1963 Republican Constitution

My dear students, una welcome! Today we go learn about something very important in Nigeria's history: the 1963 Republican Constitution. This constitution changed Nigeria from being under the Queen of England to being truly independent, like a real adult country.

First, what is a Constitution?

A constitution is a body of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is acknowledged to be governed.

In simple terms, a constitution na like a rule book for how a country go dey run. It tells us who has power, what people's rights are, and how decisions are made. Every country needs one so things don't scatter.

Before 1963, Nigeria was independent, but Queen Elizabeth II of England was still our Head of State. This meant we were still a constitutional monarchy, tied to Britain.

The 1963 Constitution wanted to make Nigeria a full Republic. This means we would have our own citizen as Head of State, not a foreign monarch.

The 1963 Republican Constitution was enacted on 1st October, 1963, exactly three years after our independence. This was a very proud moment for Nigerians.

Key Features of the 1963 Republican Constitution

Nigeria became a Republic: This is the biggest change. Nigeria stopped being a monarchy. We no longer had the Queen as our Head of State.

President became Head of State: Instead of the Queen, Nigeria now had a President. This President was a Nigerian citizen, elected by the Parliament. He was the ceremonial head, like a symbol of the nation.

Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe became Nigeria's first President under this constitution. He was a great leader, our 'Zik of Africa'.

Prime Minister remained Head of Government: The Prime Minister was still the main boss of the government, leading the cabinet and making day-to-day decisions. Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa continued as Prime Minister.

Judicial Appeals stopped going to the Privy Council: Before, if you were not happy with a judgment from the Supreme Court in Nigeria, you could appeal to the Privy Council in London. The 1963 Constitution stopped this.

Now, the Supreme Court of Nigeria became the final court of appeal. This means our courts in Nigeria had the final say on all legal matters, not a court in Britain.

Parliamentary System of Government: This constitution kept the parliamentary system we inherited from the British. This means the Prime Minister and his cabinet were chosen from the Parliament and accountable to it.

Regions and Federalism: The constitution maintained the federal structure with three regions: Northern, Western, and Eastern Regions, and later Mid-Western Region created in August 1963.

Each region had its own Premier and Governor, and its own House of Assembly and House of Chiefs. The powers were shared between the Federal Government and the Regional Governments.

Bill of Rights: Just like the 1960 Constitution, it included a list of fundamental human rights for all citizens, like freedom of speech and religion. This protects una rights.

Nigerian citizenship for judges: Judges were now expected to be Nigerian citizens, strengthening our legal system.

So, in short, the 1963 Republican Constitution was Nigeria saying, 'We are truly on our own! No more oyinbo queen, we have our own President, and our own courts are the highest.'

It was a big step in our journey as an independent nation, giving us more control over our own affairs.

However, this constitution did not last very long, as you will learn in future lessons. It was overthrown by the military coup in 1966.

But for the time it existed, it showed Nigeria's commitment to being a self-governing republic.

Always remember the key things: Republic, President as Head of State, Supreme Court as final court, and no more appeals to London.

Thank you for listening, my wonderful students! Now let's see if you understood.