If you dont see any interesting for you, use our search form on bottom v. Thus, an attempt to discuss the issue must succinctly. Nigeria has to adopt 1963 constitution the guardian. This new constitution was passed into law on 1st october 1963 and it was in line with the constitutional conference that was held in lagos between july 25 and 26, 1963. It is the fundamental and organic law of a nation or state that establishes. What are the major differences between the 1960 and 1963. There would be a nigerian president as the constitutional head of state and commanderinchief of the armed forces to replace the queen of england. From 23 may to 26 june 1957, there was a constitutional conference in london arranged mainly to correct the deficiencies of lyttleton constitution of 1954 and which took the following decisions. The republican constitution superseded the independence constitution of october 1st, 1960, which marked nigerias transformation from a monarchy to a republic. Constitutional development in nigeria from 1960 to date answers. History and development of political parties in nigeria.
Third is the historical development of the constitution within two categories before independence and after, including the role of military and the final segment is the conclusion and recommendation. Oct 15, 2012 the constitutional history of nigeria began with the conquest of lagos in 1861 by the british. Introduction constitutional development is a dynamic process and as such susceptible to a number of short comings ezra 1964. The 1999 constitution has given birth to the fourth republic, though with prob lems for which it faces demands for a revision or amendment.
The federation of nigeria shall consist of regions and a federal territory. Mar 17, 2016 history of nigerian constitutional development introduction. The importance of a constitution in any given society cannot be overemphasized. Nnamdi azikiwe university, awka, anambra state, nigeria. Major differences between 1963 and 1979 constitution.
Be it enacted by parliament in the fourteenth year of the republic of india as follows. Elections were held for a legislature of 31 members. The census conducted in 1963 was thought to favour the hausafulani more than the rest of nigeria and this dissatisfied the igbos, leading to the splitting of the ncnc with. This act may be called the constitution fifteenth amendment act, 1963. The constitutional development in nigeria from 1914 till date can be divided into two generation. Constitutional development in nigeria from 1914 till date. Nnamdi azikiwe later became the first president of nigeria in 1963 after nigeria became a republic, while tafawa balewa maintained his position as the prime minister. Mar 09, 2020 constitutional development in nigeria from 1914 till date. History of nigerian constitutional development the. The act establishing the constitution was passed by the nigerian parliament, instead of the british parliament.
Nigeria became an independent country in 1960 and a republic in. History of nigerian constitutional development the jet lawyer. The last constitutional conference was convened in london on the independence constitution. This was after the constitutional conference held in lagos on july 25 and 26 1963 where issues bordering on the real independence of nigeria. This was after the constitutional conference held in lagos on july 25 and 26 1963 where issues bordering on the real independence of nigeria were resolved. Brief constitutional history before nigeria attained nationhood in 1960 and was consequently admitted as the 100th member of the united nations, it passed through a series of constitutional developments. 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. Features of the republican constitution of 1963 include. It is asserted that the drafting of constitutions is a recurring decimal in nigerias chequered political history. By an act of the british parliament, nigeria became an independent country within the commonwealth on october 1, 1960.
Constitutional gap, governance, democracy, development, nigeria 1. The process of amending the nigerian constitution constitutional development in nigeria photo source. Dynamics of constitutional development in nigeria, 19141999 abstract. The constitution made provision for real independence of the nigerian state. Difference between 1963 and 1979 constitution in nigeria. This research work reveals the impact of nigeria s constitution between 1951 and 1963 on the growth of the nation. Establishment of full regional selfgovernment for the east and west in 1957 and for the north in 1959. From 1922 1999 both years inclusive nigeria had a total of nine constitutions. Exploring the missing gaps in the 1999 constitution of. Nigeria became independent on october 1, 1960 the period between dis ddate is january 15, 1966, when the first military corp detat took place, is generally referred to as the first republic, although the country became a republic on october 1, 1963. Mar 25, 2020 constitutional development in nigeria from 1914 till date nigeria is unarguably one of the most influential countries in africa. But if they dominate, the judicial process becomes a dangerous sham.
