Class: Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3, JSS 3)
Term: 1st Term
Week: 3
Age: 14 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: National Values Education
Curriculum Theme: Civic Education
Previous Lesson: Clif
Topic: The Constitution (Part 3)
Subject Matter: Colonial Nigeria Constitution: Macpherson Constitution 1951, Littleton Constitutions 1954

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain:
(a) Describe the main features of the Macpherson Constitution of 1951.
(b) Identify the key provisions of the Littleton Constitution of 1954.
Affective Domain:
(a) Appreciate the historical importance of these constitutions in Nigeria’s political development.
Psychomotor Domain:
(a) Draw a simple timeline showing the years and major events of the two constitutions.
Social Domain:
(a) Participate in group discussions comparing the two constitutions and their impacts on Nigerian unity.

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 Macpherson and Littleton Constitutions” (https://www.britannica.com/place/Nigeria/The-Macpherson-and-Lyttleton-constitutions)
Relevant Textbooks

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Chart showing timeline of Nigerian constitutional development
Map of Nigeria showing regional divisions
Flashcards of key constitutional terms
Portraits of key colonial administrators (Macpherson and Littleton)
Whiteboard and markers

Rationale for the Lesson

Understanding the Macpherson and Littleton Constitutions helps pupils trace Nigeria’s journey toward independence and the evolution of democratic governance.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have already learned about earlier constitutions such as the Clifford and Richards Constitutions and can recall their major features and shortcomings.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

The Constitution

The Macpherson Constitution of 1951

The Macpherson Constitution was introduced in 1951 by Governor John Stuart Macpherson. It aimed to give Nigerians more participation in government after the failures of earlier constitutions.

The following are the main features of the Macpherson Constitution:

It introduced a federal system with central and regional governments.
It created three regional legislatures – Northern, Western, and Eastern regions.
It established a central legislative body known as the House of Representatives.
It allowed limited Nigerian participation in the Executive Council.
It made provisions for a council of ministers, including Nigerians.
It encouraged regional autonomy in local matters.
It created the post of Speaker in the House of Representatives.
It allowed for wider representation through elected members from the regions.

Problems of the Macpherson Constitution
The following are some of the problems of the Macpherson Constitution:

Regional rivalry and disunity increased.
The central government was weak compared to the regions.
There was confusion over the division of powers between the central and regional governments.
Political crises arose in the Western Region due to party conflicts.

The Littleton Constitution of 1954

The Littleton Constitution was introduced in 1954 by Sir Oliver Littleton (later Lord Chandos). It replaced the Macpherson Constitution to correct its weaknesses and laid the foundation for full federalism in Nigeria.

The following are the main features of the Littleton Constitution:

It firmly established a federal system of government.
It defined clear powers between the central and regional governments.
It granted internal self-government to the regions.
It created the post of the Premier for each region.
It established the office of the Governor-General for Nigeria.
It gave regions power to raise their own revenue and manage expenditures.
It created the House of Representatives at the center and regional Houses of Assembly.
It prepared Nigeria for self-government and eventual independence.

Achievements of the Littleton Constitution
The following are the achievements of the Littleton Constitution:

It promoted regional self-rule and political growth.
It introduced true federalism to Nigeria.
It encouraged Nigerian participation in governance.
It served as the basis for the 1960 Independence Constitution.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques:

Lecture, Discussion, Explanation, Storytelling, Question and Answer, Group Work, Use of Visual Aids

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 to recall the constitution discussed in the previous lesson and its weaknesses.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond by naming the previous constitution (Richards Constitution) and discussing its flaws.
Learning Point: Pupils connect prior knowledge to the new topic.

Step 2: Features of the Macpherson Constitution

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the main features of the Macpherson Constitution using a timeline chart.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and note key features.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the structure and purpose of the Macpherson Constitution.

Step 3: Problems of the Macpherson Constitution

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher discusses the weaknesses of the Macpherson Constitution and why it failed.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils contribute ideas on the challenges of the constitution.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the causes of its replacement.

Step 4: Features and Achievements of the Littleton Constitution

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Lecture and Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the major features and achievements of the Littleton Constitution with visuals.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, take notes, and ask questions.
Learning Point: Pupils identify how the Littleton Constitution improved governance and prepared Nigeria for independence.

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 notes neatly into their books.
Learning Point: Pupils have a written record of the lesson content.

Step 6: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

State three features of the Macpherson Constitution.
Mention two problems of the Macpherson Constitution.
List three features of the Littleton Constitution.
State two achievements of the Littleton Constitution.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer the questions orally.
Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of both constitutions.

Step 7: Conclusion

Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summary
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the lesson and links the two constitutions to Nigeria’s move toward self-government.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and ask final questions.
Learning Point: Pupils appreciate the historical role of both constitutions.

Lesson Keywords

Constitution – a set of rules guiding how a country is governed
Federalism – system where power is shared between central and regional governments
Autonomy – freedom or self-rule within a region
Governor-General – head of government representing the British Crown
Premier – head of government in a region

Differentiation

Provide visual charts and summaries for slower learners, while advanced pupils lead discussions comparing both constitutions.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Relate the lesson to Nigeria’s independence journey. Emphasize the gradual shift from colonial rule to self-governance. Use maps and timelines to improve comprehension.