1960 nigeria constitution pdf

Journal of nigeria studies volume 1, number 2, fall 2012 political leadership and corruption in nigeria since 1960. I used to have just the 1999 constitution available for download but i have now added the files for 1960, 1979 and 1989. Nigeria is situated on the west coast of africa, on the shores of the gulf of guinea. Features of the independence constitution of 1960 nigerian. The preindependence generation is made up of 6 constitutional instruments, including. Constitution helps those in government to do their work and it also helps the citizens to know their duties and rights. This british legacy unraveled shortly after nigeria gained independence in 1960 with the. The nigerian constitution 1960, 1979, 1989 and 1999. 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. Article 3 the republic of niger is a unitary state.

Part 1 brief constitutional history before nigeria attained nationhood in 1960 and was consequently admitted as the 100th member of the united. Right to freedom of expression and the law of defamation in nigeria imo j. History of nigeria constitution from 1914 till date. Each of these constitutions has its own features, though they are all linked to one another in one. This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. Pdf nonjusticiability of chapter ii of the nigerian. The constitution made provision for the regions to govern themselves and the western and eastern regions stated selfgovernance in 1957. The postindependence generation is however made up of. Get a fullyhyperlinked free pdf softcopy of the 1999 nigerian constitution, as amended. Constitutionmaking process independent nigeria has so far experimented with five constitutions, the 1960, 1963, 1979, 1989 and 1999 constitutions. After 16 years of military rule nigerias independence came in 1960.

A federal legislature consisting of 184 members, which were elected directly and independently of. Constitutional development in nigeria from 1960 to date answers. After 16 years of military rule nigeria s independence came in 1960. Constitution orders in council, 1954 to 1960, shall together. 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. Constitution of the federal republic of nigeria pdf download. He occupied the office from october 1 st 1963 till january 16, 1966. 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, deliberately set out to cater for the diverse elements within the country, significant provisions of this new constitution included the establishment. The constitution, in nigerias situation, is the supreme law of the land which all acts of individuals and of parliament must not contravene. Government historical development of the nigerian constitution. 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. A constitution amendment of the existing 1922 constitution resulted to the 1946 constitution, also known as the richard constitution, in recognition of then british governorgeneral of nigeria, sir arthur richards. History of nigerian constitutional development 1914 1960.

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. An independence movement gained nigerias independence on october 1, 1960. 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. Many issues remained unresolved, especially the criteria for the division of revenue between the centre and the regions. Constitution helps those in government to do their work and it also helps the citizens to know their duties. Today nigeria is by far africas leader in economic power. A nationwide general election was held to the federal house of representatives in may 1959. At this stage, election was restricted to the municipalities lagos and calabar with grossly unacceptable elitist pre. Article 2 the attributes of the republic, such as defined in the first article, are reserved for the use of the public powers. In 1999, the growing opposition to the settlement of 1960 manifested itself in an active effort to impose sharia law in the northern states. Fundamental rights under the nigerian constitution, 19601965. Nigeria was granted independence on october 1, 1960.

October 1960 to february 1966 nigeria has had nine constitutions since 1914. These resulted in a new 1954 federal constitution whose main features were. Historical development of the nigerian constitution. A new constitution established a federal system with an elected prime minister and a ceremonial head of state. Jun 06, 2014 in 1999, the growing opposition to the settlement of 1960 manifested itself in an active effort to impose sharia law in the northern states. In 1960, nigeria was granted political independence as a sovereign state under the 1960 constitution which provided for a parliamentary system of government, 3 regions northern, eastern and western regions, a bicameral legislative framework at the federal senate and house of representatives and regional levels house of assembly and house. 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. Constitution, guaranteed greater regional autonomy. Founded 1963 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 the name nigeria is derived from the word niger the name of the river that constitutes the most remarkable geographical feature of. It was a followup to the constitutional conference held in lagos on 25 and 26 july 1963, designed to resolve the following issues. The constitution on nigerias social and political issues. The 1960 independence constitution provided for a democratic.

