WEEK ONE: THE CONSTITUTION
Constitution is defined as a body of rules and regulations by which the citizens of a country are governed or ruled. A constitution also defines the powers and functions of the political office holders such as Presidents, Governors, Chairmen and Councilors of Local Government etc. All the citizens in a country are expected to abide by the rules and regulations provided. The constitution also states the rights, duties and obligations of the citizens.
THE TYPES OF CONSTITUTION
1.Written Constitution: It is a body of rules and regulations of a country that are written in a single document. Examples of country that operate written constitutions are America, Nigeria etc.
2.Unwritten Constitution: It is defined as a body of rules and regulations of a country that are not written in a single document. An unwritten constitution is usually based on the cultures, traditions, conventions and beliefs of the people. Britain is a good example of a country that operates an unwritten constitution.
3.Rigid Constitution: Rigid Constitution is defined as one that is very difficult to amend or change. Most written constitutions are rigid. America, Ghana and Nigeria have written and rigid constitution.
4.Flexible Constitution: It is defined as the type of constitution that is easy to amend. Most unwritten constitutions are flexible. Britain, Italy etc have unwritten and flexible constitution.
5.Federal Constitution: A federal constitution is one which divides the powers of government between the central, states and local government. Nigeria and America are good examples of countries that operate a federal constitution.
6.Unitary Constitution: A unitary constitution is one in which there is only one central government. States and local governments do not exist in a unitary constitution. Britain, Italy and France are good examples of country with unitary constitutions.
WEEK TWO: FEATURES OF COLONIAL NIGERIA CONSTITUTION 1
THE CLIFFORD’S CONSTITUTION OF 1922
The Clifford’s constitution of 1922 was named after governor Hugh Clifford who represented the queen of England in Nigeria before our independence in 1960.
FEATURES OF CLIFFORD’S CONSTITUTION
1.It provided an executive council.
2.It provided a legislative council.
3.It provided elective principle for the first time in Nigeria.
4.It allowed the formation of political party e.g. Nigeria National Democratic Party (NNDP) in 1923.
5.It provided for the establishment of newspapers.
ADVANTAGES OF CLIFFORD’S CONSTITUTION
1.It introduced elective principle in Nigeria which made possible the election of Nigerians into the Legislature.
2.Clifford Constitution allowed he establishment of political parties and political activities. NNDP was the first political party established in Nigeria in 1923 by Herbert Macaulay.
3.It allowed Nigerians to establish newspapers.
4.Clifford’s Constitution established a central legislative council made up of 46 members for the colony and southern protectorates.
DISADVANTAGES OF CLIFFORD’S CONSTITUTION
1.The executive council had only white people as members.
2.No Nigerian was found in the executive council.
3.The elective principle introduced by Clifford was for only Lagos and Calabar.
4.The Northerners were excluded from the legislative council.
5.The conditions attached to the elective principle were too difficult to operate.
6.The governor had veto powers.
RICHARD’S CONSTITUTION OF 1946
The Richard’s constitution replaced the Clifford’s constitution of 1922. The constitution was made mainly to promote the unity of Nigeria and to encourage Nigerians to participate in their own affairs.
FEATURES OF RICHARD’S CONSTITUTION
1.The executive council was dominated by the Europeans.
2.It divided Nigeria into three unequal regions: East, West, and North regions.
3.No Nigerian was found in the executive council.
4.It established executive and legislative councils in each region.
5.The governor had veto powers.
ADVANTAGES OF RICHARD’S CONSTITUTION OF 1946
1.It gave Nigerians the power to have a say in their own affairs.
2.It laid the foundation for federalism in Nigeria.
3.It introduced regionalism in Nigeria by dividing Nigeria into three regions: East, West and North regions.
4.It encouraged the development of political activities.
5.It also encouraged the establishment of newspapers.
DISADVANTAGES OF RICHARD’S CONSTITUTION OF 1946
1.It divided Nigeria into three unequal parts: East, Westand North regions.
2.The governors had veto powers.
3.The Europeans still dominated the executive council.
4.No Nigerian was found in the executive council.
5.The Richard’s constitution still continued with the elective principle which was difficult to operate.
WEEK THREE: FEATURES FOR NIGERIA’S COLONIAL CONSTITUTION II
MACPHERSON CONSTITUTION OF 1951
This constitution was named after Sir John Macpherson who replaced Richard’s in 1951.
