Civic Education - Junior Secondary 3 - Mcpherson and Lyttleton's Constitution

Term: 1^st Term

Week: 3

Class: Junior Secondary School 3

Age: 14 years

Duration: 40 minutes of 2 periods each

Date:

Subject:      Civic education

Topic:-       Mcpherson and Lyttleton’s Constitution

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

1. State the features, merits and demerits and the Mcpherson’s constitution
2. State the features, merits and demerits and the Lyttleton’s constitution

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES: Identification, explanation, questions and answers, demonstration, videos from source

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS: Videos, loud speaker, textbook, pictures

INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES

PERIOD 1-2

NOTE

CONSTITUTION

THE MCPHERSON 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

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• The colony of Lagos was part of the Western region.
• The three provinces were renamed, Western, Eastern and Northern regions.
• The three chief commissioners for each province were renamed Lieutenant governors.

MERITS OF MCPHERSON’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.
6. The constitution encouraged the true spirit of federalism by dividing powers between the central and the regions and granting consideration autonomy to the region.

DEMERITS OF MCPHERSON 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. Powers given to the regions to make laws were limited as their laws have to be approved first before they could be allowed to operate.
5. 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.
6. The constitution failed to grant political independence to Nigeria as demanded by the Nationalists.

FEATURES OF LYTTLETON CONSTITUTION

The resultant defects of MacPherson’s constitution gave rise to two constitutional conferences in 1953 and 1954, the first in London and the other in Lagos. Far reaching conclusions were agreed on concerning the structuring of Nigeria federation, the status of Lagos as a Natural Federal Unit.

In October 1954 Lyttleton’s Constitution came into effect and the main features and important changes made by it were as follows;

• It was the first federal constitution adopted by Nigeria.
• The lieutenant governors of the various regions became known as Governors.
• The governor was known as Governor-General of the federation of Nigeria.
• Establishment of the office of the speakers and Deputy speaker of the regional legislatures except the North.
• Regionalization of the public service, marketing boards and the judiciary.
• Establishment of the office of the regional premier.
• Regional legislatures were given law making powers.
• Reduction in numbers of both officials and appointed members in both central and regional legislatures and the executive council.
• No provision was made for the office of the prime minister.
• Division of powers between the central and the regions.
• Revision of revenue sharing formula.
• Southern Cameroon granted both administrative and legislative provision

MERITS OF LYTTLETON’S CONSTITUTION

1. It introduced federal structure in Nigeria.
2. It established the offices of the speaker and deputy speaker.
3. It introduced direct election into federal and regional legislatures.
4. Ministers were made heads of departments.
5. It created posts of permanent secretaries and parliamentary secretaries at the federal and regional civil service administration.
6. It separated Lagos and South Cameroon from the west and east respectively.
7. It raised the status of Governor to Governor General, Lieutenant to Governors.
8. The constitution effectively prepared Nigeria for Independence.
9. The regional legislatures were granted real law making powers.
10. Clear-cut division of powers between central and regional government.
11. It created dual civil service and judicial administration.

DEMERITS OF LYTTLETON’S CONSTITUTION

1. It made no provision for the office of the prime minister, still imposing the Governor-General as President of Council of Ministers.
2. It did not provide for a second chamber at the Federal Legislative House.
3. None of the leaders of the major political parties was in the council of ministers, which means those appointed into it would continue to take instruction from the regions. Where their party leaders were stationed.
4. It did not address the imbalance created by Richard’s Constitution, which made the north twice as the size of the whole south. The effect of this structure is still a political problem stalking the country still date.
5. It did not provide for uniform electoral system for the country.
6. The constitution still vested veto power on the Governor General and the regional Governors.
7. It regionalized the public service thereby making the regions stronger than the central.

EVALUATION:    1. State four features, merits and demerits of the Mcpherson’s constitution

2. State four features, merits and demerits of the Lyttleton’s constitution

CLASSWORK: As in evaluation

CONCLUSION: The teacher commends the students positively