CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

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Undoubtedly, Nigeria is an heterogeneous society due to ethnic and ethno linguistic differences. However, what is today known as Nigeria is the making of the British. The making of the modern political administration started with the annexation of lagos in 1861. Be that as it may, in 1886 the Britain granted the Royal Nigeria company (British Company) a charter to  trade and control the Niger Coast protectorate after which they decided to take full political control of the colony in compliance with Brussel conference of 1890.  

 By 1900, the area now known as Nigeria having been taken over by British from Royal Niger Company was divided into 3

territories. That is the southern protectorate, the Northern protectorate and the colony of Lagos. However, in 1906,the southern protectorate and the colony of Lagos were merged to form the colony and and protectorate of southern Nigeria. Consequently, by 1914 Lord Fedrick

Lugard merged the Southern and Northern protectorate to become one political entity now known as Nigeria, making Lord Lugard the first governor General of Nigeria. 

 NIGERIA COUNCIL OF 1914

The Nigerian Council of 1914 was created by Lugard after the amalgamation of the South and Northern protectorate. The legislative Council of 1914 is consisted of 36 members of which 23  members were European officials and 13 unofficial. Out of the 13 unofficials 7 were European and 6 were Nigerians. The 7 European were charged with commercial responsibilities such as banking, mining etc. while the 6 drew their members from Calabar, sokoto and Lagos. That is, two Emirs from from sokoto and Alafin of oyo representing the chieftancy administration mainly traditional rulers. 

The major criticism of 1914 Council was the exclusion of Nigeria in governing of their own affairs.

Also, the leaders that was chosen were illiterate hence, the meeting was irregular and attendance was poor. 

However, despite the criticism of 1914 Council the council galvanised nationalism in  Nigeria.

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