Colonial nigeria was the era in the history of nigeria when the region of west africa was ruled by great britain in from the midnineteenth century until 1960, when nigeria achieved independence. The way nigeria emerged to become a nation is how several other nations across the world emerged and rose to glory. It is the fundamental and organic law of a nation or state that establishes. Constitutional development in nigeria from 1914 till date. Past constitutions colonial era 19141960 nigerias first constitutions were enacted by order in council during the colonial era, when the country was administered as a crown colony.
Mar 09, 2020 constitutional development in nigeria from 1914 till date. The federal government was given exclusive powers in defence, foreign relations, and commercial and fiscal policy. Countries like the united states of america were as a result of several amalgamations and annexations hawaii, florida, texas, alaska, california, and louisiana. The 1914 constitution made provision for the creation of a legislative. Constitutional and political development in nigeria part i. Constitutional development in nigeria before independence. We intend in this work to look at the various reforms that local government system in nigeria has witnessed since 1914. The british were able to conquer the northern part of nigeria with the royal niger company. Constitutional development in nigeria before independence 2 years ago 50851 views by nina kalau the history of nigeria is actually quite interesting, especially when it comes to the question about constitutional development in nigeria before independence.
Mar 17, 2016 history of nigerian constitutional development introduction. The constitutions enacted during this period were those of 19 which came into effect on 1. Nigerians who signed amalgamation documents in 1914. In 1914, the british protectorates of northern and southern nigeria were amalgamated by frederick lugard, 1st baron lugard, a mercenary, soldier, explorer and colonial administrator. Federalism, the constitution and resource control by.
This council was not given any legislative or executive powers its function was advisory in character. Islam reached nigeria through the borno empire between 1068 bc and hausa states around 85 ad during the 11th century, while. The 1914 constitution led to the amalgamation of the colony and protectorate of northern nigeria with the colony and protectorate of southern nigeria, under the colony and authority of the british monarch. Nigeria the journey to amalgamation a brief summary. Lagos based on the educated elite enjoyed the legislative council system.
The company gained control of the palmoil trade along the niger river after the berlin conference gave britain a province over the niger river delta. Eight years later, the 1914 constitution was replaced by. The aftermath of colonialism in nigeria has affected nigerias sociopolitical development, especially in the false marriage with the sobriquet. The constitution of 1946 was passew when the westminster style parliamentary constitution was enacted in the country. World factbook of criminal justice systems nigeria. The amalgamation of nigeria in 1914 coincided with the establishment of a nigerian council. First, over the period from 1914 until independence, the british amalgamated nigeria into one single colonial entity, gradually transforming the new state into a parliamentary federation of three major ethnic regions. The constitution of 1922 known as the sir hugh clifford constitution expanded and reconstituted the. It would be recalled that nigeria was once a british colony. This council comprised 30 official members, 15 unofficial ones nominated by government, and three unofficial members representing the municipal areas of lagos and. The sir cliffords 1922 constitution formed a legislative council that was given lawmaking responsibilities for.
In 1914, six africans were brought into the governors advisory council. It now had 28 african four elected and 17 european members. The regional houses of assembly were subordinated to the legislative council and the central executive, which effectively meant the governor. This council had jurisdiction over the entire country except lagos colony where the lagos legislative council still existed, however, the nigerian council was a failure. Nigeria thus fell to britain more as a result of the diplomacy of imperialism than a matter of choice for any of the peoples that were to be enclosed within this grid that came to be organized and administered as one territorial unit called nigeria eleagu. Federalism, the constitution and resource control by itse sagay in the beginning, there was no nigeria. In 1947, the councils authority was extended to the whole country. By order in council, dated the 21st of november, 1922, and entitled the nigeria legislative council order in council, 1922, the former bodies known as the nigerian council and the legislative council have been abolished and a larger.
It was at this time he presented the association in 1914, mainly for financial reasons. Revisiting 1914 and the centenary celebrations the aftermath of colonialism in nigeria has affected nigerias sociopolitical development, especially in the false marriage with the sobriquet. In doing these as well as in their daytoday life, the. In fact, the competence of the council which covered the southern nigeria protectorate before was truncated by governor lugard olusanya. The monarch of nigeria was still head of state but legislative power was vested in a bicameral parliament, executive power in a prime minister and cabinet, and judicial authority in a federal supreme court. Numerous ancient african civilizations settled in the region that is today nigeria, such as the kingdom of nri, the benin empire, and the oyo empire. The constitution, in nigerias situation, is the supreme law of the land which all acts of individuals and of parliament must not contravene.
