Term: 1st Term
Week: 6
Class: Junior Secondary School 3
Age: 14 years
Duration: 40 minutes of 2 periods each
Date:
Subject: Civic education
Topic:- Post 1960 constitution - Republican constitution
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to
- State the features, merits and demerits of the Republican constitution of 1963
INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES: Identification, explanation, questions and answers, demonstration, videos from source
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS: Videos, loud speaker, textbook, pictures
INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES
PERIOD 1-2
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PRESENTATION
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TEACHER’S ACTIVITY
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STUDENT’S ACTIVITY
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STEP 1
INTRODUCTION
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The teacher revises the previous lesson on the independent constitution
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Students pay attention
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STEP 2
EXPLANATION
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She states and explains the features of the republican constitution
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Students pay attention and participates
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STEP 3
DEMONSTRATION
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She states and explains the merits and demerits of the republican constitution
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Students pay attention and participate
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STEP 4
NOTE TAKING
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The teacher writes a summarized note on the board
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The students copy the note in their books
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NOTE
CONSTITUTION
FEATURES OF THE REPUBLICAN CONSTTITUTION OF 1963
Nigeria obtained a Republican Constitution of 1963 and some changes were introduced by the constitutions.
- It enthroned a Republican Constitution in Nigeria.
- Queen of England was no longer head of state.
- The Queen was replaced with the president who became Head of State and Commander –in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
- The president to be elected by secret ballot of the joint session of the two houses of the Federal Assembly.
- Supreme Court replaced Privy Council as highest court of appeal in Nigeria.
- It strengthened the Fundamental Human Rights.
- It abolishes the Judicial Service Commission and made the prime minister the sole appointee of judges.
- The Prime Minister’s office strengthened with the departure of the Governor General.
- The office of the Governors at the regional level ceases, while the premiers assumed total executive government powers.
- The director of public prosecution was brought under political control.
- Membership of the house of senate and representative was increased from 44 to 56 and 305 to 312 respectively.
- Federal government assumed some emergency powers over the legislative arm.
- The Supreme Court was given power of judicial review.
- The process for creation of states and boundary adjustment was embodied in the 1963 Republican Constitution.
MERITS OF THE 1963 REPUBLICAN CONSTITUTION
- The elected president became head of state instead of British Monarch.
- The constitution was autochthonous meaning, it was a home based or derived constitution.
- Supreme Court became the final court of appeal in the land.
- Right of citizens was fully guaranteed and entrenched.
- Nigerians were in complete control of decision making and implementation.
- British influence over the country in any aspect was terminated.
- Supreme Court was given the power to check the excesses or unconstitutional actions of the executive and the legislature.
DEMERITS OF THE 1963 REPUBLICAN CONSTITUTION
- The President represents a minority interest of members of the House of Representatives instead of majority vote of the electorates.
- The legislative and the executive arm of government were fused.
- It permitted carpet crossing where elected members could easily change allegiance for personal rewards.
- It had parliamentary supremacy instead of constitutional supremacy.
- Prime minister was accountable to the parliament and not to the people.
- It exposes the legislative system to bribery and corruption, since the legislature holds aces; they could easily be swayed to secure their compromise.
EVALUATION: 1. State and explain four features, merits and demerits of the Republican constitution of 1963
CLASSWORK: As in evaluation
CONCLUSION: The teacher commends the students positively
