NECO 2002 Government · Question 47

One significant change introduced by the 1954 Lyttleton constitution was the

Options

A.adoption of Sharia laws in Northern Nigeria
B.creation of regional governments
C.creation of a central legislative council
D.establishment of a Federal System of government
E.establishment of the House of Chiefs for both Western and Northern Regions

Answer: D. establishment of a Federal System of government

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question: The question asks for a significant change introduced by the 1954 Lyttleton Constitution.

Concept: The Lyttleton Constitution (named after Oliver Lyttelton, the Colonial Secretary) came after the failure of the Macpherson Constitution of 1951. The Macpherson Constitution had a quasi-federal, highly centralised structure. The Lyttleton Constitution formally changed Nigeria's political structure to a federation.

Key features of the 1954 Lyttleton Constitution:

Nigeria became a Federation with three Regions (Eastern, Western, Northern) and the Southern Cameroons. Lagos was made federal territory in 1954.
Powers were divided into exclusive federal, concurrent, and residual (regional) lists.
The Federal Government kept the exclusive powers (defence, foreign affairs, etc.).
Regions got greater autonomy, with their own premiers and executive councils.
The Federal Council of Ministers had members from each Region.
Regional civil services were established.
The office of Governor-General was retained.

Evaluating the options:

A. Sharia laws in the North: Not a feature of this constitution. Wrong.
B. Creation of regional governments: Regions already existed under the 1946 Richards and 1951 Macpherson constitutions (Richards created the three regions). Wrong.
C. Central legislative council: This dates back to the Clifford Constitution of 1922, and the Richards Constitution of 1946 had a central Legislative Council. Wrong.
D. Establishment of a Federal System: This is the defining change of the Lyttleton Constitution. Correct.
E. Houses of Chiefs for the West and North: These were created by the Richards Constitution of 1946 (the East's came later). Wrong.

Answer: D. Establishment of a Federal System of government.

Tip: Link each constitution with its key feature:

Clifford (1922): elective principle
Richards (1946): regionalism, Regional Houses
Macpherson (1951): quasi-federal, centralised
Lyttleton (1954): true federalism
Independence (1960) and Republican (1963) constitutions follow.

Remember: "Lyttleton = Little federal states formed", or simply "Lyttleton = Federal".

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