Notably, this constitution gave rise to the first division of nigeria into geopolitical regions, the three main regions namely. 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. Article of the constitution is repealed and the following. However, when nigeria gained her independence on october 1 st 1960, a home made constitution known as the independence constitution of 1960 was adopted which disposed the colonial 1954 lyttleton constitution, although it retained some of its features here are the main features of the nigerian independence constitution of 1960. History of nigerian constitutional development the. The current constitution was enacted on 29 may 1999, inaugurating the nigerian fourth republic. Lyttleton constitution of 1954 features, merits and demerits.

The constitution of the federation of nigeria 1960 world statesmen. Nigeria became an independent country taking over the control of territories, politics and that of military. All illegal use and all profanation of these attributes are punished by the law. The situation whereby the legislative powers of nigerian parliaments. The inscription republique du niger republic of niger is placed below. The 1914 constitution, the 1922 constitution, the 1946 constitution, the 1951 constitution, the 1954 constitution and the 1960 constitution. 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. That has been the journey so far of nigerias constitution development, from the colonial era to the current 1999 edition, as amended. Mar 17, 2016 history of nigerian constitutional development introduction. Maybe it is the season of politics or maybe people just want to know. It is the fundamental and organic law of a nation or state that establishes.

Southern cameroon however opted out of nigeria via a referendum. This conference set 1st may 1960 as the date for nigerias independence. Nigeria is a country of 923,768 square kilometres 356,669 sq mi, bound to the west by benin republic, to the north by the niger and chad republic, east by the republic of cameroon, and south by the gulf of guinea. Cypruss constitution of 1960 with amendments through 20. There have been a lot of searches on the web for the nigerian constitution these days. Nigeria adopted a new federal constitution that year as. The first republic held between 1963 and 1966 and nigeria was governed by the constitution that was developed shortly before independence. 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. Constitution of the federation of nigeria 1960 and other. The constitution of the federation of nigeria, 1960. Constitution of the federal republic of nigeria wipo. 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 country gained independence from the british government on 1 october 1960, and became a republic in 1963. Constitution, the nigeria independence act, 1960, or the.

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 dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change e. Brief history of nigeria from 1960 till date pdf finally, the agitated freedom was bagged from the british rule. Before nigeria gained independence in 1960, some constitutions had been used to administer the country, they are. Zenith internet banking everything you need to know. In september, the first election took place in lagos and calabar. The constitution of nigeria was not written until the may 5, 1999 and it was not effective until may 29th, 1999. 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. 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. 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. What are the major differences between the 1960 and 1963. A brief history of nigeria from 1960 till date a brief history of nigeria from 1960 till date i am a nigerian and a bona fide citizen of the country, it is key to be well grounded about the history of nigeria, not only for the sake of gaining knowledge but also for the benefit of generations to come. On 19 september 1963 the republican constitution was passed into law by the federal parliament and became operational on 1 may 1963. Features of the republican constitution of 1963 nigerian.

History of nigerian constitutional development the jet lawyer. Brief history of nigeria between 18491960 of independence. Nigeria earned its independence from great britain on the first of october 1960. The importance of a constitution in any given society cannot be overemphasized. The constitution of nigeria is the supreme law of the federal republic of nigeria. Constitution making process independent nigeria has so far experimented with five constitutions, the 1960, 1963, 1979, 1989 and 1999 constitutions. Political leadership and corruption in nigeria since 1960. The nigerian independence constitution of 1960 oldnaija. Brief history of nigeria from 1960 till date oasdom. 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. 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.

The legislative powers of the nigerian state were in an act of the british parliament and not that of the nigerian parliament till nigeria became a republic in 1963. The lyttleton constitution was enacted in 1954 and it established the federal principle and paved the way for nigerias independence in 1960 features of lyttleton constitution of 1954. With the provision of the elective principles in the clifford 1922 constitution, herbert macaulay formed the first political party in nigeria the nigerian national democratic party nndp in 1923 which contested election. Nnamdi azikiwe was president during the first republic. He won the election under the umbrella of the national council of nigeria and. Constitutional development in nigeria from 1914 till date. 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. October 1960, having been formerly colonised by the british. Pdf abstract this paper scrutinises against the background of the. Cypruss constitution of 1960 with amendments through 20 subsequently amended. Constitutional development in nigeria from 1960 to date. Constitutional development in nigeria from 1914 till date 1.