Class: Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3, JSS 3)
Term: 1st Term
Week: 2
Age: 14 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: National Values Education
Curriculum Theme: Civic Education
Previous Lesson: Meaning, Types and Importance of Constitution
Topic: The Constitution (Part 2)
Subject Matter: Colonial Nigeria Constitution: Clifford Constitution 1922, Richard Constitution 1946

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain:
(a) Identify the key features of the Clifford Constitution of 1922 and the Richard Constitution of 1946.
(b) Compare the two constitutions in terms of their structure and importance to Nigeria’s political development.
Affective Domain:
(a) Appreciate the historical importance of Nigeria’s colonial constitutions.
Psychomotor Domain:
(a) Participate in a group chart presentation showing differences between the Clifford and Richard Constitutions.
Social Domain:
(a) Work cooperatively in groups to discuss how these constitutions shaped Nigeria’s governance.

Reference Materials

The following resources was used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
Lagos State Unified Scheme of work for Junior Secondary Schools
Encyclopaedia Britannica – “Nigeria: Colonial Era Constitutions” (https://www.britannica.com/place/Nigeria/Colonial-era-constitutions)
Relevant Textbooks

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Chart showing the structure of the colonial constitutions
Timeline chart of Nigerian constitutional development
Map of colonial Nigeria
Flash cards highlighting major features and dates
Whiteboard and markers

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps students understand how early colonial constitutions shaped Nigeria’s political structure and prepared the country for self-government.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils already have basic knowledge of what a constitution is and have discussed early colonial administration in previous lessons.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

The Constitution

The Clifford Constitution of 1922

The Clifford Constitution was introduced by Governor Hugh Clifford to replace the 1914 Amalgamation Constitution. It marked an important step in Nigeria’s political evolution.

The following are the main features of the Clifford Constitution:

It established a Legislative Council for the Southern Provinces only.
The Governor ruled the Northern Provinces by proclamation without representation.
Four members were elected into the Legislative Council—this was the first introduction of the elective principle in Nigeria.
Only Lagos and Calabar had the right to elect representatives.
It allowed the formation of political associations such as the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP).
There was no provision for Nigerians in the Executive Council.
The constitution encouraged the growth of nationalism among educated elites.

The following are the weaknesses of the Clifford Constitution:

It excluded the Northern Provinces from legislative representation.
The Governor had overriding powers over the Legislative Council.
The few elective seats limited wider participation of Nigerians.
It failed to unite the different regions of the country.

The Richard Constitution of 1946

The Richard Constitution was introduced by Governor Arthur Richards to promote greater unity and more Nigerian participation in government.

The following are the main features of the Richard Constitution:

It established a central Legislative Council for the whole of Nigeria.
It introduced regionalism by creating three regions—Northern, Western, and Eastern.
Each region had its own House of Assembly.
The constitution provided for both official and unofficial members in the councils.
It sought to promote unity while respecting regional diversity.
It increased Nigerian representation in the Legislative Council.
It served as a foundation for later constitutions leading to self-government.

The following are the weaknesses of the Richard Constitution:

Nigerians were not consulted before it was introduced.
The Governor retained veto powers over all decisions.
The regional assemblies had no real legislative power.
It further deepened regional divisions.

Differences Between Clifford and Richard Constitutions

The following are the main differences between the Clifford and Richard Constitutions:

The Clifford Constitution applied only to the Southern Provinces, while the Richard Constitution covered the entire country.
The Clifford Constitution introduced the elective principle, but it was limited to Lagos and Calabar, while the Richard Constitution retained nomination but broadened participation.
The Clifford Constitution had no regional structure, while the Richard Constitution introduced regionalism.
The Clifford Constitution excluded the North, while the Richard Constitution integrated it.
The Richard Constitution provided the first attempt at federal organization.

Importance of the Colonial Constitutions

The following are the importance of these colonial constitutions to Nigeria’s political development:

They marked the beginning of Nigerian political representation.
They helped in developing political awareness and nationalism.
They laid the foundation for future constitutional reforms.
They introduced regional administration which later influenced Nigeria’s federal system.
They served as training grounds for Nigerian political leaders.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques:

Discussion, Lecture, Explanation, Storytelling, Group Work, Question and Answer, Chart Illustration

Instructional Procedures

To deliver this lesson, the teacher will adopt the following steps:

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks pupils questions about the meaning of a constitution and recalls features of the 1914 Amalgamation Constitution.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond and recall key facts from the previous lesson.
Learning Point: Pupils understand that the new lesson builds on earlier constitutions.

Step 2: The Clifford Constitution of 1922

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the features, achievements, and weaknesses of the Clifford Constitution using a timeline chart.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, take notes, and identify key features.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the major provisions of the Clifford Constitution.

Step 3: The Richard Constitution of 1946

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher discusses the aims, features, and weaknesses of the Richard Constitution with pupils and shows how it differed from the Clifford Constitution.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils contribute to discussion and ask questions.
Learning Point: Pupils comprehend the significance of the Richard Constitution in Nigeria’s political history.

Step 4: Comparison and Importance

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Illustration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher uses a chart to show the differences and importance of the two constitutions.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils participate in comparing both constitutions and present group findings.
Learning Point: Pupils can distinguish between both constitutions and explain their importance.

Step 5: Note-Taking

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: Teacher dictates or writes the board summary for pupils to copy.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils copy notes neatly into their books.
Learning Point: Pupils have written notes for revision.

Step 6: Evaluation/Review

Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

State four features of the Clifford Constitution.
List three features of the Richard Constitution.
Mention two differences between both constitutions.
What are two importance of the colonial constitutions to Nigeria?
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer questions orally and in groups.
Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the key points discussed.

Step 7: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes
Teaching Skill: Reinforcement
Teacher’s Activity: Teacher summarizes the lesson, emphasizing how both constitutions influenced Nigeria’s political development.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and ask final questions.
Learning Point: Pupils appreciate Nigeria’s constitutional growth during colonial times.

Lesson Keywords

Constitution – a set of rules that guide how a country is governed
Elective Principle – system where representatives are chosen through election
Regionalism – division of a country into regions for administrative purposes
Legislative Council – body that makes laws for a colony or state
Nationalism – desire of people to govern themselves and promote national interests

Differentiation

Provide simpler summaries and visuals for slower learners, while advanced learners handle group presentations comparing both constitutions.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Use maps and charts to visualize the colonial structure. Encourage class discussion to deepen understanding of Nigeria’s constitutional evolution.