Government Lesson Note for Second Term SS2

SCHEME OF WORK

WEEK 1 &2 COLONIAL ADMINISTRATION

WEEK 3 MERITS AND DEMERITS OF COLONIAL RULE

WEEK 4 NATIONALISM IN NIGERIA

WEEK 5 CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

WEEK 6 LYTTLETON CONSTITUTION OF 1954

WEEK 7 POST-INDEPENDENCE CONSTITUTIONS

WEEK 8 1989 AND 1999 CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA

WEEK 9 FEDERATION IN NIGERIA

WEEK 10 PROBLEMS OF NIGERIA FEDERALISM

WEEK 11 DEVELOPMENT OF POLITICAL PARTIES

WEEK 12&13 REVISION AND EXAMINATION

 

Lesson Note on Government SS2 SecondTerm 

Below are the 2022 complete Government lesson notes for SS2 Second Term

Week 1&2

Topic: Colonial Administration

Meaning of Colonialism

Colonialism is defined as an imposition of a more developed culture over a less developed one, backing up by expansionist and economic adventurism. European capitalist country established political, economic, military and cultural hegemony over other parts of the world which initially at a lower level and therefore could not resist domination.

Historical Background

Before the 1880s, Europe had gone ahead of the rest of the world in science and technology. Europe of 19^th century became the workshop of the world with growing desire for raw materials for their industries. Britain, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, etc were all involved in the race.

The scramble by these European countries led to the partition of Africa after the Berlin conference of 1884-85. Britain colonized Nigeria, Ghana, the Gambia and Sierra-Leone in West Africa. As from 1898, the British sought to establish and maintain a colonial state in Nigeria. To achieve this, a number of measures were to be taken, for example, removal of all visible opposition to the imposition of colonial rule, expansion and consolidation of British authority over the territory later known as Nigeria, similarly, to gradually amalgamate the three different administrative units. To learn more, click here 

Week 3

Topic: Merits and Demerits of Colonial Rule

Merits of Colonial Rule

1. It is aimed at enriching the mother country. The wealth that came from the colonies made the mother country prosperous.

2.  Colonialism contributed for the industrial growth of the mother country. Raw materials were brought to the mother country from her colonies. The factories ran quite well and produced more and more which were sent again to colonies for sail.

3.  The surplus population of the mother country is sent to her different colonies. This lessens the burden of unemployment and poverty the mother country faces.

4. The mother country sends many of her intelligent people to different colonies. They in-turn become the head of administration or army. Their salaries are paid from the colonies. Thus, the mother country is able to govern her colonies effectively.

5.  Colonialism increases the prestige of the mother country. The more colonies a country possessed, the more prestige it had before others. To learn more, click here

Week 4

Topic: Nationalism In Nigeria

Factors that Led to the Growth and Rise of Nationalism in Nigeria

1. Denial of Africans the opportunity to participate in government.
2. Monopolization of political power by the colonial masters.
3. Disenfranchisement of Africans and lack of adequate representation in both the legislative and executive councils.
4. Emergence of Pan Africanism
5. Denial of bank loans to Africans To learn more, click here

Week 5

Topic:Constitutional Development In Nigeria

-Pre-Independence Constitutions

1. Clifford Constitution of 1922

Sir Hugh Clifford was appointed Governor of Nigeria after Lord Fredrick Lugard. In 1922, Sir Clifford introduced the first formal constitution for the country.

