SSS2 Government Lesson Plan And Notes-Second Term

1. Explain the origin of the constitution 
2. Discuss the features of the constitution 

Step II: The teacher brings copies of the constitutions, picture charts illustrating the constitution.

Step III: the teacher asks the students what they were able to learn from the video

Step IV: The teacher gives detailed explanation on the concept.

Step V: The students are allowed to ask questions and the teacher attends to them accordingly.

Step VI: the teacher allows the students to carry out their guided practice and independent practice.

The Council was created in 1914 after the amalgamation by Lord Luggard. It consisted of membership 24 official and 12 unofficial members. The unofficial members were: 6 Europeans representing commerce, shipping, banking, mining, chambers of commerce and 6 Africans made up of Sultan of Sokoto, Alaafin of Oyo, Emir of Kano, Chief Dogho Numa and few educated Nigerians from Lagos and Calabar. The officials included members of the executive council, first class resident’s political secretaries and secretaries of Southern and Northern provinces. This council was purely an advisory body. It had no power of legislation nor of finance. It was a medium for public opinion and not even an effective one in this regard. Most of the traditional rulers in the council could not see themselves as part of the issues of the council. Even the educated Nigerians who were in an unofficial capacity did not play any vital role either. In 1922, sir Hugh Clifford succeeded Lord Luggard as Governor of Nigeria and he abolished the Nigerian council and, in its place, a new legislative council was set up for the whole of Southern Protectorate. He set up a Legislative Council for the Southern Nigeria. The North was to be governed by proclamation coming from the Governor. 

THE CLIFFORD’S CONSTITUTION OF 1922

FEATURES OF CLIFFORD CONSTITUTION

1. Secretary of State for Colonies: This was a Cabinet minister in Britain and the Secretary of State for Colonies. All the colonial Governors report him.
2. Head of State: This was Governor Hugh Clifford. He represented the Queen of England.
3. The Executive Council: It was an all-European Council. No Nigerian was a member
4. The Legislative Council: Membership was 46, 27 were officials, 19 were unofficial members. 10 out of the 19 were Nigerians. Out of the 10, 4 were elected, 3 from Lagos, 1 from Calabar. The remaining 6 were appointed by the governor to represent other parts of the country. The Northern Protectorate was not part of this council.
5. Proclamation: The North was governed by proclamation from the Governor.
6. Elective Principle: For the first-time elections were to be conducted into the Legislative Council
7. Political Activities: There was political activities and formation of political parties especially in Lagos and Calabar e.g. The NNDP of Herbert Macaulay.

1. Discuss the origin of the constitution
2. Explain the features of the Clifford’s Constitution.

1. Highlight the features of the Nigeria Council of 1914.
2. Why was the Clifford’s constitution criticized?

1. Identify the merits and demerits of the constitutions.

Step II: The teacher introduces and gives a brief explanation to the topic.

Step III: The students are allowed to ask questions and the teacher attends to them accordingly.

Step IV: The teacher allows the students to carry out their guided practice and independent practice.

1. The constitution allowed political activities and formation of political parties in Lagos and Calabar e.g. NNDP.
2. Newspapers were established to boost political activities.
3. The introduction of elective principle allowed Nigerians to elect representatives for the first time into the legislative council.
4. The constitution established a new Legislative Council for the colony and Protectorate of southern Nigeria except the Northern Protectorate.
5. The constitution gave inspiration to nationalist activities in the country and this prepared the ground for self-government.
6. It served as the first ever constitution in Nigeria.

DEMERITS OF CLIFFORD’S CONSTITUTION

1. The constitution disenfranchised majority of Nigerians. The four unofficial members elected into the legislative council were elected by Adult Male Suffrage with residential qualification of one year and a gross income of E100 per annum.
2. Only Europeans dominated the Legislative Council.
3. The executive council was also dominated by the Europeans.
4. The elective principle applied only in the legislative council. The franchise was not extended to the executive council.
5. The unofficial members elected into the legislative council were illiterates.
6. The governor had veto power over issues in the executive and legislative council.
7. Clifford’s Constitution brought about sectionalism, it was a constitution for the South only, and the North was excluded.

1. State any four merits and four demerits of the Clifford constitution of 1922 in Nigeria. (WASSCE JUNE, 2004)

1. Why was the Clifford Constitution accused of sectionalism?
2. How the Clifford Constitution did disenfranchised Nigerians?
3. Explain the composition of the legislative council of the Clifford’s Constitution.

