Observation

This was not a popular question and the candidates who attempted it performed poorly. Candidates overall performance in this question is below average. However,
the candidates were expected to give the following points as answers to the question:

(a)        Features of the Macpherson Constitution of 1951

1. Council of Ministers was constituted and charged with the responsibility of executing policies.
2. Supremacy of the central legislature over the regional legislatures.
3. It increased the membership of the central legislature by a wide margin.
4. It provided for a central legislature and executive councils for the country dominated by the white.
5. Each region was also provided with a regional legislative council.
6. It also provided for regional executive council.
7. It gave specific powers to the regional assemblies.
8. It provided for the regional houses of chiefs for the North and West.
9. It introduced a new electoral system.
10. In the North, only tax payers were allowed to vote while in the East and West both eligible sexes were allowed to vote.
11. Mass political participation was restricted in the North because only male tax payers were allowed to vote.
12. It provided for an executive council made up of 18 members, 6 unofficial, 1 Governor and 12 Nigerian ministers, 4 nominated by each regional assembly.

(b)        Defects of the Macpherson Constitution of 1951.
(i)         It made no provision for the post of a regional premier in the regions.
(ii)        The constitution did not make Nigeria a true federation.
(iii)       The Governor still had veto/reserved powers.
(iv)       The East had unicameral/legislature while both the North and the West had Bicameral legislature.

(v) The retention of regionalism worsened the problem of ethnicity and tribalism.

(vi)Members of the central legislature were chosen from the Regional Assemblies; hence the constitution failed to transfer full executive powers to Nigerians.(v)Ministers were appointed with full responsibilities in their ministries.