It is the fundamental and organic law of a nation or state that establishes. Still on the constitutional development in nigeria from 1914 till date postindependence constitutional era. Read the fulltext online edition of constitutional developments in nigeria. Maybe it is the season of politics or maybe people just want to know. The nigerian electoral process in perspective elections under colonial rule before independence in 1960, nigeria, which existed as an amalgamation of the northern and southern protectorates since 1914, had already witnessed three different elections. The evolution of nigeria from about 1849 until it attained independence in 1960 is largely the story of the transformational impact of the british on the peoples and cultures of the nigerbenue area. An independence movement gained nigeria s independence on october 1, 1960. The 1960 constitution made provision for the office of the prime minister while that of 1951 did not. Reflecting a further effort to cope with nigerias heterogeneity, the 1960 constitution. There would be a nigerian president as the constitutional head of state and commanderinchief of the armed forces to replace the queen of england. Nigeria s first constitutions were enacted by order in council during the colonial era, when the country was administered.
The new constitution established a federal government system with an elected prime minister and a ceremonial head of staff. Nigeria gained full independence in october 1960, as a federation of three regions northern, western, and eastern under a constitution that provided for a parliamentary form of government. The current constitution was enacted on 29 may 1999, inaugurating the nigerian fourth republic. In september, the first election took place in lagos and calabar. Features of the independence constitution of 1960 nigerian. The constitution of nigeria is the supreme law of the federal republic of nigeria. In the last case, between 1960 and 1963, nigeria was ruled by a coalition between the domi nant political parties in the north and the east to the exclusion of that in the west. The constitution, in nigerias situation, is the supreme law of the land which all acts of individuals and of parliament must not contravene. The constitution of the federation of nigeria, 1960. Article of the constitution is repealed and the following inserted 8 i a citizen of ghana may hold the citizenship of any other country in addition. The 1951 constitution exercised a limited franchise where only male tax payers voted in the north while both males and females voted in the east and west, unlike the 1960 constitution where every eligible citizen of nigeria can vote. And of course, this country has quite a history behind it. The constitution of the federation of nigeria, 1960 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38.
The constitutional history of nigeria began with the conquest of lagos in 1861 by the british. Constitution of the republic of ghana amendment act, 1996. History of nigerian constitutional development the jet lawyer. While the nigerian constitution requires each house of the national assembly to. Nigeria became an independent country taking over the control of territories, politics and that of military. Constitution making process independent nigeria has so far experimented with five constitutions, the 1960, 1963, 1979, 1989 and 1999 constitutions. Constitutional development in nigeria from 1914 till date. The 1960 independence constitution provided for a democratic parliamentary system of government whereby the office of the head of state is different from the office of the head of government. Constitutional development in nigeria from 1960 to date. The 1999 constitution has given birth to the fourth republic, though with prob lems for which it. In 1960, nigeria gained political independence as a sovereign which was also accompanied by a new constitution known as the 1960 constitution. The approach adopted is historical, from the legislation process of 1861 of lagos colony to 1914 as the period of national formation to 1999 constitution, including the unique features of each. List and explain constitutional development in nigeria.
May 31, 2018 the major difference between 1960 and 1963 is that it was parliamentary system of government where they have two head of government which are head of state and head of government and is based under the rules of the british government which is the. A british order in council promulgated the constitution such that it would take effect as soon as the 1960 october independence took effect. Udofa department of public law, faculty of law university of uyo, uyo, akwa ibom state, nigeria abstract section 391 of the 1999 constitution of nigeria guarantees freedom of expression as a fundamental right. Council, 19607 promulgated not only the new constitution of the federation. Download the 1999 constitution of the federal republic of nigeria, as amended, free pdf copy for desktop and mobile. Under this constitution nigeria retained queen elizabeth ii as titular head of state. The lyttleton constitution was enacted in 1954 and it established the federal principle and paved the way for nigeria s independence in 1960. Nigeria s constitution of 1999 with amendments through 2011. At independence in 1960, nigeria adopted a parliamentary system of. There have been a lot of searches on the web for the nigerian constitution these days. In 1999, the growing opposition to the settlement of 1960 manifested itself in an active effort to impose sharia law in the northern states. Cypruss constitution of 1960 with amendments through 20. This conference set 1st april 1960 as the date for nigerias independence.
