1. The Macpherson Constitution of 1951.
this constitution was named after its initiator, John Macpherson, the then governor general.
Features of the Macpherson Constitution.
A central legislature was renamed as the house of representatives with 136 .
The central exective council under the chairmanship of governor had six official members and four ministers from each region.

2. The constitution also established an executive council at the centre, known as the council of ministers.
The regional council controlled public revenue
Nigerians,for the first time, were made ministers.
The constitution endorsed a quasi-federal system in which power is shared between the central and the regional government.
The constitution also introduced a system of revenue allocation between the centre and the regions.
The colony of Lagos was merged with the Western region in 1951.

3. The Lyttleton constitution.
It was named after Lyttleton and it came into force in October, 1954.
Features of the Lyttleton constitution
Nigeria became a federation of three regions: Northern, Western and Eastern regions.
Powers between federal and regional governments were divided for the first time.

4. The regions were more autonomus because each region had its own governor-premier, independent civil service and judiciary.
Ministers were made heads of departments instead of being charge of specific matters.
The post of parliamentary secretaries at the federal and regional levels was introduced.
The constitution also provided for the office of the speaker and deputy speaker presiding over each of the regional legislatures.

5. There was separation of Lagos from Western region and Lagos was made a federal capital territory.
Each region had a bicameral legislature, that is, a regional house of assembly and a house of chiefs.
Southern Cameroon was no longer under the administration of the Eastern region. Southern Cameroon was put under the federal government.
The Supreme Court was established for the first time.
Revenue allocation was based on the principle of derivation.

6. The independence Constitution of 1960
The independence constitution gave Nigeria her independence.
Features of the 1960 independence constitution.
Division of power between the federal government and the component units.
Bicameral legislature

7. The preservation of the people’s fundamental human rights.
It granted the federal government power to declare a state of emergency in any part of the country in case of the outbreak of war.
The Governor- General was the cermonial head of state.
The Prime Minister was the head of Government and administration.
It provided for a democratic parliamentary system of government.

8. The Republican Constitution of 1963
This came into force on October 1, The basis for this constitution was to have direct allegiance to the people of Nigeria rather than the Queen of England. In other words, the Queen of England was no longer the constitutional head of the state of Nigeria.

9. Features of the constitution.
The division of legislative powers between the federal and regional governments into exclusive, concurrent and residual lists.
Supremacy of the constitution.
The Nigerian Supreme Court became the final court of appeal.
The ceremonial president elected by parliament served as the head of state, while the prime minister served as head of government.

10. Bicameralism existed both at the regional and federal levels
Bicameralism existed both at the regional and federal levels. The Senate and House of Representatives at the federal and House of Chiefs and the House of Assembly at the regional.
The council of ministers.
Provision for local government.

11. The Presidential Constitution of 1979.
This came into life after the successful completion of the Justice Udo Udoma led constitutional Drafting Committee in June, 1978.
It was the constitution that ushered in the first civilian president of Nigeria, Alhaji Shehu Shagari.

12. The 1979 and 1989 Presidential Constitution.
THE 1979 CONSTITUTION
1989 PRESIDENTIAL CONSTITUTION
The 1979 constitution allowed five senators in each state.
The 1989 presidential constitution reduced the number to three.
450 members of house of representatives
453 members of house of representatives
To contest election into the house of representatives one must be at least 21 years old.
To contest election into the house of representatives one must be at least 25 years old.
Abuja was treated as if it were a state.
Abuja was made federal capital.

13. There was no restriction as the number of political parties in the country.
The state legislature was unicameral, that is the House of Assembly only.
The term of office of the parliament was for four years, with provision of a second term.
This constitution provided for only two political parties.
The state legislature was unicameral, that is the House of Assembly only
The constitution made local government the third arm of the federal structure with some functions and powers.

14. The 1999 constitution.
This constitution became operative on May, It was promulgated into law by the General Abdulsalami Abubakar’s government. Its provision is similar to the 1979 constitution with few amendments:
It maintains the presidential system of government with three organs of government.

15. The separation of powers among the legislative, the executive and the judiciary.
The constitution vests legislative, executive and judiciary powers on the National Assembly, the president and governors, and the courts respectively.
The environmental objectives which states that “state shall protect and improve the environment and safeguard the water, air, land forest and widelife in Nigeria”, was added.

16. It spells out conditions for acquisition, renunciation and deprivation for Nigerian citizenship as well as fundamental human rights.
The 1999 constitution also added the code of conduct bureau.
The constitution also established INEC for the conduct of elections at all levels, as well as registration of all political parties.

17. The senate have three senators from each state and one from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. While the house of Representatives comprises 360 members based on population of states.
The 1999 constitution still remains the working document for the country till date.