The Richards Constitution was proposed in 1945 under the governorship of Sir Arthur Richards. It brought Northern Nigeria into the central constitutional system and expanded Nigerian representation in legislative and executive councils, while establishing three regions with representative bodies. Nationalists criticised its imposition without consultation and its indirect elections, contributing to later constitutional conferences and reforms.
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The Story
Politics in Nigeria became more active in 1945 with the publication of proposals for the Richards Constitution, named after the then governor. The arrangement brought Northern Nigeria into the central system and extended Nigerian representation in the Legislative and Executive Councils. It also established three regions, each with representative bodies of its own.
The constitutional scheme immediately attracted nationalist criticism. Its opponents objected that it had been imposed without consultation and that its elections were indirect. The limited parliamentary debate in Britain, where only twenty-nine minutes were devoted to the constitution in the House of Commons in 1945, further deepened Nigerian resentment.
The constitution nevertheless became the starting point for later political negotiations. British administrators proposed a review through local conferences culminating in a national conference, while also advancing Africanisation of the senior civil service. These consultations drew the Northern Provinces more fully into national politics and eventually led to a revised constitutional order.
The Richards Constitution was proposed in 1945 under the governorship of Sir Arthur Richards. It brought Northern Nigeria into the central constitutional system and expanded Nigerian representation in legislative and executive councils, while establishing three regions with representative bodies. Nationalists criticised its imposition without consultation and its indirect elections, contributing to later constitutional conferences and reforms.
Continue exploring
The Story
Politics in Nigeria became more active in 1945 with the publication of proposals for the Richards Constitution, named after the then governor. The arrangement brought Northern Nigeria into the central system and extended Nigerian representation in the Legislative and Executive Councils. It also established three regions, each with representative bodies of its own.
The constitutional scheme immediately attracted nationalist criticism. Its opponents objected that it had been imposed without consultation and that its elections were indirect. The limited parliamentary debate in Britain, where only twenty-nine minutes were devoted to the constitution in the House of Commons in 1945, further deepened Nigerian resentment.
The constitution nevertheless became the starting point for later political negotiations. British administrators proposed a review through local conferences culminating in a national conference, while also advancing Africanisation of the senior civil service. These consultations drew the Northern Provinces more fully into national politics and eventually led to a revised constitutional order.