Class: Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3, JSS 3)
Term: 1st Term
Week: 6
Age: 14 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: National Values Education
Curriculum Theme: Civic Education
Previous Lesson: Features of Colonial Constitution in Nigeria
Topic: The Constitution (Part 6)
Subject Matter: Post: 1960 Constitution, 1963 Constitution

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain:
(a) Highlight the major features of the 1960 Independence Constitution.
(b) Explain the key features of the 1963 Republican Constitution.
(c) State the differences between the 1960 and 1963 Constitutions.
Affective Domain:
(a) Appreciate the importance of constitutional development to national growth.
(b) Show respect for the rule of law and constitutional order.
Psychomotor Domain:
(a) Draw a simple comparison chart between the 1960 and 1963 Constitutions.
Social Domain:
(a) Work cooperatively in groups to discuss Nigeria’s constitutional development.

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
Britannica – “Nigeria: The Independence Constitution of 1960” (https://www.britannica.com/place/Nigeria/The-Independence-Constitution-of-1960)
Wikipedia – Constitution of Nigeria
Relevant Textbooks

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Chart showing timeline of Nigerian constitutions
Map of Nigeria showing regions during 1960 and 1963
Flashcards showing features of each constitution
A short note extract from the 1960 and 1963 constitutions
Whiteboard and markers

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps students understand the development of Nigeria’s constitutional history, emphasizing the transition from colonial rule to republican governance.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils already know the meaning of a constitution and have discussed the pre-independence constitutions such as the Clifford, Richards, Macpherson, and Lyttleton constitutions.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

The Constitution (Part 6)

The 1960 Independence Constitution

The 1960 Constitution marked Nigeria’s independence from British rule on October 1, 1960. It established a federal government and introduced a parliamentary system under the British Commonwealth.

The following are the main features of the 1960 Independence Constitution:

Nigeria became an independent nation within the British Commonwealth.
The Queen of England remained the Head of State, represented by the Governor-General.
The Prime Minister, chosen from the majority party in Parliament, served as Head of Government.
It established a federal system with three regions — Northern, Western, and Eastern.
Each region had its own premier and legislature.
The Constitution guaranteed fundamental human rights.
The judiciary was independent but appeals could still be made to the Privy Council in London.
It created a bicameral legislature at the federal level — Senate and House of Representatives.

The 1963 Republican Constitution

The 1963 Constitution came into effect on October 1, 1963, and changed Nigeria’s status from a constitutional monarchy to a republic. This meant full sovereignty and the end of external control by Britain.

The following are the main features of the 1963 Republican Constitution:

Nigeria became a Federal Republic with a President as Head of State.
The President replaced the British Monarch as the ceremonial Head of State.
The office of the Prime Minister remained as Head of Government.
Appeals to the Privy Council in London were abolished.
The Supreme Court became the highest court in Nigeria.
It retained the federal structure of government.
It guaranteed the same fundamental human rights.
The country became fully independent in both law and governance.

Differences Between the 1960 and 1963 Constitutions

The 1960 and 1963 Constitutions were both federal in nature but differed in their structure and sovereignty.

The following are the key differences between the 1960 and 1963 Constitutions:

The 1960 Constitution made Nigeria a constitutional monarchy, while the 1963 Constitution made Nigeria a republic.
Under the 1960 Constitution, the Queen was the Head of State, while under the 1963 Constitution, the President was the Head of State.
Appeals could go to the Privy Council in 1960 but not in 1963.
The 1960 Constitution was approved by the British Parliament, while the 1963 Constitution was made by Nigerians.
The 1963 Constitution marked complete independence of the judiciary and government from Britain.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques:

Discussion, Lecture, Explanation, Question and Answer, Group Work, Chart Presentation

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 recalls the pre-independence constitutions and asks pupils what they remember about the 1954 Lyttleton Constitution.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond and discuss briefly.
Learning Point: Pupils are reminded of Nigeria’s constitutional journey leading to independence.

Step 2: The 1960 Independence Constitution

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the 1960 Constitution, its main features, and its significance to independence.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, take notes, and ask questions.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the major features and importance of the 1960 Constitution.

Step 3: The 1963 Republican Constitution

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher describes the 1963 Constitution and how it made Nigeria a republic.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils participate in discussions about how the Constitution changed Nigeria’s governance.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the changes brought by the 1963 Constitution.

Step 4: Differences Between the 1960 and 1963 Constitutions

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Comparison
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher draws a comparison chart on the board showing differences between the 1960 and 1963 Constitutions.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils copy and contribute additional points.
Learning Point: Pupils can distinguish between the two constitutions and their significance.

Step 5: Note-Taking

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Reinforcement
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher writes or dictates the board summary for pupils to copy.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils copy the notes into their books.
Learning Point: Pupils have a complete written summary of the lesson.

Step 6: Evaluation/Review

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

State three features of the 1960 Independence Constitution.
Mention three features of the 1963 Republican Constitution.
Identify two major differences between both constitutions.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally.
Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of constitutional development.

Step 7: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summary
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the key points of the lesson and emphasizes the importance of constitutional evolution.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively.
Learning Point: Pupils appreciate the importance of the 1960 and 1963 Constitutions to Nigeria’s independence and governance.

Lesson Keywords

Constitution – a set of rules guiding how a country is governed
Monarchy – a system where a king or queen is the Head of State
Republic – a system where the Head of State is elected
Federalism – division of powers between central and regional governments
Sovereignty – the full power of a country to govern itself without external control

Differentiation

The teacher provides simplified explanations for slower learners and allows faster learners to help peers by explaining and drawing charts.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Encourage students to relate Nigeria’s constitutional changes to real political history. Use maps and charts to illustrate the regional structure of 1960–1963 Nigeria.