History of nigerian constitutional development the jet lawyer. The frederick lugards 1914 constitution was later replaced by the sir cliffords 1922 constitution. In the same year, a legislative council was created for the. This writeup is the first in the series i would intermittently be adding to the series, the next is the clifford constitution of 1922. The legislative council consisted of ten official and six unofficial members. Since 1914 the british government has been trying to make nigeria into one country, but the nigerian people themselves are historically. The importance of a constitution in any given society cannot be overemphasized.
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. But due to his creation of regional councils in the. It should also be noted that years of deliberations went into the amalgamation of nigeria and the decision should not be considered a spontaneous move by the british. Nigeria the journey to amalgamation ed emeka keazor 2014 amalgamation day, tinubu square, lagos. In 1914 a nigerian council of 30 europeans and six nigerians was inaugurated. It was as if britain does create two different countries. Executive council consisting of a few of the senior officials. The nigerian legislative council was established in 1914 and was given limited jurisdiction.
Nigerias constitutional evolution see table 1 can be demarcated into three broad phases as follows. History of constitutional development in nigeria, an overview. The federal government of nigeria is composed of three distinct branches. Under the constitution, a legislative council was for the first time established for the whole of nigeria, which was styled as, the legislative.
In 1912, lord lugard became the first british governorgeneral of colonial nigeria. Lugard, the first governorgeneral of nigeria to create the nigerian council in 1914. The 1914 constitution created a legislative council of the colony which was however restricted to making laws for the colony of lagos alone, whilst the governor general made laws for the rest of the country. Still, the amalgamation of northern and southern nigeria protectorate in 1914 did not usher in any improvement on the function of the legislative council. History of nigerian constitutional development the. Nigeria s first constitutions were enacted by order in council during the colonial era, when the country was administered as a crown colony. Feb 02, 2015 the clifford constitution, which was introduced by sir hugh clifford in 1922, replaced both the legislative council of 1862 which was subsequently enlarge in 1914, and the nigerian council of 1914. Jan 21, 2015 the nigerian council of 1914 created after the amalgamation of the southern and northern protectorates in the same year marked the beginning of political and constitutional development in nigeria. However, these consultations did not make it acceptable to nigerians. The constitutions enacted during this period were those of 19 which came into effect on 1 january 1914, 1922, 1946, 1951 and 1954. Mar 16, 2014 nigeria the journey to amalgamation a brief summary. 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. In 1922, a legislative council ten africans, four of them elected, and 36 europeans was empowered to legislate for the south. This topic may sound overambitious for the time and space which could normally be allowed on this.
The amalgamation hence, was purely for administrative convenience and economic exploitation and as chinweizu 1978 stated, british profit. Constitutional and political development in nigeria part. As the present agitation for a sovereign state of biafra subjects the fabric of the nation to grievous strain, it is evident that the marriage of 1914 is not working. In 1914, the colony and protectorate of southern nigeria was merged with the protectorate of northern nigeria and they were referred to as the colony and. The nigerian council of 1914 was created by sir frederick lugard after the amalgamation of the southern and northern protectorates in 1914. A lawyer, sir kitoyi ajasa representing the african community in lagos as a legislative council member of the colony since 1902. During this time, the colony was ruled in three separate pieces. Sir arthur richards, another governor general, when considering the 1923 clifford constitution, stated that his primary objective was to promote the unity of nigeria. The nigerian council of 1914 created after the amalgamation of the southern and northern protectorates in the same year marked the beginning of political and constitutional development in nigeria. By article 4 of the southern nigeria protectorate order in council 1906, the legislative council of lagos was empowered to make laws for the protectorate of southern nigeria by ordinance. This work seeks to explore the concept of amalgamation, its significance and analytical forethought in order to recommend solutions to some myriads of problems that the entity called. The council consisted of 36 members to advise him on legislative matters. Since the amalgamation in 1914, the british government has been trying to make nigeria into one country, but the nigerian people are different in every way including religion, custom, language and. The nigerian council comprised 24 official and 12 unof ficial members.
A legislative council is the legislature, or one of the legislative chambers, of a nation, colony, or subnational division such as a province or state. The clifford constitution, which was introduced by sir hugh clifford in 1922, replaced both the legislative council of 1862 which was subsequently enlarge in 1914, and the nigerian council of 1914. A more representative system did not appear until 1946, when. History of nigeria constitution from 1914 till date. Lord fredrick lugard, a britishmonarch appointee, became the first governorgeneral of the amalgamated nigeria. In 1954 a new constitution the third in eight years establishes the federation of nigeria and adds the federal territory of lagos. Nigeria, like most african states, is a colonial creation and, as in most other african countries that have gone through this experience, its annexation was not immediate. The sir cliffords 1922 constitution formed a legislative council that was given lawmaking responsibilities for lagos and the southern provinces. This first set of constitutions was passed in the following years. History of nigerian constitutional development 1914 1960. The lagos colony was later added in 1906, and the territory was officially renamed the colony and. This writeup is the first in the series i would intermittently be adding to the series,the next is the clifford constitution of 1922.
