1922 clifford constitution of nigeria pdf

Introduction of the first elective principle in nigeria and in west africa. In september, the first election took place in lagos and calabar following the introduction of the sir hugh clifford constitution in 1922. 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. Thus in 1922, the british realized that the flame of independence agitation could not be quenched and that saw the first constitutional development of the country. The constitution of 1922 known as the sir hugh clifford constitution expanded and reconstituted the legislative council. The constitution of 1946 was passew when the westminster style parliamentary constitution was enacted in the country. The constitution of 1922 known as the sir hugh clifford constitution expanded and reconstituted the. The clifford constitution of 1922 abolished the nigerian council of 1914 as it was replaced by a new legislative council through which nigerians will be given access to power via electoral principles.

This constitution which derived its name from the then governor of nigeria, sir hugh clifford, became the first constitution in nigeria. Click here to read the clifford constitution of 1922 and its features like every other constitution of a state, the clifford constitution of 1922 has its advantagesmerits and disadvantagesdemerits. The clifford constitution gave room for more participation and representation in the government than the 1914. Beginning of the nigerian constitutional development under the. According to the history of nigeria, there were four constitutional periods before the independence. The clifford constitution of 1922 also gave way to the establishment of political parties in nigeria.

Shell oil company begins oil exploration in nigeria. The legislative council the constitution provided for a legislative council in place of the nigerian council of lord lugard. The beginning of election in nigeria lies in the 1922 clifford constitution. History of political parties in nigeria information. Contents features of clifford constitutionmerits of clifford constitutiondemerits of clifford constitution features of clifford constitution there was an executive council for the whole country. This constitution gave rise to a 46 member legislative council with extended lawmaking responsibilities to include the southern provinces, and lagos. Notably, the latter constitution established a 46 member legislative council which was given law making responsibilities for the colony of lagos and the southern provinces. Features of clifford constitution of 1922 nigerian infopedia. Nigerias sacred advancement history can be separated into two ages or ages.

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. 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. Clifford who replaced lord lugard as the governor general. Constitutional and political development in nigeria part. Sir hugh clifford enacted the clifford constitution in the year 1922, after the amalgamation of the southern and northern protectorates in 1914 the features of the clifford constitution of 1922. Posts about clifford constitution of 1922 written by oyedijioluwaseunbabatunde. The constitution introduced four 4 elective seatsthe elections were restricted to lagos 3 seats. The clifford constitution allows for africans to be elected into the legislative council in lagos. This is the longest serving constitution that nigeria has ever. The richard constitution of 1946 only reduced the property qualification to n50. This constitution was very symbolic as it served as a landmark in the electoral history of nigeria. History of constitutional development in nigeria, an overview. 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. From 1922 1999 both years inclusive nigeria had a total of nine constitutions.

The richard constitution defined nigeria, for the first time, in terms of. Eight years later, the 1914 constitution was replaced by the 1922 sir clifford constitution. On its demerits the cliffords constitution isolated the north from the south. 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. Constitution of the federal republic of nigeria pdf download.

Under the constitution, a nigeria legislature council was constituted, but its juricdiction was limited to the southern provinces ie the colony of lagos and the protectorate of southern nigeria. Considering the provisions of clifford constitution, the legislative council was composed of 46 members of which official members including the governor and 19. In 1923, herbert macaulay founded the first political party in nigeria, the nigerian national democratic party nndp and also established a newspaper called the west african pilot. The constitutions enacted during this period were those of 19 which came into effect on 1 january 1914, 1922, 1946, 1951 and 1954. Demerits of 1922 clifford constitution one glaring or major defects of the 1922 cliffords constitution was the isolation of the north from the legislative council. World war ii had a tremendous impact on the acceleration of constitutional change in nigeria. The nigerian electoral process in perspective elections under colonial rule before independence in 1960, nigeria, which existed as an amalgamation of the.

However, the elective principle was limited to male. The 1922 sir hugh clifford constitution disenfranchised women and limited the participation of adult male to the wealthy. There was no member of the executive council from nigeria. These included the clifford constitution 1922, which introduced elective representation into legislative processes in nigeria. Iyaloja and iyalaje are women leaders who oversee the market activities in yoruba society 4 in the 1968, mccombs and shaw demonstrated a strong correlation between what 100 residents of chapel hill, north carolina. The clifford constitution of 1922 restricted the electorate to adult males in calabar and lagos who have been resident in the city for at least one year and had a gross annual income of n100. The clifford constitution was named after the then governor of nigeria.

