CLIFFORD CONSTITUTION OF 1922

The 1922 constitution was named after the then governor of Nigeria sir Hugh Clifford

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There was an executive council for the whole country.
It was established a Legislative council presided over by the governor with 26 white officials, 15 nominated unofficial members and 4 elected members, three of the elected members represented Calabar
The governor exercised enormous power and was autocratic
The constitution introduced elected principle (the first in Africa)
Only male adults who earned up to E100 per annum and had resided in the area for at least a year could vote during elections.

The constitution abolished the Nigerian Council which was non-elective and ineffective
It established a new executive council for the whole country.
The constitution introduced elective principle for the first time in Africa.
The constitution marked the emergence of Nigeria National Democratic Party (NNDP) the first political party led by Herbert Macaulay the Nigeria Youth Movement (NYM) and National Council Of Nigeria and Cameroun (NCNC).
It encouraged the establishment of newspapers such as the Lagos Daily News and West African Pilot.

The constitution vested too much power in the governor, including the power to single-handedly legislate for the north.
It allowed the legislative council to be dominated by Europeans
The constitution disenfranchised majority of Nigerians by limiting voting rights only to male adults earning at least 100 perannum.
It limited Nigerians to being only non-officials, as a result of which they could not be in the executive council.
The constitution isolated northern Nigeria, and thus formalized a north-south dichotomy which is still present.

The constitution became operational on 1^st January, 1947.
It created a central legislative council for the whole of Nigeria
The governor could now make and apply laws for the whole country in consultation with the legislative council
The constitution provide for regional assemblies in the North, East and west which could only discuss legislative matters
Two Nigerian, instead of only one appointed in 1943, became members of the executive council.

It encouraged national unity due to the integration of the North and South administratively
It paved way for a federal constitution in the Nigerian political system
The constitution provided for bicameral legislature in the North and also recognized traditional rulership in Nigeria
The constitution increased the representative of Nigerian in the legislative council
The constitution introduced Regionalism i.e. North, West and East each with its own house of Assembly.

Europeans dominated the legislative council at the Execution level
The constitution was imposed on Nigerian without proper consultation of their opinions
Voting right was still dependent upon level of income
Residents of Calabar and Lagos are the only one that could vote, while other Nigerian were disenfranchised.
Regionalism and ethnicity preached by this constitution resulted into disunity, mutual and ethnic suspicion in Nigerian politics till today.

The Northern region retained its bicameralism while same was introduced in the west
The central and Eastern legislative councils remained unicameral
A council of ministers was set up. This comprised 12 members drawn equally form the three regions
The constitution made provision for an executive council for each of the regions presided over by lieutenant – Governor
Suffrage: In the North only male taxpayers voted while in the West and East, both sexes voted.

It was a home – made constitution i.e. several Nigerians were consulted in its making
Nigerians were made ministers for the first time
The constitution granted Regional Autonomy to the regional assemblies
The constitution provided for central and regional executives
It led to the formation of Action Group 1951.

The constitution was effete i.e. it was a quazi-federal which made it to loose its grip
The ministers appointed to represent the regions lacked cohesion and were regionally minded
The self – government in 1956 motion tabled on 1^st April, 1953 by Chief Authony Enahoro of Action Group and the subsequent Kano riots led to total breakdown of the constitution
The absence of a party with majority seats at the House of Representatives did not encourage consensus in the house
The constitution pin powered the Governor to veto the decision of the legislative and the Executive councils