Trace the evolution of federalism in Nigeria from 1914 to 1954.

Answer Details

The evolution of federalism in Nigeria between 1914 and 1954 may be traced through the following stages:

1. 1914 Amalgamation: Lord Lugard amalgamated the Northern and Southern Protectorates into one Nigeria. Although the country was formally united, the two parts were administered largely separately, sowing the earliest seed of regionalism.
2. 1922 Clifford Constitution: It introduced the elective principle and a Legislative Council for the South only; the North was still governed by proclamation, deepening the North-South divide.
3. 1946 Richards Constitution: This is regarded as the foundation of Nigerian federalism. It divided the country into three regions (Northern, Western and Eastern) and created Regional Houses of Assembly, though real power remained at the centre.
4. 1951 Macpherson Constitution: It increased regional autonomy by giving the regions their own legislatures and executive councils with law-making powers, moving the country closer to a federation, though it retained a strong quasi-unitary centre.
5. 1954 Lyttleton Constitution: This established Nigeria formally as a federation. Powers were shared between the central and regional governments through exclusive, concurrent and residual lists; the regions became self-governing in many respects. This marked the true beginning of federalism in Nigeria.