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    The Lyttleton Constitution of 1954 - Main Features, Merits and Demerits - OldNaija

    Uploaded by

    Samuel Nwabueze
    The constitution

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    ! Home >> Government Studies

    Government Studies History Classroom

    Political History

    The Lyttleton
    Constitution Of 1954
    – Main Features,
    Merits And Demerits
    " Teslim Omipidan • October 20, 2020 #2

    $ 2 minutes read

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    Oliver Lytteton

    The Lyttleton constitution of 1954 is the


    fourth and the last of the pre-
    independence constitutions of Nigeria. It
    was enacted in 1954 as a successor of the
    Macpherson constitution of 1951 which
    was reviewed through constitutional
    conferences (the London constitutional
    conference of 1953 and the Lagos
    constitutional conference of 1954).

    The Lyttleton constitution is known to have


    been a pathway to the independence of
    Nigeria and also did it include the federal
    principle in its features which
    differentiated it from previous
    constitutions such as the Clifford
    constitution of 1922, Richards constitution
    of 1946 etc.

    Main Features of the


    Lyttleton constitution of
    1954
    1. Post of the premier was created in
    every region. The Premiers were to
    advise the governor of their regions.

    2. Federal system of government by


    sharing power between the central
    and the regions.

    3. Lagos was carved out of the Western


    Region and made the Federal Capital
    Territory.

    4. It retained the bicameral legislature


    for both Northern and Western
    regions, and uni-cameral for the
    Eastern Region.

    5. There was the autonomy of regions.

    6. Federal legislature (House of


    Representatives) consisting of 184
    members who were elected directly
    from regional assemblies.

    7. A council of minister with the


    governor-general as the president,
    three official members, three
    ministered from each region and one
    minister from southern Cameroon.

    8. The speaker instead of the governor


    presided over the House of
    Representatives.

    9. The governor of the region ceased to


    be a member of the Federal executive
    council.

    Merits of 1954 Lyttleton


    constitution
    1. Nigerian ministers were appointed
    with portfolios

    2. The posts of permanent secretary and


    parliamentary secretary were created

    3. Real law making powers were given to


    the regional legislatures

    4. It recognized the need for the


    integration and unity of the ethnic
    groups in Nigeria by passing powers
    to the regions.

    5. There was clear division of powers


    between the federal and regional
    Ad Your Download is
    governments in which each was
    Ready
    Proceed
    autonomous Now?
    in its jurisdiction.

    6. It granted
    Close
    separateContinue
    elections into the
    regional and central legislative
    houses.

    7. It paved way for the independence of


    Nigeria with the introduction of the
    Federal system of government.

    Demerits or
    Disadvantages
    1. The revenue allocation formula which
    was introduced by the constitution
    overemphasized derivation as against
    needs and national interest.

    2. The governor still retained his veto


    powers. He can make and pass laws
    know the interest of good
    government.

    3. The constitution left the Eastern


    region with uni-cameral legislative.

    4. The ministerial appointment was from


    the three major political parties which
    were from the regions. This rendered
    the central executive ineffective
    because the ministers were only loyal
    to the regions.

    5. The eastern and western regions


    alone used direct elections; elections
    in the Northern Region were indirect

    6. There was no provision for the post of


    Prime Minister.

    Thanks for reading, OldNaija.com

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    If you find this useful, kindly drop a


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    Cite this article as: Teslim Omipidan.


    (October 20, 2020). The Lyttleton
    Constitution Of 1954 – Main
    Features, Merits And Demerits.
    OldNaija. Retrieved from
    https://oldnaija.com/2020/10/20/the-
    lyttleton-constitution-of-1954-main-
    features-merits-and-demerits/

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