Trace the constitutional evolution of federalism in Nigeria up to 1954.

Answer Details

Constitutional evolution of federalism in Nigeria up to 1954

1. Amalgamation of 1914: Federalism in Nigeria has its distant roots in the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates by Lord Lugard in 1914, which brought different peoples under one government while still administering the North and South somewhat separately.
2. The Clifford Constitution (1922): It introduced the elective principle and a Legislative Council for the Colony and the South, but the North was still governed separately, keeping alive the North-South divide within one country.
3. The Richards Constitution (1946): This is regarded as the real beginning of Nigerian federalism. Governor Sir Arthur Richards divided Nigeria into three regions - Northern, Western and Eastern - each with a Regional (Advisory) House, while retaining a central Legislative Council. It brought the North into a common legislature and laid the foundation of regionalism.
4. The Macpherson Constitution (1951): Drawn up after wide consultation, it strengthened the regions by giving each a House of Assembly with legislative powers and Regional Executive Councils, and provided a central government. It moved Nigeria further towards a federal structure, though disagreements over the powers of the centre and the regions soon exposed its weaknesses (as seen in the 1953 self-government motion crisis).
5. The Lyttelton Constitution (1954): This constitution formally and clearly established Nigeria as a federation. It divided powers between the central government and the three regions through an Exclusive List (central), a Concurrent List (both) and residual powers (regions). Lagos became the Federal Territory, and the regions were given greater autonomy, with regional premiers and public services. It is therefore regarded as the true foundation of Nigerian federalism.

Thus, from the amalgamation of 1914 through the Richards and Macpherson Constitutions, federalism gradually took shape, culminating in the fully federal Lyttelton Constitution of 1954.