This is not to say that there was no existing element of gender inequality in traditional state and stateless societies in nigeria but that the colonial order made gender discrimination more pronounced. Here are the merits of clifford constitution of 1922 1. The clifford constitution of 1922 established the elective principle for the first time in nigeria. Constitutional and political development in nigeria part ii. Nigerian youth movement emerges as precursor of political parties. Sir hugh clifford was appointed governor of nigeria after lord fredrick lugard. Britain annexed lagos in 1861 and established the oil river protectorate in 1884. On assuming office in 1919, sir hugh clifford, the governor, was pressured by the then west african congress, led by caseley hayford, to provide constitutions in west african subject states. At this stage, election was restricted to the municipalities lagos and calabar with grossly unacceptable elitist pre. Nigeria developed into a globally perceived free country, in 1960, after a time of expansionism under the british government which spread over about a century starting with the formal extension of lagos in 1861. History of nigerian constitutional development the. This was never tried until general sanni abachas administration brought about the 199495 constitutional conference, which laid the foundations for the 1999 constitution.

Similar elective principle was introduced in gold coast ghana in 1925 and sierraleone in 1924. Sir hugh clifford constitution 19221925 nigerian history. The clifford constitution of 1922 features, merits. It seemed to be a response to the 1920 ncbwa demand for elective principles in west africa. Consolidated unification with predominantly appointed legislative.

The governor continued to legislate for the northern provinces. The clifford constitution of 1922 having recognized the failure of both the legislative council and the nigerian council in providing criticism of government policies and a check upon official extravagance, sir hugh clifford proposed substitution of nigerian council with a new legislative council whose jurisdictions would at least covered the. Clifford constitution of 1922 which was widely believed to have introduced the first elective principle in the colonial era in nigeria, should have addressed the imbalance in the polity, rather it disenfranchised women, and this was one instance of marginalization and discrimination against women. The sir cliffords 1922 constitution formed a legislative council that was given lawmaking responsibilities for. The cliffords constitution of 1922 recorded landmark improvements in the political development of nigeria. Elective principle the clifford constitution brought the elective principle into nigeria which paved way for elective. The clifford constitution, which was introduced by sir hugh clifford in 1922, replaced both the. Arthur richards constitution, 1946 colonial brought northern nigeria under the legislative council, members of which included nominates of. This first set of constitutions was passed in the following years. It was this clifford constitution in 1922, the first nigeria has ever had, that pave way for the nigerian people to participate in governance as well.

It now had 46 members, 10 of whom were elected, and made laws for the colony and the southern provinces. Constitutional development in nigeria from 1914 till date. Womens participation and the political process in nigeria. In 1922, sir clifford introduced the first formal constitution for the country. Constitutional development in nigeria new york essays. Electoral politics began in nigeria in the 1920s with the introduction of elective principles by the 1922 clifford constitution. In 1922 a new constitution revoking the 1914 constitution was promulgated under governor clifford under the constitution, a nigeria legislature council was constitutional, but its production was limited tot eh southern provenance ie the colony of loyos the protectorate of southern nigeria. The hugh clifford constitution, 1922 colonial consolidated unification with predominantly appointed legislative council for the whole country, but with jurisdiction largely in southern nigeria.

What are the differences between cliffords constitution. The frederick lugards 1914 constitution was later replaced by the sir cliffords 1922 constitution. The richards constitution of 1946 replaced the clifford constitution. Clifford constitution of 1922 oyedijioluwaseunbabatunde. Thus, an attempt to discuss the issue must succinctly. Features of the clifford constitution of 1922 passnownow. Northern nigeria was not represented in the new legislative council as it comprised members from the south alone. The remaining members were nigerians appointed by the governor. 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. Merits and demerits of clifford constitution of 1922. The only novel and democratic aspect of this constitution was its elective principle, provided only for lagos, the capital city, and calabar, a town in the southeastern corner of the country.

After the annexation of lagos by the british in 1861, a legislative and executive council was constituted for it. Hence, that was what gave birth to the clifford constitution of 1922. British influence in the region began with the prohibition of slave trade to british subjects in 1807. Constitutional development in nigeria before independence. In addition, this same development gave birth to the nndp in 1922. History of nigerian constitutional development 1914 1960. This led to the making of the clifford constitution of 1922. Clifford constitution of 1922 features, merits and demerits. History of nigeria constitution from 1914 till date. The nigerian political leadership came to power through flawed electoral systems that are always marred by.