The main features of the constitution were:

1. Introduction of the first elective principle in Nigeria and in West Africa. Similar elective principle was introduced in Gold Coast (Ghana) in 1925 and Sierra-Leone in 1924. Following the introduction of the elective principle in Nigeria, Africans were elected into the legislative council for the first time. Three from Lagos and one from Calabar. Electorate consisted of British subjects protected person with 100 pounds or N20 per annual income. The introduction of the elective principles also led to the formation of the first political party in Nigeria. In 1923 called the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) led by Late Herbert Macaulay.
2. This constitution adopted in 1922 derived its name from the then governor of Nigeria, Sir Hugh Clifford who took over from Lord Lugard.
3. The constitution introduced new legislative and executive councils. To learn more, click here

Week 6

Topic: Lyttletton  Constitution of 1954

London Constitutional Conference of 1954

Major Decisions Taken:

1. Self – government to be granted to the Eastern and Western Regions on August 1957 while that of the North would be in 1959. Following the decision, the Western and Eastern regions had their self- government in 1957 while the North had their own in 1959.
2. Eastern region to be given a Bicameral Legislature with the addition of a House of Chiefs which would have similar powers to that of the Western House of Chiefs.
3. Southern Cameroon to be raised to a regional status with the provision of the officer of Premier.
4. A Bicameral Legislature to be established with the second chamber to be known as the senate.
5. Membership of the House of Representatives to be increased to 320 at the end of 1959. To learn more, click here

Week 7

Topic: Post-Independence Constitutions

Republican Constitution of 1963

Features:

1. The queen ceased to be the head of state of Nigeria.
2. The name of governor-general was changed to president
3. Emergency powers conferred on the federal government were retained
4. The Supreme court was given the power of judicial review
5. Fundamental human rights were guaranteed by the constitution To learn more, click here

Week 8

Topic: 1989 and 1999 Constitution Of The Federal Government of Nigeria

The 1999 Constitution

In December 1998 Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar set up the Justice Niki Tobi led constitution debate coordinating committee.

The committee recommended the 1979 constitution with amendments as preferable to 1995 constitution

Features of the 1999 constitution

1. The presidential system was retained
2. There was 778 local governments throughout the nation
3. The judiciary became independent in operation
4. There is opportunity for dual citizenship.
5. Democratic rule was restored to Nigeria
6. Fundamental human right became more recognized To learn more, click here

Week 9

Topic: Federation In Nigeria

Origin of Federalism in Nigeria

Federalism is also a political concept in which a group of member is bound together by covenant with a governing representative head.

Federalism has been present in Nigeria since the former British colony was reorganized into a federation of three regions in 1946.Regionalism was introduced to the Nigeria system by the Richards Constitution.

Federalism is a system of government in which power is shared between the central and regional governments. It is a political system of government where there is division of power among the three tiers of government (federal, State and the local government. To learn more, click here

Week 10

Topic: Problems of Nigeria Federalism

Minority Issues and Creation of Sate

Continuous agitation for the creation of new state by ethnic groups is another major problem of federalism.

As a result of the nature of the multi-ethnicity of Nigeria, it has brought about the issue of minorities which has constituted to one of the major problems militating against the development of the nation.

Inter-ethnic Rivalry and Issues of Succession

Nigeria, we all know is made up of diverse group of people with different ethnic groups, and the rivalry among hausa/Fulani, Yoruba and igbo has become a serious issue overtime. In Nigeria, We see different set of people from different geo-political regions agitating for power which sometimes lead to disagreements and ethnic conflicts among the parties involved. To learn more, click here

Week 11

Topic:Development of Political Parties

Nigeria National Democratic Party (NNDP)

Formed in 1923 by Herbert Macaulay to take advantage of the new Clifford Constitution, the NNDP successfully organized various Lagos interest groups into a single group that was able to compete politically. The (NNDP) ran many candidates for seats in the 1922 elections for the Lagos Legislative council, winning three seats. The party continued to dominate politics in Lagos until 1938, when the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) overtook it in elections.

The party’s name was adopted in 1964 by Samuel Akintola (Born July 6, 1910 – 15 January 1966. He Was a Nigerian politician, lawyer, aristocrat and orator. He is also one of the founding fathers of modern Nigeria, he was also elevated to the positon of Oloye Aare Ona Kakanfo XIII of the Yoruba) for his party as part of a process of unseating the left-leaning Action Group led by Obafemi Awolowo from power in the Western Region. To learn more, click here