THE LYTTLETTON CONSTITUTION OF 1954

CONTENT

1. Background to the Lyttleton Constitution of 1954
2. Features of the Lyttleton Constitution of 1954
3. Merits of the Lyttleton Constitution of 1954
4. Demerits of the Lyttleton Constitution of 1954

Background to the Lyttleton Constitution of 1954

By 1954, it became obvious that the Macpherson constitution could not work any longer. Two major factors were responsible for the failure of the 1951 constitution. First, in 1953, a member of House of Representatives, Chief Anthony Enahoro of Action Group party moved the motion for self-government in 1956.  This generated crisis in the House as Northern delegates opposed the motion on the ground that the North was unprepared for such a sudden decision.  The leader of the NPC in the House, Sir Ahmadu Bello, proposed that the date 1956 should be substituted with ‘as soon as practicable.’ The crisis was aggravated when the Northern legislators were subjected to ridicule by the Lagos crowd. Second, both the North and the West were critical of the concentration of power in the central government in Lagos. The consequence of this was the Kano riot of 1953 and the threat of secession by the North.