THE ARTHUR RICHARD CONSTITUTION 1946

THE ARTHUR RICHARD CONSTITUTION 1946

From 1938 to 1943, he served as Governor of Jamaica. From 1943 to 1948, he served as Governor of Nigeria. He was known in the Colonial Service as ‘Old Sinister’. He became the first Colonial Office official to be raised to the peerage while still in office.

Date of Birth: 25/10/1865

Place of Birth: Aldershot, England

Date of Death: 21/05/1932

Place of Death: Mosman, New South Wales, Australia

The 1946 constitution was created with the help of Bernard Bourdillion who was Governor of Nigeria from 1935 to 1943. He was able to persuade the northern region to join the Southern region in the legislative council of Lagos though his proposal could not be implemented until Richard replaced him.

ARTHUR RICHARD CONSTITUTION 1946

The 1946 constitution was created with the help of Bernard Bourdillion who was

Governor of Nigeria from 1935 to 1943. He was able to persuade the northern

region to join the Southern region in the legislative council of Lagos though his

proposal could not be implemented until Richard replaced him.

The agitation of the nationalists led to the new constitution, some of it’s objectives

were:

1. To promote the unity of Nigeria
2. To provide for the diverse people in Nigeria.
3. To increase African participation in the discussion of their affairs.
4. To provide for an African majority in the legislature.

FEATURES OF THE 1946 RICHARDS CONSTITUTION

1. Regionalization, the constitution for the first time divided Nigeria into three

regions, the North East and West.

2. The northern region became integrated into the national legislative council this

was a departure from the 1922 Clifford constitution that restricted the counsel to

the south.

3. Enlargement of legislative council. The North was for the first time included in

the legislative council.

4. Provision for Electoral College members
5. Regional legislatures

MERITS OF RICHARDS CONSTITUTION

1. For the first time the north and South where legislatively integrated
2. More Nigerians were included in the central legislative council.
3. There was some devolution of powers to the regions.
4. It recognized the role of traditional rulers.

DEMERITS OF RICHARD CONSTITUTION

1. Nigerians were not consulted before the constitution was formulated and

presented to them. This was the most serious criticism against the Constitution.

2. There was a communication gap between the executive and legislative arms of

Government.

3. The constitution introduced regionalism and sectionalism into Nigeria.
4. The legislature was weak it played largely ceremonial roles.
5. The elective principle was still restricted to Lagos and Calabar.