The first Legislative Councıl in Nigeria was established by

1. Analyze the question You are asked which constitution set up Nigeria's first Legislative Council.

2. Explain the concept Nigeria's constitutional history in order:

• 1914: Amalgamation of Northern and Southern Nigeria. The Nigerian Council was created, but it was only an advisory body.
• 1922: Clifford Constitution. It created the Legislative Council, the first in Nigeria. It also introduced the elective principle for the first time, with 4 elected African members (3 from Lagos, 1 from Calabar). Its authority covered only Lagos and the Southern provinces.
• 1946: Richards Constitution. It created Regional Houses of Assembly and extended the Legislative Council to cover the whole country, including the North.
• 1951: Macpherson Constitution. It created a central House of Representatives.
• 1954: Lyttelton Constitution. It introduced federalism.

3. Solution

• Richards, Macpherson and Lyttelton all came after 1922, so they cannot have established the first Legislative Council.
• The Clifford Constitution of 1922 created it, under Governor Hugh Clifford.

4. Answer The correct option is A. Clifford Constitution.

5. Exam tip Remember "Clifford = Council + Choice": the first Legislative Council and the first elective principle came together in 1922. Also learn the sequence 1922, 1946, 1951, 1954 (Clifford, Richards, Macpherson, Lyttelton). JAMB often tests it.