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Question

Difficulty: MediumThe Independence Constitution of 1960

Match each constitutional office or institution under Nigeria's 1960 Independence Constitution with its corresponding constitutional role or function.

  • Judicial Committee of the Privy CouncilServed as the final court of appeal for legal and constitutional disputes in Nigeria.
  • Governor-GeneralActed as the constitutional Head of State representing Queen Elizabeth II.
  • Prime MinisterExercised real executive authority as the Head of Government and leader of the Cabinet.
  • SenateFunctioned as the upper chamber of the Federal Parliament with nominated regional representatives.

Answer

Judicial Committee of the Privy Council matches with the final court of appeal; Governor-General matches with the constitutional Head of State representing the monarch; Prime Minister matches with the Head of Government exercising real executive power; Senate matches with the upper legislative chamber of the Federal Parliament.
Each institution accurately aligns with its 1960 constitutional mandate: the Privy Council retained final judicial appeals, the Governor-General fulfilled the ceremonial royal head-of-state role, the Prime Minister directed cabinet governance as head of government, and the Senate acted as the upper legislative house.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the judicial hierarchy under the 1960 Independence Constitution.
The Supreme Court of Nigeria was not yet the ultimate court of appeal; the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London served as the highest appellate tribunal.
Nigeria maintained constitutional ties to the British Crown until becoming a republic in 1963.
2
Distinguish between formal Head of State and Head of Government in the executive structure.
The Governor-General represented the Queen as ceremonial Head of State, while the Prime Minister exercised actual executive authority as Head of Government.
The 1960 framework established executive dualism under the Westminster parliamentary model.
3
Determine the composition of the bicameral Federal Legislature.
The Federal Parliament comprised the elected House of Representatives and the Senate as the upper house.
Equal regional representation was secured in the upper house through selected senatorial seats.

Key Concept

Institutional Framework of the 1960 Independence Constitution
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Topics

The Independence Constitution of 1960