons take control of the government of nigeria or any part thereof.
The nigeria constitution is the highest law in nigeria, any law that is not consistent with the constitution is null and void. What urgent needs have caused the changes in the act of 1963. Richards constitution was severely criticised by the nationalists, because it was imposed on nigerians without any prior consultation. Preamble we, the multinational people of the russian federation, united by a common destiny on our land, asserting human rights and liberties, civil peace and accord, preserving the historic unity of the state, proceeding from the commonly recognized principles of equality and selfdetermination of the peoples honoring the memory of. Constitution of the federal republic of nigeria pdf download. Its report led to the 1951 constitution, which gave the executive council an african majority, and created an 84member legislative assembly, 38 of whom were to be elected by the people, 37 representing territorial councils, six appointed to represent commercial interests and three ex officio members appointed by the governor.
The 1914 constitution, the 1922 constitution, the 1946 constitution, the 1951 constitution, the 1954 constitution and the 1960 constitution. Nigeria conslti1mon 19j,f the nigeria constltuiion. The constitution of 1946 was passew when the westminster style parliamentary constitution was enacted in the country. Federalism, the constitution and resource control history by jmslimxm.
Under this constitution nigeria retained queen elizabeth ii as titular head of state. Macphersons constitution 1951 was designed to stabilise colonial rule through the introduction of a quasiministerial system. Three constitutional crises of 1953 led to the collapse of the 1951 constitution. Nigeria, the giant of africa, has a land area of 923,733 square kilometres slightly. Instead, the first republic was degraded and destabilized by. It came into effect on january 1, 1914 and has been amended a number of.
Nigeria contains more historic cultures and empires than any other other nation in africa. In order to express the criticisms, the nationalists of the herbert macaulay and dr nnamdi azikiwe toured important towns in the country, educating the people on the political issues at stake and collecting donations to send a protest delegation to. 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. Only provisions relating to aliens and asylum are selected here. Features of richards constitution of 1946 nigerian infopedia. The 1947, 1951, 1954, 1960, 1962 and 1963 constitutions. Nigerias federal legislative body, the national assembly, consists of two.
The constitution had a national outlook, as it covered all parts of nigeria. This research work reveals the impact of nigerias constitution between 1951 and. Nigeria constitution order in council, 1951 91 june 30, 1951, nigeria gazette supplement jan. This constitution is supreme and its provisions shall have binding force on the authorities and persons throughout the federal republic of nigeria. After the operation of richard constitution, macpherson constitution was introduced in 1951. This research work reveals the impact of nigeria s constitution between 1951 and 1963 on the growth of the nation. The constitution of nigeria is the supreme law of the federal republic of nigeria. 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. This is an unofficial translation as published in khadduri, by majid, modern libya, the john hopkins press, baltimore, 1963, p. The crux of this publication how a draft bill becomes a law is then discussed. The constitution, in nigerias situation, is the supreme law of the land which all acts of individuals and of parliament must not contravene. You will need to provide your email address, where you want the constitution to be sent to. Nigeria became politically independent through the application of the constitution, and nigerians effectively took control of the executive and legislative arms of government. Mar 09, 2020 constitutional development in nigeria from 1914 till date 1.
Bernard bourdillon, the governor of nigeria between 1935 and 1943, prepared room for the constitution. The macpherson constitution established a central legislative council and a central executive council for the country. Jul, 2018 just like every other country, nigeria has it own law that is a constitution which is the highest law in every country. A constitution is the set of fundamental laws, established to govern a country. Its report led to the 1951 constitution, which gave the executive council an african majority, and created an 84member legislative assembly, 38 of whom were to be. The constitution on nigerias social and political issues. The nigerian selfgovernment crisis of 1953 and the colonial office. The nigerian constitution of 1951 is the supreme law of the federal republic of nigeria.
As an electronic pdf softcopy, it will be delivered to you by email. That has been the journey so far of nigeria s constitution development, from the colonial era to the current 1999 edition, as amended. In 1951, three years after resuming office, sir macpherson eventually put into effect, the long awaited constitution which was accepted by nigerians to be home made. As an independent nation, nigeria joined such international organisations as the commonwealth and the united nations organisation uno. This changed with the enactment of the 1951 constitution, which accorded the. It came into force on 1st of october,1963 nigeria s third anniversary as an independent nation. Mar 27, 2012 the main features of the constitution of 1951 was devolution to regional governments of legislative and financial power on specified range of subjects by the colonial central government. History of political parties in nigeria information. Sir john macpherson was responsible for creating this constitution and its main highlight was the reported wide consultations with the different strata of the nigerian society before the constitution was created in 1951.