The ncnc, now headed by azikiwe who had taken control after macaulays death in 1946, formed a coalition with balewas npc after neither party won a majority in the 1959 elections. Nigeria adopted a new federal constitution that year as. With independence looming in 1959, an election was held to elect a leader. All members of the national assembly are elected directly every four years. Features of the republican constitution of 1963 nigerian. Constitution of the federal republic of nigeria pdf download. Brief history of nigeria from 1960 till date oasdom.
In this writeup, you will have the opportunity to learn about what actually transpired in nigeria during the colonial days. Brief history of nigeria between 1849 1960 of independence politics nairaland. Constitution orders in council, 1954 to 1960, shall together. Ghana constitution 1960 preliminary note by francis bennion the following is the text of the 1960 ghana constitution, the first constitution of the country after it became an independent republic by virtue of the ghana independence act 1957. As at that time, nigeria was still following the british system of government in which there is a prime minister and a ceremonial president. The constitution of the federation of nigeria 1960 world statesmen. Promulgation of the constitution of the federal republic of nigeria 1999. As an electronic pdf softcopy, it will be delivered to you by email. A federal legislature consisting of 184 members, which were elected directly and independently of regional assemblies.
A nationwide general election was held to the federal house of representatives in april 1959. The constitution, in nigeria s situation, is the supreme law of the land which all. Under the constitution, each of the three regions retained a substantial measure of selfgovernment. The 1963 republican constitution which the nigeria parliament purposed to enact in 1963 following the earlier colonial comriderts and suspect in no different it remains an act of parliament not a constitution, the material different between the 1960 and 1963 constitute is that the latter 1963 constitution declared nigeria a republic and. The citizenship provisions of the 1979 constitution have been slightly modified and reenacted in the 1989 constitution which will come into effect on october 1, 1992. Pdf abstract this paper scrutinises against the background of the various experiences and attempts made at constitutional development in nigeria.
The lyttleton constitution was enacted in 1954 and it established the federal principle and paved the way for nigeria s independence in 1960 features of lyttleton constitution of 1954. Nigeria was granted independence on october 1, 1960. Mar 09, 2020 still on the constitutional development in nigeria from 1914 till date postindependence constitutional era. The constitution of the united states preamble we the people of the united states, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic.
I used to have just the 1999 constitution available for download but i have now added the files for 1960, 1979 and 1989. This british legacy unraveled shortly after nigeria gained independence in 1960 with the. Between 1964 and 1966, the federal government was largely a coali tion between the north and the west, to the exclu sion of the east. What are the major differences between the 1960 and 1963. Cypruss constitution of 1960 with amendments through 20 subsequently amended. The act establishing the constitution was passed by the nigerian parliament, instead of the british parliament. Independent nigeria has so far experimented with five constitutions, the 1960, 1963, 1979, 1989 and 1999 constitutions. Constitution of the federation of nigeria 1960 and other. Independence from british rule came to pass in nigeria on the 1 st of october, 1960. The richards constitution of 1946, though it had among its objectives the promotion of the unity of nigeria and securing greater participation by nigerians in discussing their affairs. Finally, the agitated freedom was bagged from the british rule. A new constitution established a federal system with an elected prime minister and a ceremonial head of state. Constitution of the federal republic of nigeria, 1999. An analytical study of nigerias constitutionmaking developments and the historical and political factors that affected constitutional change 1960.
This was followed a year after by the declaration of lagos as a new crown colony or settlement burn. No party won an overall majority, and so the npc and ncnc agreed to form a coalition government, while the ag became the opposition party. Nigerias constitution of 1999 with amendments through 2011. That has been the journey so far of nigerias constitution development, from the colonial era to the current 1999 edition, as amended.
