1960 and 1963 constitution of nigeria pdf

The current constitution was enacted on 29 may 1999, inaugurating the nigerian fourth republic. The federation of nigeria was a predecessor to modernday nigeria from 1954 to 1963. The constitution of the federation of nigeria 1960 world statesmen. Premium times october 23, 2015 birth of code of conduct tribunal, by eric teniola 20151023t08. Constitution orders in council, 1954 to 1960, shall together. While other nations continuously amend their constitutions, nigeria recreated its constitutions nine times in 1922, 1946, 1951, 1954, 1960, 1963, 1979, 1989 and 1999.

What urgent needs have caused the changes in the act of 1963. For the purposes of section 70 of this constitution the number of inhabitants of nigeria or any part thereof shall be ascertained by reference to the 1963 census of the population of nigeria or the latest census held in pursuance of an act of the national assembly after coming into. That has been the journey so far of nigeria s constitution development, from the colonial era to the current 1999 edition, as amended. Features of the republican constitution of 1963 nigerian. 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 federation of nigeria was granted full independence on 1 october 1960 under a constitution that provided for a parliamentary government and a substantial measure of selfgovernment for the countrys three regions. 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. It was a followup to the constitutional conference held in lagos on 25 and 26 july 1963, designed to resolve the following issues. Constitution of the federal republic of nigeria pdf download. First schedule to this constitution and six area councils as shown in part ii of that schedule. The situation whereby the legislative powers of nigerian parliaments. History of nigerian constitutional development the. From 1st stof october 1960 1 of october 1963, the nigeria independence act 19608 9and the 1960 nigerian constitution, provided for the creation of an indigenous nigerian legislature.

How many revisions did the constitution of nigeria overcome. The first republic was the republican government of nigeria between 1963 and 1966 governed by the first republican constitution. The constitution of nigeria is the supreme law of the federal republic of nigeria. History of nigerian constitutional development the jet.

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. Short title this act may be cited as the penal code northern states federal provisions act. 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. There have been a lot of searches on the web for the nigerian constitution these days. October 1960 to february 1966 nigeria has had nine constitutions since 1914. The nigerian economy has grossly underperformed relative to.

The constitution, in nigeria s situation, is the supreme law of the land which all acts of individuals and of parliament must not contravene. The nigerian constitution 1960, 1979, 1989 and 1999. Pdf abstract this paper scrutinises against the background of the various experiences and attempts made at constitutional development in nigeria. The federal government of nigeria is composed of three distinct branches. Her constitutional roles in nigeria were delegated to the governorgeneral of nigeria. From 1959 to 1960, jaja wachuku was the first nigerian speaker of the nigerian parliament, also called the house of. Under the constitution, each of the three regions retained a substantial measure of selfgovernment.

The nigerian independence constitution of 1960 oldnaija. An act to make provision for, and in connection with, the attainment by nigeria of fully responsible status within the commonwealth. A constitution is the set of fundamental laws, established to govern a country. The 1963 constitution was based on the westminster system and it was in use until the military coup in 1966 that overthrew nigerias democratic institutions. A new constitution established a federal system with an elected prime minister and a ceremonial head of state. I used to have just the 1999 constitution available for download but i have now added the files for 1960, 1979 and 1989. That has been the journey so far of nigerias constitution development, from the colonial era to the current 1999 edition, as amended. Nigeria gained full independence in october 1960, as a federation of three regions northern, western, and eastern under a constitution that provided for a parliamentary form of government. Introduced national rather than regional political parties.

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. Nigerias first republic 196066, however, proved unviable. 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. The nigerian civil war miamidade county public schools. The citizenship provisions of the 1979 constitution have been slightly modified and reenacted in the 1989 constitution which will come into effect on october 1, 1992. The 1963 republican constitution was substantially the same as the 1960 document. In this article, we shall examine the current nigerian law on citizenship as ordained by the 1979 constitution as well as the changes introduced by the 1989 constitution. It is the fundamental and organic law of a nation or state that establishes the institutions and apparatus of government, defines the scope of governmental sovereign powers. Nigeria independence act 1960 1960 chapter 55 8 and 9 eliz 2. If you pick the 1999 constitution of nigeria even as amended and place it side by side with 1979 constitution and the 1963 constitution, you will get to discover that what you have in 1963. Constitution of the federation of nigeria 1960 and other.

Get a fullyhyperlinked free pdf softcopy of the 1999 nigerian constitution, as amended. Interpretation in this act, unless the context otherwise requires northern states means the states of nigeria formerly known as northern region of nigeria. Constitutional development in nigeria from 1914 till date. The preindependence generation is made up of 6 constitutional instruments, including. 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. Constitution of the federal republic of nigeria, 1963 civilian nigerian president as ceremonial head of state replaced queen. Nigeria is a highly populated nation whose political attempts aimed at effective governance, have led to frequent redrafting of her written constitution.

Constitutional development in nigeria from 1914 till date 1. The political unrest during the mid1960s culminated into nigerias first military coup detat. The military governments do not sincerely believe that nigeria needs a new constitution. What are the major differences between the 1960 and 1963. Maybe it is the season of politics or maybe people just want to know. Calling for a new constitutional conference is a ploy for buying time and digging in. In 1963, the country enacted its second postindependence constitution which was implemented on the 1st of october 1963. The 1960 constitution provided for a federal system of government and a bicameral legislature patterned like the british parliament. A constitutional conference was convened in 1960 in. The importance of a constitution in any given society cannot be overemphasized. It was an autonomous region until independence on 1 october 1960. Individual judgment and feeling cannot be wholly shut out of the judicial process. 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. Nigeria was granted independence on october 1, 1960.

Many issues remained unresolved, especially the criteria for the division of revenue between the centre and the regions. 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 solidarity, world peace, international cooperation and understanding. The constitution of the federal republic of nigeria 1963 pdf. This constitution removed queen elizabeth as the head of state. 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. The federation of nigeria shall consist of regions and a federal territory. Difference between 1963 and 1979 constitution in nigeria. 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. The constitution made provision for real independence of the nigerian state. The first independent government was formed by a coalition of northern and eastern political parties, with nnamdi azikiwe as the president and abubakar tafawa balewa as prime minister. The constitution, in nigerias situation, is the supreme law of the land which all acts of individuals and. The 1914 constitution, the 1922 constitution, the 1946 constitution, the 1951 constitution, the 1954 constitution and the 1960 constitution. Nigeria has to adopt 1963 constitution the guardian.

Colonial independent federal parliamentary country of the british commonwealth. A former british colony, nigeria became independent on september 30, 1960 and a republic on october 1, 1963. Constitutionmaking process independent nigeria has so far experimented with five constitutions, the 1960, 1963, 1979, 1989 and 1999 constitutions. 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. The republican constitution of 1963 university of miami school of. Birth of code of conduct tribunal, by eric teniola. Origins of the war nigeria, a nation roughly the size of texas on africas west coast, has a larger population than any other african nation, and is home to over twohundred and fifty different ethnic groups. The 1999 constitution has given birth to the fourth republic, though with problems for which it faces demands for a revision or amendment. The postindependence generation is however made up of. The 1951 constitution exercised a limited franchise where only male tax payers voted in the north while both males and females voted in the east and west, unlike the 1960 constitution where every eligible citizen of nigeria can vote. On 19 september 1963 the republican constitution was passed into law by the federal parliament and became operational on 1 april 1963. Historical development of the nigerian constitution.