Which of these constitutions recognised local government as a third tier of government in Nigeria?

Analyze the question: The question asks which constitution first gave formal constitutional recognition to local government as a third tier of government, after the federal and state (or regional) levels.

Explain the concept: Nigeria's early constitutions (1946, 1960, 1963) dealt only with the central and regional governments. Local government was left to the regions, which made their own laws on it. It had no guaranteed constitutional status.

Two later developments changed this:

• The 1976 Local Government Reforms under General Olusegun Obasanjo's regime standardised local government and made it a distinct, recognised tier.
• The 1979 Constitution then wrote this into law. Section 7 guaranteed the "system of local government by democratically elected local government councils." The 1999 Constitution kept this arrangement.

Step-by-step solution:

1. 1946 (Richards) Constitution: It introduced regional legislative councils and had no provision for local government as a third tier. ❌
2. 1960 (Independence) Constitution: It set up a federation of the centre and regions. Local government was a regional matter. ❌
3. 1963 (Republican) Constitution: It made Nigeria a republic but kept the same two-tier structure. ❌
4. 1979 Constitution: It explicitly recognised local government as a third tier and guaranteed its existence. ✅

Answer: The correct option is C. 1979 Constitution.

Exam tip: Remember "1976 reform → 1979 constitution." The reform came first, and the constitution then made it official. For any "third tier" question in JAMB, think of 1979 first.