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Question

Difficulty: HardEvolution of Nigerian Federalism and State Creation

In 1957, the British colonial administration appointed the Willink Commission to address minority anxieties regarding majority ethnic domination in Nigeria's three regions prior to independence. Which recommendation did the Commission make in its 1958 report concerning the demand for state creation?

  1. It advised against creating new states prior to independence, recommending instead constitutional provisions for fundamental human rights and special development authorities.Answer
  2. B
    It recommended the immediate creation of twelve states to balance power between the Northern and Southern regions before independence.
  3. C
    It approved the immediate creation of the Mid-Western Region as a pilot project while placing a ten-year embargo on further state creation.
  4. D
    It recommended granting administrative autonomy to provinces, thereby replacing the federal system with a decentralized unitary structure.

Answer

The Willink Commission advised against creating new states prior to independence, recommending instead constitutional provisions for fundamental human rights and special development authorities.
The correct answer accurately states the outcome of the 1958 Willink Commission report. Rather than creating new regions or states, which the Commission argued would unnecessarily postpone Nigerian independence, it proposed entrenching fundamental rights in the constitution and creating targeted development authorities to safeguard minority interests.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the historical mandate of the Willink Commission (1957–1958).
The Commission was set up to inquire into the fears of minorities in the Northern, Eastern, and Western regions and suggest means of allaying them.
Understanding the Commission's purpose clarifies why state creation demands were brought before it.
2
Analyze the Commission's recommendations regarding state creation.
The Commission concluded that creating new regions/states would delay national independence scheduled for 1960 and was not the most effective remedy for minority fears.
The British government and the Commission prioritized meeting the independence timeline.
3
Evaluate the constitutional safeguards proposed in place of state creation.
It recommended entrenching Fundamental Human Rights in the forthcoming Independence Constitution and establishing specialized bodies like the Niger Delta Development Board.
These measures aimed to protect minority interests within the existing three-region structure.

Key Concept

Willink Commission Recommendations on Minorities and State Creation
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Topics

Evolution of Nigerian Federalism and State Creation