Class: Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3, JSS 3)
Term: 1st Term
Week: 7
Age: 14 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: National Values Education
Curriculum Theme: Civic Education
Previous Lesson: 1960 and 1963 Nigerian Constitutions
Topic: The Constitution (Part 7)
Subject Matter: 1979 Presidential Constitution

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain:
(a) Describe the key features of the 1979 Presidential Constitution.
(b) State the main organs of government as provided under the 1979 Constitution.
Affective Domain:
(a) Appreciate the importance of the 1979 Constitution in Nigeria’s political development.
Psychomotor Domain:
(a) Draw a simple diagram showing the three arms of government as provided in the Constitution.
Social Domain:
(a) Work cooperatively in groups to discuss the impact of the 1979 Constitution on democracy in Nigeria.

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
ConstitutionNet – Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1979
Relevant Textbooks

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

A copy or printed excerpt of the 1979 Constitution
Chart showing the structure of the Nigerian government under the 1979 Constitution
Flashcards showing roles of each arm of government
Nigerian flag and photo of the 1979 Constitution signing
Whiteboard and marker

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps students understand the 1979 Presidential Constitution as a key stage in Nigeria’s democratic development and promotes civic responsibility through knowledge of governance.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have learned about the meaning and functions of a constitution in previous lessons and can recall the differences between military and democratic systems of government.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

The 1979 Presidential Constitution

The 1979 Constitution of Nigeria was the first to introduce the presidential system of government after years of military rule. It came into effect on October 1, 1979, and provided for an elected president who served as both head of state and head of government.

Key Features of the 1979 Presidential Constitution

The 1979 Constitution introduced several new features that changed Nigeria’s political system from parliamentary to presidential.

The following are the major features of the 1979 Constitution:

It adopted the Presidential system of government similar to that of the United States.
The President became both the Head of State and the Head of Government.
The Vice President was created as a new office to assist the President.
The Separation of Powers among the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary was emphasized.
The Legislature became bicameral, consisting of the Senate and House of Representatives.
The Federal Character Principle was introduced to ensure fair representation of all ethnic groups.
The Judiciary was made independent to interpret the laws and settle disputes.
Fundamental Human Rights were clearly stated and guaranteed for all citizens.

The Three Arms of Government under the 1979 Constitution

The 1979 Constitution provided for three separate but interrelated arms of government.

They are:

The Executive: Headed by the President, it enforces laws and manages the daily affairs of the nation.
The Legislature: Made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives, it makes laws for the country.
The Judiciary: Interprets the laws and ensures justice and equality before the law.

Importance of the 1979 Presidential Constitution

The 1979 Constitution played a major role in shaping Nigeria’s democracy and strengthening governance.

The following are the importance of the 1979 Constitution:

It marked the beginning of the Second Republic in Nigeria.
It strengthened democratic governance and rule of law.
It ensured clearer separation of powers among the three arms of government.
It promoted accountability and transparency in leadership.
It protected the rights and freedoms of Nigerian citizens.
It laid the foundation for subsequent democratic constitutions in Nigeria.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques:

Discussion, Lecture, Explanation, Question and Answer, Visual Aids, Group Work

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: Teacher asks pupils to recall what they know about the 1963 Republican Constitution and leads them into the topic by discussing why a new constitution was introduced in 1979.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond and discuss what they remember about earlier constitutions.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the background and reason for the 1979 Constitution.

Step 2: Key Features of the 1979 Constitution

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: Teacher explains the main features of the 1979 Constitution using a chart.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, observe, and note down points.
Learning Point: Pupils identify the major features of the 1979 Constitution.

Step 3: Arms of Government

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: Teacher discusses the three arms of government and their functions as provided in the 1979 Constitution.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils participate by identifying the roles of each arm.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the division of powers among the three arms of government.

Step 4: Importance of the 1979 Constitution

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: Teacher highlights the importance and effects of the 1979 Constitution on Nigeria’s democracy.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and write down key points.
Learning Point: Pupils appreciate the significance of the 1979 Constitution in governance.

Step 5: Note-Taking

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: Teacher dictates or displays the board summary for pupils to copy.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils write notes in their exercise books.
Learning Point: Pupils have written records of the lesson content.

Step 6: Evaluation/Review

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

List three features of the 1979 Constitution.
Mention the three arms of government under the 1979 Constitution.
State two importance of the 1979 Constitution.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer the questions orally.
Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the 1979 Constitution.

Step 7: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes
Teaching Skill: Reinforcement
Teacher’s Activity: Teacher summarizes the lesson and encourages pupils to study the role of the Constitution in promoting democracy.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively and ask final questions.
Learning Point: Pupils recall and appreciate the relevance of the 1979 Constitution.

Lesson Keywords

Constitution – a set of rules and principles guiding a country’s governance
Presidential System – government where the president is both head of state and head of government
Separation of Powers – division of government functions among the three arms
Federal Character – policy ensuring fair representation of all groups in government
Democracy – government by the people through elected representatives

Differentiation

Teacher supports slower learners with simple explanations and visual aids while advanced learners explain concepts and assist peers during group discussions.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Encourage pupils to link the 1979 Constitution to present-day democracy. Use real-life examples of government officials to clarify the three arms of government.