An independence movement gained nigerias independence on october 1, 1960. We are going to focus specially on those days between 1900 and 1960. Constitutional development in nigeria from 1960 to date answers. Constitution helps those in government to do their work and it also helps the citizens to know their duties and rights. A constitution is a collection of rules and regulation that govern or guide the actions of a country. It is to be noted that reference to the nigerian constitution unless otherwise specifically stated is reference to the 1999 constitution as amended since that is the current nigeria constitution. Although nigeria gained independence from the united kingdom on 1 october 1960, the nation retained the british monarch, elizabeth ii, as titular head of state until the adoption of a new constitution in 1963 declaring the nation a republic. History of constitutional development in nigeria, an overview.
October 1960 to february 1966 nigeria has had nine constitutions since 1914. On october 1, 1960, abubakar tafawa balewa, founder of the northern peoples congress npc, was appointed as prime minister head of government of the federation of nigeria. Features of the republican constitution of 1963 include. Brief history of nigeria from 1960 till date pdf finally, the agitated freedom was bagged from the british rule.
Mar 17, 2016 history of nigerian constitutional development introduction. You will need to provide your email address, where you want the constitution to be sent to. Provided that a person shall not become a citizen of nigeria by virtue of this section if neither of his parents nor any of his grandparents was born in. A federal legislature consisting of 184 members, which were elected directly and independently of.
The nigerian constitution 1960, 1979, 1989 and 1999 there have been a lot of searches on the web for the nigerian constitution these days. There would be a nigerian president as the constitutional head of state and commanderinchief of. The federation of nigeria formally achieved its independence from britain and joined the commonwealth of nations con on october 1, 1960. The importance of a constitution in any given society cannot be overemphasized.
Constitution orders in council, 1954 to 1960, shall together nigeria. Having firmly and solemnly resolve, to live in unity and harmony as one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign nation under god, dedicated to the promotion of interafrican solidarity, world peace, international cooperation and understanding. History of nigerian constitutional development 1914 1960. The nigerian independence constitution of 1960 oldnaija. Britains final constitutional enactment the nigeria constitution order in council, 19607 promulgated not only the new constitution of the federation of nigeria, but also the constitutions of the three federating regions.
In this article, we shall examine the current nigerian law on citizenship as ordained by the 1979 constitution as well as the changes introduced by the 1989 constitution. Nigeria got her political independence as a sovereign state in october 1, 1960 under the 1960 constitution, also known as the independence constitution. Part 1 brief constitutional history before nigeria attained nationhood in 1960 and was consequently admitted as the 100th member of the united. Get a fullyhyperlinked free pdf softcopy of the 1999 nigerian constitution, as amended. This conference set 1st april 1960 as the date for nigeria s independence. The major difference between 1960 and 1963 is that it was parliamentary system of government where they have two head of government which are head of state and head of government and is based under the rules of the british government which is the.
This constitution shall have the force of law throughout nigeria and, subject to the provisions of section 4 of this constitution, if any other law including the constitution of a region is inconsistent with this constitution, this constitution shall prevail and the other law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void. Lyttleton constitution of 1954 features, merits and demerits. The richards constitution of 1946, though it had among its objectives the promotion of the unity of nigeria and securing greater participation by. Right to freedom of expression and the law of defamation in nigeria imo j.
Features of the 1963 constitution both the 1960 independence constitution the 1963 republic constitution were the same. The nigerian constitution 1960, 1979, 1989 and 1999. Nigeria gained independence on october 1, 1960 through constitutions that were legislated by the british government. Here are the main features of the nigerian independence constitution of 1960. Nigerias federal legislative body, the national assembly, consists of two housesthe house of representatives and the senate. Constitution of the federal republic of nigeria wipo. The federation of nigeria shall consist of regions and a federal territory. The only difference were the provision for ceremonial president 1963 in place of the queen of england 1960 and the judicial appeals system which terminated with the supreme court 1963 rather than the judicial committee of the brishpray limit 1960. Brief history of nigeria between 18491960 of independence. History of nigerian constitutional development the.
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