Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term - Senior Secondary 2

Term: 3^rd Term

Week: 9

Class: Senior Secondary School 2

Age: 16 years

Duration: 40 minutes of 2 periods each

Date:       

Subject:      Government

Topic:-       1999 Presidential constitution

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

1. State the features of the constitution
2. State the merits and demerits of the 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

1999 PRESIDENTIAL CONSTITUTION

The 1999 constitution created the Fourth Nigerian Republic, a federation with democratic rule. It remains in force today. The 1999 constitution identifies the national capital (Abuja), 36 states and their capitals, and 774 local government areas within Nigeria. It establishes the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government and details their duties and the separation of powers between the branches and federal and state governments. Nigeria's legislative powers are vested in a National Assembly with two chambers: a Senate and a House of Representatives. The constitution gives the National Assembly the power to make laws for "peace, order and good government of the Federation".

In addition, the constitution outlines the individual's fundamental rights, including life, liberty, dignity, privacy, freedom of expression, religious freedom, and security from slavery, violence, discrimination, and forced service in the military. It also defines a person's right to a timely and fair trial if arrested and the presumption of innocence. Nigerians also have the right to own land, a right of assembly, and freedom of movement.

FEATURES OF 1999 CONSTITUTION

1. The constitution maintained the presidential system of government.
2. The constitution adopted bicameral legislature, consisting the House of Senate and representatives and house of assembly for each state and councilors for local government.
3. The National Assembly is made up of 109 senators and 360 members of House of Representatives.
4. The constitution provided for 36 states and 774 local government areas.
5. The constitution provided for revenue allocation formula.
6. The constitution retained federal system of administration with the sharing of power.
7. The 1999 constitution of Nigeria provides for multi-party system to be registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
8. The chapter 4 of the 1999 constitution provides for the fundamental human rights of the citizens.

MERITS OF THE 1999 CONSTITUTION

1. The heads of the executive at all levels are popularly elected – local government chairmen, state governors and the president.
2. The constitution effectively puts in place separation of powers and checks and balances. no one can be a member of two arms of government at the same time.
3. It puts in place judicial review allowing Supreme Court to check or review any excess of the other arms of government.
4. The constitution specifically spells out the fundamental human rights of the citizens, qualifications and limitations to those provisions.
5. It clearly stipulates the term of office for the elected officials.
6. The president is responsible/accountable to the electorates.
7. It empowers the citizens to remove unpopular public officials, especially the legislators through recall.
8. It validates and promotes popular/political sovereignty residing in the people.

DEMERITS OF THE 1999 CONSTITUTION

1. It allocates a lot of powers to the president.
2. The nature of the constitution facilitates a very expensive administration.

3. It fails to delineate the functions and powers of the local government. This brings instances in which the federal and state governments usurp the powers and impose functions on local government arbitrarily.
4. The constitution is not clear on the power of state government in the creation or dissolution of local government. This continues to create conflict between the state and federal governments.
5. The exclusive list is too large, therefore the federal government becomes too powerful, while the state governments are left with too little power. This is very unusual in a federal state. This condition makes the states and the local government to be too dependent on the center.
6. Like many other rigid and federal constitutions, decision-making process is not fast as a lot of protocols are often required.
7. The federal character principle contained in the constitution may not encourage meritocracy.
8. The immunity enjoyed by the president and the governors is usually abused.

EVALUATION:    1. State the features of the 1999 Presidential constitution.

2. State three merits and demerits of the 1999 Presidential constitution.

CLASSWORK: As in evaluation

CONCLUSION: The teacher commends the students positively