1963 constitutional development in nigeria pdf

Individual judgment and feeling cannot be wholly shut out of the judicial process. It is the fundamental and organic law of a nation or state that establishes. The act establishing the constitution was passed by the nigerian parliament, instead of the british parliament. From 1922 through 1963 when nigeria became a republic, the analysis of almost all the constitutions produced to govern the country where either handed. Mar 09, 2020 constitutional development in nigeria from 1914 till date. Oct 15, 2012 the constitutional history of nigeria began with the conquest of lagos in 1861 by the british. 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 independence constitution of 1960 nigerian. Nigeria has to adopt 1963 constitution the guardian. The federation of nigeria shall consist of regions and a federal territory. 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. Dynamics of constitutional development in nigeria, 19141999 abstract. Constitutional development in nigeria 4940 words bartleby.

It has been infected by the complete erosion of the concept. The constitutional development in nigeria from 1914 till date can be divided into two generation. Constitutional development in nigeria from 1960 to date answers. Historical development of the nigerian constitution. Features of the republican constitution of 1963 include. History of nigerian constitutional development the jet lawyer. 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. The approach adopted is historical, from the legislation process of 1861 of lagos colony to 1914 as the period of nat ional. In 1963 nigeria became a republic within the commonwealth. 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. Beginning of the nigerian constitutional development under the. These included the clifford constitution 1922, which introduced elective representation into legislative processes in nigeria. This was a departure from the 1960 and 1963 constitutions, which.

This paper examines constitutional development in nigeria since the amalgamation of 1914 and the. Major differences between 1963 and 1979 constitution. By an act of the british parliament, nigeria became an independent country within the commonwealth on october 1, 1960. History of nigerian constitutional development the jet. 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. Thus, an attempt to discuss the issue must succinctly. Constitutional development in nigeria from 1914 till date. The current constitution was enacted on 29 may 1999, inaugurating the nigerian fourth republic. The importance of a constitution in any given society cannot be overemphasized.

The republican constitution of 1963 university of miami school of. This act may be called the constitution fifteenth amendment act, 1963. The constitution fifteenth amendment act, 1963 national. Secondly, the postindependence constitutions which covers about 3 constitutional instruments, that is, 1963, and 1979 and 1999. Nnamdi azikiwe university, awka, anambra state, nigeria.

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. Mar 17, 2016 history of nigerian constitutional development introduction. Military rule, civilian instability and true federalism in a deeply divided society. But if they dominate, the judicial process becomes a dangerous sham. Jul 22, 2011 independent nigeria has so far experimented with five constitutions, the 1960, 1963, 1979, 1989 and 1999 constitutions. The process of amending the nigerian constitution constitutional development in nigeria photo source. Elections were held for a legislature of 31 members. Establishment of full regional selfgovernment for the east and west in 1957 and for the north in 1959. 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. 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. Nigeria is unarguably one of the most influential countries in africa. The constitution on nigerias social and political issues. 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. The republican constitution superseded the independence constitution of october 1st, 1960, which marked nigerias transformation from a monarchy to a republic. Exploring the missing gaps in the 1999 constitution of. Instead, the first republic was degraded and destabilized by. Features of the republican constitution of 1963 nigerian. History of nigerian constitutional development the. Following the military takeover in january 1966, the 1963 constitution was abrogated and the military took the centre. Nov 22, 2016 the constitution of nigeria that established nigerian federation was the 1963 constitution. The last constitutional conference was convened in london on the independence constitution. If you dont see any interesting for you, use our search form on bottom v. The 1999 constitution has given birth to the fourth republic, though with prob lems for which it faces demands for a revision or amendment. 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. Constitution of the federal republic of nigeria pdf download. 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.

History of nigeria the history of nigeria can be traced to settlers trading across the middle east and africa as early as 1100 bc. Introduction constitutional development is a dynamic process and as such susceptible to a number of short comings ezra 1964. Nigerias constitutional development 1922 1999 nigeria has a rich history of constitutions. 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 cloyed the designation of the governor general to president the 1960 constitution has 104 sects and ii chapters where the 1963 constitute has 159 sects. 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. This article examines the intractable problem of constitutional engineering in nigeria. 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. There would be a nigerian president as the constitutional head of state and commanderinchief of the armed forces to replace the queen of england. In the pre independence period nigeria had many constitutions introduced by the colonial. The constitution made provision for real independence of the nigerian state. 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. This constitution removed queen elizabeth as the head of state. Adapted from ben o nwabueze, a constitutional history of nigeria c.

List and explain constitutional development in nigeria since. It is asserted that the drafting of constitutions is a recurring decimal in nigerias chequered political history. Jul 28, 2009 for a thorough discussion of nigerian constitutional development, see odumosu, the nigerian constitution. The constitution, in nigerias situation, is the supreme law of the land which all acts of individuals and of parliament must not contravene. Nigeria became an independent country in 1960 and a republic in. Constitutionmaking process independent nigeria has so far experimented with five constitutions, the 1960, 1963, 1979, 1989 and 1999 constitutions. Thus, in the colonial era, the constitution, where it existed, rather than being an instrument of empowerment was an instrument of domination.

However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. The chief justice submitted that modem constitutions provided. The change in status called for no practical alteration of the constitutional system. What is a constitution and what is it impact on the prosperity of a country like nigeria. Be it enacted by parliament in the fourteenth year of the republic of india as follows. This conference agreed on the date of zanzibars formal independence from britain as 10 december 1963. This research work reveals the impact of nigeria s constitution between 1951 and 1963 on the growth of the nation. Constitutional development and the evolution of the nigerian state. From 1922 1999 both years inclusive nigeria had a total of nine constitutions. 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. Difference between 1963 and 1979 constitution in nigeria. Mar 25, 2020 constitutional development in nigeria from 1914 till date nigeria is unarguably one of the most influential countries in africa.

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. This was after the constitutional conference held in lagos on july 25 and 26 1963 where issues bordering on the real independence of nigeria. The constitution fifteenth amendment act, 1963 5th october, 1963. History and development of political parties in nigeria. Constitutional gap, governance, democracy, development, nigeria 1. 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. What are the major differences between the 1960 and 1963.