Merits and demerits of the constitutional conferences - SS2 Government Lesson Note

The constitutional conferences held in Nigeria during 1950, 1953, 1957, and 1958 were critical in the country's political development. Here are the merits and demerits of each conference:

Constitutional Conference of 1950:

Merits:

·         The conference was the first of its kind in Nigeria's history, and it provided a platform for representatives from various regions to come together and discuss issues affecting the country.

·         It resulted in the creation of a new constitution, which gave Nigeria more self-government and a greater degree of autonomy.

Demerits:

·         The conference was dominated by British officials, and there was limited participation from Nigerian political leaders.

·         The new constitution did not go far enough in granting Nigeria complete independence, which was a key demand of many Nigerian leaders.

 

Constitutional Conference of 1953:

Merits:

·         The conference marked a significant shift towards greater Nigerian participation and representation, with more political leaders attending and playing a greater role in the proceedings.

·         It led to the creation of a new constitution, which granted Nigeria greater self-government and representation.

Demerits:

·         The conference was dominated by the northern region, which led to concerns from other regions about the imbalance of power.

·         The new constitution did not grant Nigeria full independence, which was still a key demand of many Nigerian leaders.

 

Constitutional Conference of 1957:

Merits:

·         The conference was the first to include representatives from all three regions of Nigeria, which helped to promote greater unity and cooperation between them.

·         It led to the creation of a new constitution, which provided Nigeria with greater self-government and paved the way for independence.

Demerits:

·         The conference was marred by disagreements between the regions, particularly over the issue of how power would be shared between them.

·         The new constitution still left some key issues unresolved, such as the role of traditional rulers and the status of minorities.

 

Constitutional Conference of 1958:

Merits:

·         The conference marked a significant step towards Nigerian independence, with the creation of a new constitution that paved the way for full self-government.

·         It helped to promote greater cooperation and understanding between the different regions of Nigeria.

Demerits:

·         The conference was still dominated by British officials, who retained significant control over the proceedings.

·         The new constitution still left some key issues unresolved, such as the status of minorities and the role of traditional rulers.