FEATURES OF MACPHERSON CONSTITUTION OF 1951
1.It created a central legislative council called House of Representatives.
2.Nigerians were appointed into the executive council as ministers (12 Ministers).
3.It created a central executive council.
4.It continued with the three unequal regions: East, West and North regions.
5.Each region had both legislative and executive councils.
ADVANTAGES OF MACPHERSON CONSTITUTION OF 1951
1.It created for the first time the House of Representatives.
2.It created bi-cameral legislature for both West and North regions.
3.It encouraged the formation of political parties in Nigeria.
4.It also retained the elective principle introduced by Clifford constitution in 1922.
DISADVANTAGES OF MACPHERSON CONSTITUTION OF 1951
1.The governor still had veto powers.
2.There was no provision for the office of the Prime Minister.
3.The existing political parties were regionally based.
4.It failed to make Nigeria a full federal structure.
LYTTLETON CONSTITUTION OF 1954
FEATURES OF LYTTLETON CONSTITUTION
1.It established a federal system of government. It gave Nigeria a full federal structure.
2.It made provision for the post of a speaker of the House of Representatives.
3.It created the post of premier for each region.
4.Lagos was detached from western region and made the federal capital of Nigeria.
5.Lieutenant-Governor in the regions became governors and the governor became Governor General.
ADVANTAGES OF LYTTLETON CONSTITUTION
1.Each region had its own civil service and judiciary
2.It gave birth to federal system of government in Nigeria.
3.It established a federal capital territory (Lagos).
4.It established the post of a premier in each region.
5.It created the offices of a speaker and a deputy speaker in the regions.
DISADVANTAGES OF LYTTLETON CONSTITUTION
1.No provision was made for the post a prime Minister at the central level.
2.There was no uniform electoral system in all the regions.
3.The governor general still had veto power.
4.The ministers were loyal to the regions.
5.No provision was made for bi-cameral legislature at the centre.
EVALUATION
1.Mention the feature of lyttleton constitution.
2.What were the disadvantages of lyttleton constitution of 1954?
WEEK FOUR: 1960 INDEPENDENCE CONSTITUTION
FEATURES OF 1960 INDEPENDENCE CONSTITUTION
1.The governor general was the ceremonial head of state.
2.The prime minister was the head of government and administration.
3.It provided for a parliamentary system of government.
4.Fundamental human rights were written in the constitution.
5.The constitution of 1960 was a rigid constitution.
6.It laid down procedures for the creation of regions.
Identify the features of the 1960 independence constitution
Advantages or Achievement of 1960 independence Constitution
1.It ushered independence for Nigeria.
2.It defined citizenship and how it can be acquired.
3.It made provision for human rights.
4.It provided the procedure for the appointment of Supreme Court judges.
DISADVANTAGES OR WEAKNESS OF 1960 INDEPENDENCE CONSTITUTION
1.It gave total sovereignty or independence to Nigeria
2.1960 independence constitution was imposed on Nigerians. Nigerians did not take part in the writing of the constitution
3.The Privy Council in London was the highest court and not the Supreme Court.
4.The Queen of England was still the head of state and this gave room for interference
WEEK FIVE: POST 1960 CONSTITUTION: 1963 REPUBLICAN CONSTITUTION.
FEATURES OF 1963 REPUBLICAN CONSTITUTION
1.It retained parliamentary system of government.
2.The Queen of England was no longer the head of state.
3.The Prime Minister was the head of the government.
4.The Supreme Court was made the highest court of appeal instead of the Privy Council in London.
5.It abolished the judicial service commission.
DISADVANTAGES/ PROBLEMS / WEAKNESS OF REPUBLICAN CONSTITUTION
1.No supremacy of the constitution but supremacy of the parliament.
2.No clear separation of power.
3.The prime minister was accountable to the parliament and not to the people.
WEEK SIX: POST 1960 CONSTITUTION
FEATURES OF 1979 CONSTITUTION
1.It provided for the office of the executive president who was the head of state and commander in – chief of the Nigerian armed forces.
2.The executive president was both the head of state and head of government.
3.The 1979 constitution introduced the presidential system of government.
4.It provided for the office of the vice president.
5.The president has maximum of two terms of four years each.
6.There was a clear separation of powers among the organs of government.
7.Fundamental human rights were provided in the constitution.
8.It provided for election at the local government level.
9.It initiated the federal character principle.
ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE 1979 CONSTITUTION
1.It created the office of the executive president to be properly elected.
2.There was clear separation of powers and functions among the organs of government.
3.The 1979 constitution was supreme.
4.It provided for a new federal capital territory called Abuja.
5.It made provision for the rights of Nigerians.
FEATURES OF THE 1989 CONSTITUTION
1.It introduced a two – party system.
2.Legislative houses were to be on part time.
3.It retained presidential system of government.
4.Fundamental human rights were provided in the constitution.
5.The minimum qualification for major political offices was school certificate.
FEATURES OF THE 1999 PRESIDENTIAL CONSTITUTION
1.It retained presidential system of government.
2.It provided for 36 states including the F.C.T. Abuja.
3.It provided for the independence of the judiciary.
4.It retained bi-cameral legislature, the house of senate and the House of Representatives.
5.Fundamental human rights were provided in the 1999 constitution.
WEEK EIGHT: ELECTIONS
MEANING OF ELECTIONS
Election can be defined as an act or process of voting for a candidate to represent the people of a country in various government positions. It is also defined as a process of choosing our political leaders. Examples of political office holders or leaders are president, governors, members of the houses of senate and representatives, Chairman and Counselors of local government areas. Election is a procedure that allows citizens of a country to choose their leaders or representatives.
TYPES OF ELECTIONS
THE TYPES OF ELECTIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
1.Direct election.
2.Indirect election.
3.By – election.
4.Run – off election.
5.Primary election.
1 Direct Elections: Direct elections involve the electorates (voters) casting their votes directly in an election for candidates of their choice that will represent them in various government positions.
2 Indirect Elections: This system involves the formation of an electoral college by the legislators. The members of the electoral college will vote for the candidates of their choice on behalf of the citizens of the country.
The Americans elect the president through electoral college.
3 By – Elections: This is an election that takes place to fill a vacant elective post as a result of disqualification, death or resignation of the individual holding a public office. The election takes place in that constituency where there has been a vacancy.
4 Run – off Elections: When none of the candidates wins the election by absolute majority in a general election, another election would be conducted. In this final election, only the candidates with the highest votes are allowed to contest.
5 Primary Election: This involves the political parties presenting candidates for any election in a country. It is an election conducted within a political party to choose candidates that can adequately represent the interests of the party in an election.
WEEK NINE: IMPORTANCE OF ELECTIONS IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY
Elections take place in every democratic society. Without elections, democratic society cannot succeed.
The importance of elections are as follows:
1.Choice of Leaders: Elections give the people in a country the opportunity for choosing their leaders into different political offices such as president, governors, legislators etc.
2.Easy and peaceful change of government: Elections provide an opportunity for the masses to peacefully remove bad government from office and ensure peaceful change of government to another.
3.Promotes Democracy: Election is one of the pillars of democracy. Regular free and fair elections help in sustaining democracy in any country.
4.Provides opportunity for political education: Election provides opportunity for political parties to give political education to the people of a country. It is usually done through campaigns and rallies where political parties make their manifestos known to the people.
5.Provides opportunity for participation in government: Election gives the citizens of a country the opportunity of participating in government by casting votes for the candidates of their choice.
6.Elections act as basis for measuring the popularity of the government in power.
WEEK TEN: ELECTORAL BODIES IN NIGERIA
TYPES OF ELECTORAL BODIES IN NIGERIA
There are two types of electoral bodies in Nigeria. They are
i. (INEC) Independent National Electoral Commission
ii. State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC)
1.Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC):
It is the main agent of democracy in Nigeria. INEC is a permanent body created by the constitution to organize federal and state elections in Nigeria. The overall head of INEC is called chairman. Every state in Nigeria has a resident electoral commissioner that supervises the conduct of elections in the states.
2.State Independent Electoral Commission:
The State Independent Electoral Commission has power to:
1.Organize undertake and supervise all elections to local government councils within a state.
2.Advise INEC on the compilation of and the register of voters for local government election.
FUNCTIONS OF INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC)
1.Registration of political parties.
2.Registration of voters and provision of voters’ cards.
3.Registration of candidates for elections.
4.Provision of electoral materials such as ballot papers and ballot boxes.
5.Counting of votes after elections.
6.Announcement and declaration of winners.
7.To educate voters about democracy and electoral process in Nigeria.
8.To divide the country into constituencies or electoral districts.
