Posted by Chester Morton / Tuesday 6 December 2016 / No comments
The disadvantages of the 1954 Lyttleton Constitution of Nigeria
Introduction
The Lyttleton constitution can be described as the particular
one that prepared the grounds for the federal structure of Nigeria and the
final leap into independence. This constitution was a culmination of a series
of constitutional conferences to review the previous Macpherson constitution.
THE DISADVANTAGES OF
THE CONSTITUTION
Exclusion of other experience men
Even though the constitution allowed for appointment of
Nigerians as Ministers, the minister were appointed only from the three
regional based political parties that had been form and were active at the
time. This situation excluded other experienced Nigerian men and women who
could have contributed to the system but whose services could not be used
because they did not belong to the three political parties in existence then.
Problems with loyalty
Though the Central Executive Council was seen as a positive side
of the Lyttleton constitution, membership was drawn from the three major
regional political parties in existence. The problem with this arrangement was
that the ministers were more loyal to their regions than to the national
interest.
Room for despotism
Another demerit of the Lyttleton constitution was that it did
not allow for a bicameral legislature. This created a room for the possible
despotism of the first chamber because there were no checks that a second
chamber could provide to prevent an obnoxious law.
Absence of the office of Prime Minister
The Lyttleton constitution did not make any provision for the
office of a Prime Minister to deputize for the Governor-General in his absence.
This created the situation where fewer meetings of the Federal Executive Council
meetings took place because, in the absence of the Governor-General, there was
nobody to hold the fort.
The veto power
This constitution maintained the veto powers of the both the
Governor-General and the Governors. The veto power allowed the Governor-General
and the Governors could reject any Ordinance that was passed by the Central Legislative
Council. They could also use their reserved powers to force a law to be passed
even if the majority of the members of the Central Legislative Council thought
otherwise.
Absence of a uniform electoral process
The constitution was criticized for not allowing for a
uniform electoral system for the entire country. In some areas, direct
elections were used and in some others indirect election was used. This
happened because the Governors of the various regions to make specific
electoral processes for their regions.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
1. Highlight five disadvantages of the Lyttleton constitution
of Nigeria.
2. Discuss five demerits of any pre-independent constitution
of your country.
