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Question

Difficulty: MediumThe Lyttelton Constitution of 1954 and Nigerian Federalism

Which structural innovation in the 1954 constitutional reform formally granted constituent regions full administrative autonomy through decentralized public institutions?

  1. The establishment of distinct regional public services and independent regional High CourtsAnswer
  2. B
    The creation of regional Houses of Assembly with purely advisory legislative functions
  3. C
    The introduction of the elective principle for legislative representatives in urban centers
  4. D
    The central government's retention of overriding power over regional legislation

Answer

The establishment of distinct regional public services and independent regional High Courts
The 1954 Lyttelton Constitution formally established Nigerian federalism by decentralizing the administrative machinery of state. Under this constitution, each region was given its own separate Public Service Commission, Civil Service, and High Court hierarchy, thereby ending centralized administrative control from Lagos.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the key constitutional changes made to public administration in 1954.
The 1954 Lyttelton Constitution formally instituted federalism in Nigeria by granting real autonomy to the regions.
Prior to 1954, the judicial and civil service administrative structures were centralized under the direct authority of Lagos.
2
Analyze how administrative powers were split between the central government and the regions.
Separate Regional Public Services, Regional Public Service Commissions, and Regional High Courts were established alongside federal institutions.
Decentralizing administrative and legal machinery allowed each region to function independently of the center within its sphere of jurisdiction.

Key Concept

Decentralization of Public Institutions under the Lyttelton Constitution
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Topics

The Lyttelton Constitution of 1954 and Nigerian Federalism