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VOL. 9, ISSUE 5 (2023)
Concerns on the amendment of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, 1999
Authors
Gracious Akpokpokpo Gayovwi
Abstract
Nigeria became a union in 1914 sequel to the
amalgamation of the Southern and Northern Protectorates by the then
Governor-General, Sir Fredrick Lugard who was the representative of the British
Crown in Nigeria. The Amalgamation Constitution of 1914 assumed the maiden law
and instrument that facilitated the amalgamation. The constitution failed and
was jettisoned due to lack of adequate directive principles and political will.
The failure of the Amalgamation Constitution of 1914 was the beginning of the
constitutional failures witnessed in the governance of Nigerian. From the
Clifford’s Constitution of 1922 to the Richard’s Constitution of 1946; the
Macpherson’s constitution of 1951 to the Lyttleton’s constitution of 1954. The Independence
constitution of Nigeria, 1960 met its waterloo because it was hardly enacted by
Nigerians and the nationalists kicked hard for a republic. The advent of the
1963 Republican constitution failed because of sectional interest above
national goals. The 1979 constitution was also caught in the same problem. The
1999 constitution, the present constitution of Nigeria has undergone several
amendments in a short space of time and there seems to be an unending outburst
for more review owing to several sectional anomalies traceable in its content.
It is the argument of this writer that sectional anomalies or draconian
provisions of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria is a clog to the good governance
of Nigeria. Thus, it is the intension of this writer to identify the said
anomalies and showtheir challenge, towards suggesting solutions to these
challenges to ensure a better constitutional law practice in Nigeria. The
approach in this regard is doctrinal. It is concluded by this author that a
constitutional overhaul, involving all and sundry of the Nigerian state is
needed to tackle the present problems of attempts at succession,
marginalization, religious intolerance, social insecurity, and so on, caused by
the abysmal provisions of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria to ensure the good
governance of Nigeria.
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Pages:196-201
How to cite this article:
Gracious Akpokpokpo Gayovwi "Concerns on the amendment of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, 1999". International Journal of Law, Vol 9, Issue 5, 2023, Pages 196-201
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