FEATURES OF 1989 CONSTITUTION

1. The constitution retained a presidential system of government as in the 1979 constitution
2. A two-party system was entrenched in the constitution
3. The people could withdraw any legislator who no longer enjoyed the confidence of the electorate
4. The federal capital territory, Abuja would not be regarded as a state
5. There were provisions for an independent judiciary and a range of fundamental human rights for Nigerian citizens.

MERITS OF THE 1989 CONSTITUTION

1. The two-party system made the choice of the electorate more focused with reduce confusion as in the multi-party system
2. Minimum qualifications of age and education for candidates eliminated immature and ignorant people from participating in governance
3. The greater prominence of local government made room for more rapid development at the local and rural areas.

DEMERITS OF THE 1989 CONSTITUTION

1. Part time status and allowances given to legislators made them concentrate more on their private business than on law-making
2. The two-party system limited the choice of both politicians and the electorate, thus restricting democracy.

FEATURES OF THE 1999 CONSTITUTION

1. The constitution retains the 1979 and 1989 constitutions
2. The constitution provides for a bicameral legislature, consisting of the house of representatives and senate and a unicameral legislature (house of Assembly) for each state
3. The secondary school certificate is the minimum educational qualification for those wishing to contest elections into national and state positions such as legislators, president and governors
4. The constitution provides for 774 local government councils
5. The constitution provides for revenue allocation formula.

ADVANTAGES OF THE 1999 CONSTITUTION

1. The constitution ushered in both the fourth republic and the presidential system of government
2. It makes provision for minimum educational and age qualifications, thereby reducing in experience and illiteracy in governance
3. There is room for greater political development at the grassroots.
4. It allows for smooth transfer of power form military to civilians

DEMERITS OF THE 1999 CONSTITUTION

1. The military imposed the constitution on the citizens of the country
2. It is too rigid and difficult to amend
3. The constitution was made to suit Abacha’s purpose
4. It also centralized the judiciary, contrary to the demands of the federalism
5. The constitution vested too much power in the federal government

EVALUATION

1. See your workbook
2. See past WASSCE question papers

See also

THE INDEPENDENCE CONSTITUTION OF 1960

LYTTLETON CONSTITUTION OF 1954

CLIFFORD CONSTITUTION OF 1922

NATIONALISM

ADVANTAGES OF COLONIAL RULE