1. The Nigeria council of 1914 was created by ____ (a) Lord Lugard (b) Casely Hayford (c) Sir Clifford (d) Sir Lyttleton
2. Clifford’s constitution was established in _____ (a) 1916 (b) 1922 (c) 1914 (d) 1960 
3. ______ is regarded as Nigeria’s first constitution (a) Macpherson’s Constitution (b) Richard’s Constitution (c) Clifford’s Constitution (d) Lyttleton’s Constitution
4. The following were checks of powers of chiefs during the pre-colonial era except____ (a) British officials (b) Kingmakers (c) Council of Elders (d) Age grades 
5. A common feature of pre-independence constitutions of British West African Colonies was the _____ (a) existence of separation of powers (b) governor’s membership of both the legislative and executive Councils (c) adoption of federalism (d) establishment of Council of Elders
6. Which of the features of Indirect Rule contributed immensely to Nationalism in British West Africa? (a) establishment of native treasuries (b) the appointment of resident district commissioners (c) establishment of the native court (d) exclusion of the educated elites 
7. One negative effect of colonialism on the people of West Africa over the years is the _____ (a) introduction of modern idea of governance (b) creation of large political units (c) change of the socio-political systems of living (d) development of political institutions

1. Identify the features of the constitutions 
2. Highlight the objectives of the constitutions 

Step II: The teacher brings copies of the constitutions, picture charts illustrating the constitution.

Step III: the teacher asks the students what they were able to learn from the video

Step IV: The teacher gives detailed explanation on the concept.

Step V: The students are allowed to ask questions and the teacher attends to them accordingly.

Step VI: the teacher allows the students to carry out their guided practice and independent practice.

During the Second World War (1939-44), Sir Bourdillon was governor of Nigeria. When he retired in 1944, he had almost concluded the constitution where he proposed regionalism. His successor Sir Arthur Richard used his proposals to draft his constitution. He presented it to the legislative council of Nigeria on March 6, 1946; it became a constitution on August 2, 1946 and came into force on January 1, 1947. The new constitution was meant for the unity of Nigeria and encourages greater participation of Nigerians in their own affairs.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF RICHARD’S CONSTITUTION

1. To create regional council for the three regions of north, west, and east i.e. regionalism.
2. To promote the unity of Nigeria.
3. To allow greater participate of Nigeria in their own affairs.
4. The legislative council was introduced in order to accommodate every section of the Nigerian.
5. To divide the country three administrative units of north, east, and west.
6. To create constitutional and political links between the native authorities and the legislative council.

FEATURES OF RICHARD’S CONSTITUTION

1. The Executive Council: The central executive council had Richard as the president of the council and was dominated by Europeans.
2. The Legislative Council: The government was the president and was based in Lagos. The council allowed a wider representation of Nigerian interest. It had 44 members made up of 28 majority non-officials and 16 minority officials. The composition was 

1. The North had 9-non-official members
2. The West had 6-non-official members
3. 4 non-official members were nominated to represent commercial banking and mining.
4. 4 non-official members were elected directly from Lagos and Calabar.
5. 16 official members, 13 of whom were ex-official and 3 nominated.

1. The qualification to vote was restricted to male adults who resided in the area for 12 months with a gross income of E50 per annum.
2. House of Assembly or Regional House of Assembly: Assembly members were to be elected by the native authorities while the regional assembly members were to elect members of the Central Legislative council (through electoral colleges).
3. Legislature: It brought the North and South together under one legislature
4. Dual Membership: Members of the Central Legislative Council were also members of the Regional Council.
5. Nigerians were in the minority in the Nigeria or central Executive Council.
6. Regionalism: Regions were created out of the former three provinces -Eastern, Western and Northern regions.

THE MACPHERSON CONSTITUTION OF 1951

The weakness of the Richard’s Constitution and the imperial powers due to anti- colonial activities, and the de- mystification of white superiority lead to the introduction of a new constitution. Sir John Macpherson became Governor of Nigeria in 1948. He reviewed the 1946 Constitution to avoid the mistake of Richard’s constitution. Constitutional conferences held in many parts of the country led to the formation of the Macpherson’s Constitution of 1951.

FEATURES OF MACPHERSON CONSTITUTION

1. The central legislative council: It was renamed the House of Representatives. The president was the Governor and it had 6 ex- official members. 136 representative members were through the regional houses and 6 special members were nominated by the Governor. The North sent 68 members while the West and East had 34 members which made up the 136 representatives.
2. The Central Executive Council: This was known as the council of ministers. The Governor was the president and there were6 official members, 12 ministers of which 4 represented each region. They were in charge of government departments and appointed by the governor on the recommendation of the regional legislature.
3. The Regional Legislature: The Northern and Western regions each had a bi-cameral House of Assembly and Chiefs. The Eastern region had only the power to make laws on certain issues like local matters, native courts, health, etc.
4. Regional Executive Council: Each region had an executive council. The Lieutenant Governor was the president and it had 5 official members and 9 ministers. They advised the governor but he could accept or reject their advice.
5. The colony of Lagos was part of the Western region.
6. The three provinces were renamed, Western, Eastern and Northern regions.
7. The three chief commissioners for each province were renamed Lieutenant governors.

