3.3.2 Nigerian Independence and Constitutions The final declaration of the Nigerian independence on October st 1960 was also the result of the major constitutions namely The Richards Constitution of 1946 The McPherson constitution of 1951, and The Lyttleton Constitution of 1954 The 1954 Constitution The McPherson constitution was the most comprehensive and did not livelong. The need for its revision became necessary. The revision led to the promulgation of the Lyttleton Constitution of 1954 that remains the cornerstone of the Nigerian constitution till date. The 1954 constitution established a federal system of government for Nigeria. It is also believed that the 1954 constitution marked the end of nationalist struggle for independence. You should also remember that even when Nigeria attained her independence, there were still deep fissures within the structure. Ethnicism and tribalism were the most prominent, along with the feeling of marginalization by minority groups indifferent areas.
