Features of the 1979 Presidential Constitution - SS2 Government Lesson Note

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The 1979 Presidential Constitution of Nigeria had the following features:

· Presidential system of government: The 1979 Constitution adopted a presidential system of government in which the President was both the Head of State and the Head of Government.
· Bicameral legislature: The Constitution provided for a bicameral legislature consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives.
· Fundamental Human Rights: The Constitution included provisions for the protection of fundamental human rights, such as the right to life, freedom of expression, and freedom of association.
· Separation of powers: The Constitution provided for the separation of powers among the three branches of government - the executive, legislature, and judiciary - to ensure checks and balances.
· Independent judiciary: The Constitution guaranteed the independence of the judiciary and established the National Judicial Council to oversee the appointment and discipline of judges.
· Federalism: The Constitution adopted a federal system of government, with power shared between the federal government and the state governments.
· Citizenship: The Constitution defined the criteria for Nigerian citizenship, including birth within Nigeria, descent from Nigerian parents, or naturalization.
· Presidential term limits: The Constitution limited the President to a maximum of two four-year terms in office.
· National Planning Commission: The Constitution established the National Planning Commission to develop and implement national development plans.
· Revenue allocation: The Constitution provided for the sharing of revenue between the federal and state governments based on a formula that took into account factors such as population and land mass.