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WEEK 1
TOPIC: REVISION/COLONIAL ADMINISTRATION
CONTENT:
- PRINCIPLES AND STRUCTURE OF BRITISH COLONIAL ADMINISTRATION (i) Central Administration (ii) Native Administration
- IMPACT OF COLONIAL ADMINISTRATION IN NIGERIA AND WEST AFRICA
Sub-Topic 1: CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION
The central administration was headed by the Governor. He was appointed by the secretary of state for the colonies who had the power to remove or redeploy him. The Governor was responsible for administration of the whole country and was accountable to the imperial government in London through the secretary of state. The Governor is the president of both the legislative and executive councils. He makes and executes policies, appoint and depose chiefs, and appoint officials of government. He assisted in legislation, can veto legislation, review judgments by the judiciary and exercise prerogative of mercy.
The legislative council was another institution of central administration. The council was made up of the governor, official and unofficial members. The elective principle introduced by the Clifford Constitution (1922) re-organized the council to provide for four elected African members. The legislative council had more representatives with the Richards Constitution. The role of the legislative council was to advice the governor in framing legislation for the colony, but the governor was not bound to accept its advice.
Whenever the governor overrides the advice or decision of the council he must inform the secretary of states for the colonies of his actions. The executive council was responsible for the formulation of colonial government policy and for carrying out the laws of the colony. The council was advisory body to the governor. The governor had powers to reject the decisions or advice of the council.
Under the Macpherson constitution of 1951, the executive council became known as council of ministers.
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