As a result, the nigeria 1914 amalgamation merged the different parts of the country in order to make governance easier for the colonial rulers. Constitution of the federal republic of nigeria pdf download. The legislative council and the nigerian council were abolished and in their place the clifford constitution established a. He also appointed lieutenant governors for the southern and northern protectorates and an administrator for the colony of lagos. There were ijaws, igbos, urhobos, itsekiris, yorubas. When northern and southern nigeria were united in 1914, the new legislative council was headed by the governor, and consisted of seven british officials, two british nonofficials and two nigerians, one of whom was williams. Nigeria with a long history of slavery and colonization as well as civilian and military administrations and these have to a large extent determined the system of local government administration in nigeria up till today. It was later reduced to two units, north and south nigeria. The history of the nigerian legislature dates back to the lagos legislative council of 1862, established under british colonial rule. The history of nigeria can be traced to prehistoric settlers nigerians living in the area as early as 1100 bc. It was only in lagos that his plan of amalgamation was fiercely resisted, the other parts of the country remained lackadaisical. But even this is not enough to reflect the complexity of the situation. Southern nigeria was a british protectorate in the coastal areas of modernday nigeria formed in 1900 from the union of the niger coast protectorate with territories chartered by the royal niger company below lokoja on the niger river. It also informs my choice of the topic nigeria 1914 to date a chequered journey so far.
Native authorities and local government reforms in nigeria. Southern nigeria was a british protectorate in the coastal areas of modernday nigeria formed in 1900 from the union of the niger coast protectorate with territories chartered by the royal niger company below lokoja on the niger river the lagos colony was later added in 1906, and the territory was officially renamed the colony and protectorate of southern nigeria. A member of a legislative council is commonly referred to as an mlc. In 1914, the colony and protectorate of southern nigeria, and the protectorate of northern nigeria, were amalgamated, and ruled by one governorgeneral, lord lugard. Pdf abstract this paper scrutinises against the background of the various experiences and attempts made at constitutional development in nigeria. In 1861, after the colonization of the colony and protectorate of lagos, the protectorate of southern nigeria, and the protectorate of northern nigeria, the british consuls and the royal niger company, ltd. Uk foreign and commonwealth office amalgamation ceremony zungeru january 3. On january 1, 1914, northern and southern nigeria were amalgamated into one country and named the colony and protectorate of nigeria. And there is an overall legislative council for the whole of nigeria. Oct 15, 2012 still, the amalgamation of northern and southern nigeria protectorate in 1914 did not usher in any improvement on the function of the legislative council. Nigeria federalism the constitution and resource control page 1 of 24. In 1914, the british, however claimed the entire area of nigeria as a colony. British influence in the region began with the prohibition of slave trade to british subjects in 1807. In september, the first election took place in lagos and calabar.
After the british government assumed direct control of the royal niger companys territories, the northern areas were renamed the protectorate of northern nigeria, and the land in the niger delta and along the lower reaches of the river was added to the niger coast protectorate, which was renamed the protectorate of southern nigeria. History of the amalgamation of nigeria nigerian finder. The illconceived connubial resolution that brought southern nigeria and northern nigeria together in 1914 is up till today being debated to be the basis of the problems we are facing. The 1914 constitution made provision for the creation of a legislative council, which was restricted to making laws only for the colony of lagos, while the governorgeneral made laws for the rest of the country. In 1914, the british imperialist, lord lugard effected the union of both the northern and the southern parts of the country under the name of nigeria, presumably coined by his fiancee. First, over the period from 1914 until independence, the british amalgamated nigeria into one single colonial entity, gradually transforming the new state into a. In 1921, sir hugh clifford became the governor of nigeria. Britain annexed lagos in 1861 and established the oil river protectorate in 1884. During the later 1950s an african political structure is gradually.
The countrys first set of constitutions were enacted by the order in council during the colonial era. Jun 23, 2017 contemporary federal practice in nigeria has hampered, rather than advance, development in states as a tier of government. In nigeria, we run a bifocal legislative system consisting of two chambers. The upper chamber in nigeria is the sent and is made up of 109 members. After the annexation of lagos by the british in 1861, a legislative and executive council was constituted for it. This was a product of the clifford constitution of 1922. Amalgamation of nigeria in 1914 by lord lugard legit. Contemporary federal practice in nigeria has hampered, rather than advance, development in states as a tier of government. Then the rest were summed up as african community which included the returnee slaves of sierraleone, nigerians themselves, ghanaians, etc. When lugard returned to nigeria as governorgeneral in 1912 and presented the association in 1914, mainly for financial reasons, the content of enlargement had been profoundly influenced by previous experience of lugard in northern nigeria and its disregard for the south of nigeria.
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