Nigeria Colonial Governor Generals From 1914- 1960, Their Achievements And Constitutions

The period of British colonization of Nigeria spans from 1900 to 1960 when Nigeria gained independence from British rule.

Southern Nigeria Protectorate and Northern Nigeria Protectorate were amalgamated at the urging of Governor Frederick Lugard as Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria in 1914.

Frederick Lugard became the first colonial Governor-General of the amalgamated colony.

The following are the Governors and Governors-General of Nigeria from 1914 to its becoming a republic in 1963.

SIR FEDRICK LUGARD ( 1914- 1919)

Lugard became governor-general of the colony of Nigeria from 1914 to 1919. As governor he attempted to prevent the importation or consumption of alcoholic beverages; he also tried to end slavery in the colony.

Meanwhile, he focused on ending the existing system of two protectorates in favour of a single colony. Many intellectuals and the press in Lagos opposed the plan, but the citizenry as a whole did not react.

Merits of Lord Lugard Constitution In Nigeria
The constitution provided for the peaceful revolution of the Nigerian state.
The different and diverse ethnic nationalities which had previously been at each other’s throats were, for the first time, brought together under the same constitutional framework.
The legislative council and other structures established by the constitution provided a forum for Nigerians to discuss matters affecting them.
There was the decentralization of government through the creation of provinces and the introduction of indirect rule.
It provided a training ground for Nigerians in the art of governance.

Demerits of Lord Lugard Constitution In Nigeria
The amalgamation never really resulted in national unity as both the north and the south continued to pursue different policies.
For example, the official language of the Northern Provinces continued to be Hausa while the English Language was the official language of the Southern Provinces. So, even in terms of language, they remained divided.

The two provinces continued to operate as if they were different entities or countries. Each protectorate had separate departments dealing with education, health, police, prisons and public works.
Apart from senior government officials who met regularly at the annual council meetings, there was little interaction between the people of the North and South.
The Nigerian Council was neither Nigerian in nature nor was it a true law-making body. It was a mere talkshop, which had no single elected member.
The Governor General continued to make laws for the North, which had no legislative council of its own.

SIR HUGH CLIFFORD (1919 1925)

Sir Hugh Clifford served as the Nigeria Governor-General from 8 Aug 1919- 13 Nov 1925.

Clifford Constitution

The Clifford Constitution adopted in 1922 derived its name from the then governor of Nigeria, Sir Hugh Clifford, who took over from the former governor, Lord Lugard.

The Clifford Constitution of 1922 disposed the Nigerian Council of Lord Lugard (1914) and set up a new legislative council for the Southern Protectorate. The membership of the Clifford legislative council was 46. Twenty- seven out of the 46 members were officials while 19 were unofficial members.

MERITS OF THE CLIFFORD CONSTITUTION

It provided room for the formation of political parties like NNDP.
It offered wider scope for African participation in politics.
It also created room for the bringing up of newspapers such as Lagos Daily News and the Daily Times Nigeria Plc in 1925.
It introduced the elective principle in Nigeria.
The introduction of the elective principle led to an upsurge in political consciousness.

DEMERITS OF THE CLIFFORD CONSTITUTION
Africans were excluded from the executive council.
Whites dominated the legislative council.
The legislative council was only advisory.
Governor enjoyed unlimited powers.
North was excluded from the legislature.

SIR GRAEME THOMSON (1925-1931)

Sir Graeme Thompson was appointed governor of Nigeria after the reign of Sir Hugh Clifford on 13 November 1925; he ruled the country till 17 June 1931. During this period there was virtually no change or modification to the Clifford constitution of 1922. The country was in a financial depression with dire consequences. The government embarked on austerity measures including massive retrenchment of workers and imposition of direct taxes.

The attempt to impose taxes on women in the eastern province of the country led to the Aba women’s riot of 1929. The ensuing protest against the tax regime by Aba women is reported to have left about 50 women dead and another 50 injured. Sir Thompson is most remembered for his advocacy of non-interference of officials with the native administration.

SIR DONALD CAMERON(1931-1935)

Sir Donald Charles Cameron became the governor of Nigeria on 17 June 1931 and was at the helm of affairs until 1 November 1935. The country was still in depression as such he continued with the austerity policies of his predecessor. Hard times led to increased agitations especially by young people for greater local participation in the affairs of the country.

Achievements

Cameron tried to modernise the native administration system; he asked administrative officers to educate and enlighten the native rulers and their people. He also initiated moves to unite the administration of the northern and southern provinces and abolished the position of lieutenant-governors. He established a native court of appeal system, High courts and Magistrate courts and also abolished the provincial court system that does not allow lawyers to appear in court.