The constitution, in nigerias situation, is the supreme law of the land which all acts of individuals and of parliament must not contravene. In 1963 nigeria became a republic within the commonwealth. From 1922 through 1963 when nigeria became a republic, the analysis of almost all the constitutions produced to govern the country where either handed. The republican constitution was passed into law by the federal house of representatives on september 19, 1963, and came into force on 1st october 1963. Numerous ancient african civilizations settled in the region that is known today as nigeria, such as the kingdom of nri, the benin empire, and the oyo empire. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Nov 22, 2016 the constitution of nigeria that established nigerian federation was the 1963 constitution.
Adapted from ben o nwabueze, a constitutional history of nigeria c. Military rule, civilian instability and true federalism in a deeply divided society. Historical development of the nigerian constitution. History of constitutional development in nigeria, an overview. Beginning of the nigerian constitutional development under the. Thus, in the colonial era, the constitution, where it existed, rather than being an instrument of empowerment was an instrument of domination. List and explain constitutional development in nigeria since.
The current constitution was enacted on 29 may 1999, inaugurating the nigerian fourth republic. What is a constitution and what is it impact on the prosperity of a country like nigeria. The constitution fifteenth amendment act, 1963 5th october, 1963. Furthermore, as was the experience with the 1963, 1979 and 1999 constitutions, any constitution that is hurriedly drawn up and not tried, stands the risk of failure when subjected to the pressure of political, legal, economic and social forces in and outside the society. This paper examines constitutional development in nigeria since the amalgamation of 1914 and the. The constitution fifteenth amendment act, 1963 national. Constitutionmaking process independent nigeria has so far experimented with five constitutions, the 1960, 1963, 1979, 1989 and 1999 constitutions. The federal republic of nigeria which gained independence in 1960, after a long period of colonialism by the british government, has a remarkable constitutional development. In the pre independence period nigeria had many constitutions introduced by the colonial.
Constitutional development and the evolution of the nigerian state. This constitution removed queen elizabeth as the head of state. The change in status called for no practical alteration of the constitutional system. On the whole, looking at the supremacy of the constitution and governance in nigeria, it is instructive to note that there has been poor culture of constitutionalism in nigeria. Individual judgment and feeling cannot be wholly shut out of the judicial process. History of nigeria the history of nigeria can be traced to settlers trading across the middle east and africa as early as 1100 bc. History of nigerian constitutional development the jet. Features of the republican constitution of 1963 nigerian. These included the clifford constitution 1922, which introduced elective representation into legislative processes in nigeria. Features of the independence constitution of 1960 nigerian. Constitutional development in nigeria 4940 words bartleby. This conference agreed on the date of zanzibars formal independence from britain as 10 december 1963.
Following the military takeover in january 1966, the 1963 constitution was abrogated and the military took the centre. The constitution on nigerias social and political issues. Colonial elite and constitutional making in nigeria 1922 1963 the attainment of a republican status and consequently constitutional government in nigeria in 1963, can be regarded as a logical outcome of sequence constitutional developments that started with the cliffords constitution. This was followed a year after by the declaration of lagos as a new crown colony or settlement burn.
Nov 24, 2015 on this page you can read or download constitutional development in nigeria pdf in pdf format. Constitution of the federal republic of nigeria pdf download. Nigeria is unarguably one of the most influential countries in africa. This was a departure from the 1960 and 1963 constitutions, which.
The approach adopted is historical, from the legislation process of 1861 of lagos colony to 1914 as the period of nat ional. The republican constitution of 1963 university of miami school of. The chief justice submitted that modem constitutions provided. It has been infected by the complete erosion of the concept. Constitutional development in nigeria can be generally divided into two epochs. A person born outside nigeria after the thirtieth day of september, 1960, shall become a citizen of nigeria at the date of his birth if at that date his father is a citizen of nigeria otherwise than by virtue of this section or subsection 2 of section 7 of this constitution. Nigerias constitutional development 1922 1999 nigeria has a rich history of constitutions. Jul 22, 2011 independent nigeria has so far experimented with five constitutions, the 1960, 1963, 1979, 1989 and 1999 constitutions.