Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term - Senior Secondary 3

Term: 1^st Term

Week: 7

Class: Senior Secondary School 3

Age: 17 years

Duration: 40 minutes of 2 periods each

Date:       

Subject:      Government

Topic:-       Development of political parties in Nigeria(NCNC and AG)

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

1. Discuss the objectives, organizational structure, sources of finance and performance/achievements of NCNC and AG

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

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS: Videos, loud speaker, textbook, pictures

INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES

PERIOD 1-2

NOTE

DEVELOPMENT OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN NIGERIA(NCNC and AG)

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF NIGERIA AND THE CAMEROON ORIGIN OF NCNC

In 1941, the boarding students of King’s College, Lagos were asked to leave their hostels for soldiers and move to an indecent accommodation in the city they reported to the government but nothing was done. A strike was embarked upon and 75 of the students expelled and eight were conscripted or forced into the military service.

In June 1944, the Nigerian Union of students (NUS) called a mass meeting of the Glover Memeorial Hall, Broadstreet, Lagos to consider the immediate organisation of a nation-wide committee to address the exploitation of and discrimination against Nigerians by the British.

The meeting was presided over by Herbert Macualay. A new association called National council of Nigeria emerged and Herbert Macualay was elected as the president while Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe was elected as the general secretary.

Membership was through existing organisations and not individuals. The NNDP by January 1945 and other unions have joined the organisation including three from Cameroon. This led to the change of the name of the organisation to national council of Nigeria and the Cameroon (NCNC). In 1960, when the southern Cameroon seceded from Nigeria to join the other part of Camoeroon. The name also changed to National Convention of Nigeria Citizens (still NCNC).

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE OF NCNC

Individuals were allowed to join the party as from 1951. The party was said to be have about 300 branches all over Nigeria with headquarters in Lagos and divisional headquarters and working committee in each region. The party held annual conventions. The party National executive committee was made up of national officers, regional chairman and parliamentary leader.

SOURCES OF FINANCE

1. Overdraft from African continental Bank
2. Membership subscription
3. Affiliation fess and dues
4. Sales of party constitution booklet and other items
5. Levies on the salaries of members of parliament and board members
6. Donations

LEADERSHIP OF NCNC

After the death of Herbert Macaulay in 1948, Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe took over the leadership. He handed over to Dr. Micheal Okpara when he became the Governor General of Nigeria in 1962. Other members of the party were: Okoi Arikpo, Adeniran Ogunsanya, Adegoke Adelabu, Njoku, Dennis Osadebay etc.

OBJECTIVES OF NCNC

1. To achieve self government for Nigeria
2. To arouse political consciousness of the masses.
3. To spread political education to the people.
4. To establish a medium of enforcing social equality, religious tolerance, social and economic security.
5. To organise and collaborate with all its branches throughout Nigeria and the Cameroonians.

PERFORMANCE OF NCNC

1. NCNC introduced a local government that was the modern and representative
2. It united the Nationalist in their struggle for independence.
3. It won many seats in the federal House of Representatives, become opposition party in the west.
4. It dominated the politics of the eastern region
5. Its organ, the West African pilot was used for socio-political information and education of the masses
6. The first regional university of Nigeria NSUKKA, was established in the Eastern Region when Nnamdi Azikwe was the premier of the eastern region and the leader of NCNC.
7. Development of the eastern region under the leadership of Micheal Okpara

ACTION GROUP

A group of Yoruba students studying in Britain came together in 1945 and established a cultural group called Egbe Omo Oduduwa. It later metamorphosed to a political party called Action Group in March 1951. The founder and leader of the party was late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Other influential members of the parties were S.L. Akintola, Chief Shonibare, Chief Bode Thomas, Oni of Ife, Sir Adesoji Aderemi etc.

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE OF AG

Membership of AG was open to individuals not below 16 years of age. The party had branches in the Local Government ward level in each region, divisional conference which was made up to two or more local government units, Regional parliamentary council, regional executive committee. Federal executive council and congress met annually. It has federal, regional and local government officers.

SOURCES OF FINANCE

1. Monthly subscription of members
2. Enrolment fees
3. Levies on the salaries of legislators and board members
4. Sale of flags, almences, handkerchiefs and either publicity materials
6. Overdraft from national bank of Nigeria limited

OBJECTIVES OF AG

1. To encourage mass and qualitative education
2. To contest and win elections and control the western region
3. To challenge the political domination of NCNC in the western region.
4. To cooperate with the nationalist and all tribal organisation towards the attainment of self-government for Nigeria.

PERFORMANCE OF AG

1. It contributed to the attainment of independence in Nigeria. It was a member of AG, chief Anthony Enahoro, who raised a motion for self government for Nigeria by 1956. This greatly increased the agitation for self-government.
2. It won many elections in the western region.
3. It also contributed immensely to the development of the eastern region.
4. It was the first party that introduced free primary education in Nigeria in 1955 and implemented in the western region.
5. It represented the western region in all the constitutional conferences that led to the independence of Nigeria.

6. The party won many seats to become the opposition party in the eastern region and at the federal legislative.

EVALUATION:    1. Discuss the origin, organizational structure, sources of finance and performance/achievements of

                        a. NCNC

                        b. AG

CLASSWORK: As in evaluation

CONCLUSION: The teacher commends the students positively