THE LONDON CONTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE OF 1953

The need for a new constitution arose as a result of the defects of the McPherson Constitution which led to its breakdown. The secretary of state for the colonies, Oliver Littleton confirmed the change of Macpherson’s Constitution when he announced on May 21, 1953 on the floor of the British House of Commons that her majesty had decided that the Nigerian Constitution would have to be redrawn so as to provide for greater autonomy.

The conference which sat between July 30 and August 22, 1953, reached the following agreements

1. That a federal system of government should be established.
2. That the regional Lieutenant-governor of Nigeria be called governors, while the governor of Nigeria should be called Governor-General.
3. That legislative power should be shared between the federal, state and the federating units.
4. That Lagos should be separated from the Western region and made a neutral federal territory.
5.  That a conference to be held in Lagos in 1954 should ratify a separate regional administration in the Cameroons if the people of the territory expressed their desires through a referendum.
6. That her majesty’s government would grant self-government to those regions which desired it in 1956.

1. Mention 5 features of the Macpherson’s Constitution.
2. Describe the main features of the 1946 Richards Constitution of Nigeria. (WASSCE JUNE, 2001)

1. Mention the aims and objective of the Macpherson’s Constitution.
2. Explain the composition of the legislative council of the Richard’s Constitution.
3. Explain the achievements of the Richards constitution.

1. Outline the merits and demerits of the constitutions.

Step II: The teacher introduces and gives a brief explanation to the topic.

Step III: The students are allowed to ask questions and the teacher attends to them accordingly.

Step IV: The teacher allows the students to carry out their guided practice and independent practice.

1. The constitution brought the North and South together and this laid the foundation for national unity.
2. Nigeria’s formed the majority in the legislature though in an unofficial capacity. Members were in majority for the first time.
3. The constitution introduced bi-cameral legislature in the North, thus it introduced bi-cameralism in Nigeria.
4. Regionalism was introduced in Nigeria and this was a good achievement of Richard’s constitution.
5. The constitution laid the foundation for Federalism and Federal Constitution in Nigerian political structure.

DEMERITS OF RICHARD’S CONSTITUTION

1. The executive council was still dominated by European just as in Clifford’s Constitution.
2. The constitution divided the country into three unequal parts by making the northern region larger than western and eastern regions put together.
3. The E50 and the male adult suffrage disenfranchised many Nigeria.
4. By giving veto power to the governor, the constitution made mockery of the non-official majority of Nigeria in the legislative council.
5. The constitution limited franchise to Lagos and Calabar while other bigger towns were disenfranchised.
6. The constitution gave the government power over the legislative and executive councils thereby making him autocratic and dictatorial.

MERITS OF MACPHERSON’S CONSTITUTION

1. Nigerians took part in the making of the constitution through constitutional conferences.
2. A new central law-making body called the House of Representatives was introduced.
3. The regions were given more powers and made autonomous.
4. The constitution played great role in the realization of self-government. The motion for self-government was moved in the House of Representatives and discussed at the 1953’s London constitutional conferences.
5. The constitution allowed for increase in elected majorities in both central and regional legislatures.

DEMERITS OF MACPHERSON CONSTITUTION

1. The constitution did not make provision for the post of the prime minister and premier.
2. The constitution did not grant real ministerial responsibilities to ministers. They only acted as spokes men of the ministries in the legislature.
3. The constitution vested too many powers on the governor.
4. No single party had a majority control of the House of Representatives and as such the council of ministers was not sure of their policies.
5. The constitution failed to grant political independence to Nigeria as demanded by the Nationalists.

1. State five each merits and demerits of Richard’s constitution.
2. State five each merits and demerits of Macpherson’s Constitution.

1. Why did Macpherson constitution of 1951 break down? (WASSCE JUNE, 1992)
2. Highlight the decisions reached at the Lagos constitutional conference of 1954?

1. Macpherson’s Constitution was established in _____ (a) 1934 (b) 1951 (c) 1953 (d) 1945
2. Under Macpherson’s Constitution, the eastern regions had ____ house/houses (a)one (b) two (c) three (d) five
3. All but one of the following where the changes made by the Macpherson’s Constitution _____ (a) renaming of the central legislature (b) the western and northern regions were made to have two houses (c) introduction of elective principle (d) the colony of Lagos was part of the Western region
4. The following were the recommendations made by at the London Constitutional Conference except ______ (a) Introduction of federalism (b) that Lagos should be separated from Western region (c) elective principle (d) that self-government should be granted to the regions that desires it
5. The Governor-General of the 1951’s Constitution was (a) Sir Clifford (b) Sir Richard (c) Sir Lyttleton (d) Sir Macpherson 
6. Regionalism was introduced into Nigeria’s politics by the _____ (a) Macpherson’s Constitution (b) Clifford’s Constitution (c) Richard’s Constitution (d) Lyttleton’s Constitution
7. Disenfranchisement means ______ (a) right to vote and be voted for (b) to be disqualified from voting (c) right to form government (d) right to form a political party