Features Of The Lyttleton Constitution Of 1954

The Lyttleton Constitution Of 1954

Features Of Lyttleton Constitution of 1954

1. The Governor became known as the Governor – General of the federation of Nigeria and the Lieutenant – General became Governors of their respective regions.
2. The offices of the speaker and the deputy speaker were created to preside over regional legislatures with the exception of the North.
3. The establishment of regional Premiers who headed regional executive councils and appointed ministers to take charge of government departments.
4. The regionalisation of the Judiciary and the public service of the civil service.
5. A reduction in the number of official members and appointed members in the central and regional legislatures as well as in the executive councils. The proportion of elected members substantially increased.
6. A revised division of powers between the central and regional governments.
7. The central legislature was unicameral.
8. Each region had three ministers in the council of ministers at the federal level.
9. There was no provision for the office of a Prime Minister at the centre.
10. The Federal House of Representatives, this consisted of a Speaker, three ex-officio members and 184 representative members. The 184 members were elected independently of the Regional Legislatures.
11. The Northern Region had 92 seats, the Eastern Region had 42, the Western Region had 42, Southern Cameroons 6, and 2 from the Federal territory of Lagos

    The Federal Council of Ministers 

    This consisted of the Governor-General as President, three official – Chief Secretary, Financial Secretary and the Attorney General, and three Ministers from each Region and one from the Cameroons appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of the Regional Executive. It was in the Council of Ministers that there was equality of representation.

    The Regional Legislatures:

    The Western House of Assembly – This consisted of a Speaker who presided; there was also the provision for the appointment of a Deputy Speaker and 80 directly elected members.

    The Western House of Chiefs – It consisted of important Chiefs and a President elected from the members of the House.

    The Northern House of Assembly – This consisted of four ex-officio members, ten nominated members, ninety indirectly elected members and a President nominated by the Governor.

    The Northern House of Chief – This consisted of all the influential chiefs, three official members and the Governor as its President.

    The Eastern House of Assembly – It consisted of a Speaker who presided and eighty-four members who were directly elected. The Speaker of the Eastern House of Assembly was appointed by the Governor after consultation with the leaders of the majority and opposition parties.

    He was to be appointed from among the members of the House or from outside. There was also a provision for the appointment of a Deputy Speaker by the Governor.