Hugh Clifford’s constitution of 1922 - SS2 Government Lesson Note

Hugh Clifford's Constitution of 1922 was a legislative document that established the framework for the colonial government of Nigeria during the early 20th century. It was named after Sir Hugh Clifford, the British Governor-General of Nigeria from 1920 to 1931.

The Constitution of 1922 established a central legislative council that consisted of both elected and appointed members. The elected members represented the interests of the Nigerian people, while the appointed members represented the British colonial government. The council was responsible for making laws that applied to the entire country.

The Constitution also created regional councils that were responsible for making laws in specific regions of Nigeria. These regional councils were composed of both elected and appointed members and had limited powers compared to the central legislative council.

The Constitution of 1922 provided limited political representation for Nigerians, but it was still a significant step towards self-governance. However, it was criticized by some Nigerians for not providing enough political power to local communities and for allowing the British colonial government to maintain control over important areas such as defense and foreign affairs.