Class: Senior Secondary School 2 (SS2 / SSS2)
Term: 3rd Term
Week: 10
Age: 16 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: History
Curriculum Theme: Nigerian Political History
Previous Lesson: Challenges of Democracy: Meaning, Governance and Interim National Government.
Topic: THE CHALLENGE OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT CONTINUED
Subject Matter: Policies and implementation of the 1993-1998 return of the military, comparative analysis of the 1999 constitution with previous constitution, economic policies (liberalization of the economy)

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain:

Compare the 1999 Constitution with previous Nigerian constitutions.
Explain the economic policies, especially liberalization, implemented between 1993 and 1998.

Affective Domain:

Appreciate the complexities involved in constitution-making and economic reforms in Nigeria.
Value the importance of constitutionalism and stable economic policies for national development.

Psychomotor Domain:

Analyze constitutional documents to identify key differences and similarities.
Discuss the implications of economic liberalization on the Nigerian populace during the specified period.

Participate actively in discussions about Nigeria’s political and economic history.
Work collaboratively to identify the features and effects of various policies.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

Senior Secondary Schools Education Curriculum
State Unified Scheme of Work
Adeleke, D. (2018). Nigerian History for Senior Secondary Schools. Ibadan: University Press PLC.
https://www.nigeria-law.org/constitutionOfTheFederalRepublicOfNigeria.htm
https://www.jstor.org/stable/2575239

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Charts showing timelines of Nigerian constitutions
Maps indicating regions affected by economic policies
Pictures of key political figures from the 1993-1998 era
Copies or excerpts of the 1999 Constitution and previous constitutions

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand the evolution of Nigeria’s governance frameworks and economic strategies. It enables them to critically analyze the challenges faced by democratic governments and the impact of past policies on the nation’s development.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils are expected to have prior knowledge of Nigeria’s political history, including military rule and previous attempts at democratic governance.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

THE CHALLENGE OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT CONTINUED

Comparative Analysis of the 1999 Constitution with Previous Constitutions

Nigeria has had several constitutions since independence, each reflecting the political realities and aspirations of its time. The 1999 Constitution, which ushered in the Fourth Republic, built upon elements of previous constitutions while also introducing new provisions.

Key aspects for comparison include:

Form of Government: Transition from parliamentary (1960, 1963) to presidential system (1979, 1999). The 1999 Constitution established a strong presidential system with separation of powers.
Federalism: All constitutions upheld federalism, but the degree of power devolution to states has varied. The 1999 Constitution maintained a strong central government.
Fundamental Human Rights: Consistently enshrined in all post-independence constitutions, with the 1999 Constitution providing a comprehensive chapter on rights.
Citizenship: Provisions for acquiring and losing Nigerian citizenship have been consistent across constitutions.
Judiciary: All constitutions established an independent judiciary with a hierarchy of courts, though the powers and structure might have been slightly modified.
Role of the Military: Unlike military decrees that served as de facto constitutions during military rule, the 1999 Constitution explicitly establishes civilian supremacy and prohibits military intervention in politics.

Economic Policies (Liberalization of the Economy) During the 1993-1998 Military Regime

The military regime from 1993 to 1998 implemented several economic policies, with a significant focus on the liberalization of the economy. Economic liberalization refers to the reduction of government intervention in the economy, allowing market forces to play a greater role.

Key policies and aspects of liberalization during this period included:

Privatization: Efforts to sell state-owned enterprises to private investors to improve efficiency and reduce government spending.
Deregulation: Removal or reduction of government regulations on various sectors of the economy, such as banking, petroleum, and telecommunications, to encourage competition and investment.
Trade Liberalization: Reduction of tariffs and non-tariff barriers to trade to promote international trade and attract foreign investment.
Exchange Rate Management: Attempts to manage the naira’s value, often leading to fluctuations and a parallel market.
Fiscal Restructuring: Measures aimed at reforming government spending and revenue generation, though often characterized by corruption and instability.

These policies aimed to stimulate economic growth, attract foreign investment, and integrate Nigeria into the global economy, but their implementation faced challenges due to political instability and corruption.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils, reviews the previous lesson on the challenges of democratic government, and introduces the new topic by asking pupils to recall any constitution Nigeria has had.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the teacher’s questions and listen attentively to the introduction of the new topic.
Learning Point: Pupils connect previous knowledge to the new topic.

Step 2: Comparative Analysis of the 1999 Constitution

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Comparison
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils to compare the 1999 Constitution with earlier Nigerian constitutions, highlighting key differences and similarities using charts.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify differences and similarities in the various constitutions and ask questions for clarification.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the evolution and key features of Nigerian constitutions.

Step 3: Discussion on Key Constitutional Features

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Elaboration/Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher elaborates on specific features of the 1999 Constitution such as the presidential system, federalism, and fundamental rights, comparing them with previous constitutional provisions.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils engage in discussion, contributing their understanding and noting down important points.
Learning Point: Pupils gain a deeper understanding of the distinct characteristics of the 1999 Constitution.

Step 4: Economic Policies (1993-1998)

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Lecture/Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the economic policies implemented during the 1993-1998 military regime, explaining the context of these policies.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and take notes on the economic policies of the period.
Learning Point: Pupils are introduced to the economic context of the 1993-1998 military era.

Step 5: Liberalization of the Economy

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Definition
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher defines “liberalization of the economy” and explains how it was applied through policies like privatization and deregulation during the 1993-1998 period.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, understand the concept of economic liberalization, and note down examples.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the concept and practical application of economic liberalization.

Step 6: Effects of Economic Policies

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Analysis/Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher discusses the intended and actual effects of these economic liberalization policies on the Nigerian economy and citizens.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils contribute to the discussion on the effects of the policies and ask questions.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the impact of the economic policies on the nation.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

Mention two key differences between the 1999 Constitution and earlier Nigerian constitutions.
Define economic liberalization.
List two economic policies implemented by the military regime between 1993 and 1998.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the main points of the lesson, emphasizing the importance of understanding Nigeria’s constitutional and economic history. An assignment is given to research the impact of privatization in Nigeria.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and copy the assignment.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their learning and prepare for further study.

Lesson Keywords

Constitution – A body of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is acknowledged to be governed.
Liberalization – The removal or reduction of restrictions or barriers, especially in trade or economic policies.
Privatization – The transfer of ownership, property, or business from the government to the private sector.
Deregulation – The process of removing or reducing state regulations, typically in the economic sphere.
Federalism – A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units.

Differentiation

The teacher will provide additional support to struggling pupils through simplified explanations and targeted questions, while advanced pupils will be encouraged to engage in deeper analysis and critical discussions of the constitutional and economic policies.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Teachers should ensure they have updated charts and simplified excerpts of the various constitutions to aid comparison. Encourage pupils to relate the historical policies to present-day economic realities in Nigeria.