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Question

Difficulty: EasyThe Lyttelton Constitution of 1954 and Nigerian Federalism

Which constitution formally established a federal system of government in Nigeria, creating a distinct constitutional division of legislative powers between the central and regional authorities?

  1. The Lyttelton Constitution of 1954Answer
  2. B
    The Richards Constitution of 1946
  3. C
    The Macpherson Constitution of 1951
  4. D
    The Clifford Constitution of 1922

Answer

The Lyttelton Constitution of 1954
The Lyttelton Constitution of 1954 is recognized as the formal foundation of Nigerian federalism because it officially separated government powers into Exclusive, Concurrent, and Residual legislative lists, granting regional governments real legislative independence alongside regionalized judiciaries and civil services.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the historical evolution of constitutional arrangements in colonial Nigeria.
Identify that constitutional arrangements prior to 1954 were either unitary or quasi-federal.
Federalism requires autonomous legislative authority shared constitutionally between tiers.
2
Identify the specific constitution that enacted formal federal division of powers.
The Lyttelton Constitution of 1954 created Exclusive (central), Concurrent (shared), and Residual (regional) legislative lists.
This division of legislative powers established autonomous regional governance and marked Nigeria's transition into true federalism.

Key Concept

The Lyttelton Constitution of 1954 and the Formal Origin of Nigerian Federalism
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The Lyttelton Constitution of 1954 and Nigerian Federalism