SIR BOURDILLON (1939-1943)

Sir Bourdillon (1883 – 1948), came on board on 1 November 1939 and was the governor of the country till 1 July 1940. He divided the country into three provinces; the western, eastern and northern provinces. In the same vein as his predecessor, he had his ideology for the future development of Nigeria.

Achievements

He believed that political progress should be free from friction so in his memorandum he suggested the following;

That there should be an increase in the employment of Africans into superior positions and according to him the system should have been operated but for lack of “suitable materials”.

That increased responsibilities be given to native authorities.

That the role played by unofficial African members of the central legislature be increased, and more attention should be given to their opinions and advice.

SIR JOHN EVELYN SHUCKBURGH (1940-1942)

John Evelyn Shuckburgh (1877–1953), became the governor of Nigeria from 1 July 1940 till 1942.

Sir John Evelyn Shuckuburgh tenure was described as unremarkable.

SIR ALAN BURNS (1942-1943)

Sir Alan Burns was governor of Nigeria during British colonial rule from 1942 to 18 December 1943.

Burns was appointed Governor of the Gold Coast in 1941. In 1942, he served for five months as Acting Governor of Nigeria. He then returned to his duties as Governor of the Gold Coast wherein 1942 he persuaded the Colonial Office to admit Africans onto the Executive Council of the Governor of the Gold Coast.

SIR ARTHUR RICHARD (1943-1948)

Sir Arthur Richard was governor of Nigeria during British colonial rule from 1943 to 5 Feb 1948.

Arthur Richard constitution

The Richards Constitution of 1946 replaced the defective Clifford Constitution of 1922. It was as a result of the weakness of the Clifford Constitution that the Nigerian nationalists began to pressurise Sir Bernard Bourdillon, the Governor of Nigeria from 1935 to 1943, to give them a new befitting constitution.

Merits

North and South, for the first time, were legislatively integrated (i.e. had one all-Nigerian legislative council).
Nigerians were offered greater participation in the central legislative council.
Various interests and sections were adequately represented.
It recognised the diversity of the country.
Indirect rule system was carefully incorporated into the constitution.

Demerits

Regional Assemblies merely acted as advisory and consultative bodies.
Impression of unofficial majority in the council was false because the majority were chiefs or government nominees.
Constitution was arbitrarily imposed, thus, undemocratic.
The elective principle was not extended beyond Lagos and Calabar.
Regionalism was introduced unintentionally and thus, caused a political division into Nigeria.

SIR JOHN MACPHERSON (1948-1955)

Sir Macpherson became the new governor of Nigeria after Sir Richards from 1948-1954 and Governor-General from 1954-1955

As a governor, he introduced the 1951 constitution and Africanized the Nigerian public service.

Sir John Macpherson constitution

Sir John made adequate arrangements not to repeat the mistakes that led to the opposition and criticism that greeted Richards’s constitution.

In March 1949, a selected committee of the legislative council was set up to examine problems that may likely face the introduction of a new constitution. The committee agreed that a wider measure of consultation with the people right from the village level should be followed.

Merits

The constitution encouraged a wider representation of each of the regions in the House of Representatives.
The constitution made Nigerian ministers at both central and regional levels for the first time.
The drafting of the constitution was preceded by a widespread consultation.
It laid the framework for true federalism by regions and the central government.
It introduced a new central body called the House of Representatives.

Demerits

It failed to provide a responsible government at the centre.
Nigerian ministers had no executive control over their departments.
It encouraged the indirect election of legislators at national and regional levels.
The veto power of the governor still remained.

SIR JAMES WILSON (1955-1960)

Sir James Wilson was governor of Nigeria during British colonial rule from 15 June 1955- 16 Nov 1960. He was the last British Governor-General of Nigeria

To the unrelenting tensions of a Nigeria already well on its way to independence Robertson brought–and needed–all the negotiating skills of patient determination and iron geniality that he had learned in Sudan. To these he added the diplomatic diffidence demanded in a royal representative whose task was to hand over the responsibilities of the supreme office to an elected prime minister and cabinet and cede all but the ultimate authority with grace and goodwill, yet who had, while pressing for localization, to retain the confidence of a still largely expatriate civil service and a sizeable British commercial community.

The signal of his success in managing to please most and affront few came when the Nigerian ministers not only asked for his tenure of office to be extended by two years but also invited him to continue after independence (1 October 1960) as the new nation’s first governor-general. Robertson handed over to a Nigerian successor in November 1960.