Oliver Lyttleton’s Constitution of 1954 - SS2 Government Lesson Note

Oliver Lyttleton’s Constitution of 1954 was a set of reforms that changed the way Nigeria was governed. It was named after Oliver Lyttleton, the British Colonial Secretary who oversaw the process of creating the constitution.

The main aim of the constitution was to provide greater autonomy for the regions within Nigeria, while still maintaining the overall unity of the country. The constitution created a federal system of government, with powers and responsibilities divided between the central government and the regional governments.

Under the constitution, Nigeria was divided into three regions: the Northern Region, the Western Region, and the Eastern Region. Each region had its own government, with its own powers and responsibilities.

The central government was responsible for matters such as defense, foreign affairs, and currency, while the regional governments were responsible for matters such as education, health, and agriculture.

The constitution also provided for a federal parliament, with a Senate and a House of Representatives, and a federal judiciary. The federal government had the power to intervene in the affairs of the regions in certain circumstances, such as when there was a threat to national security.