Page:1922 Constitution of Nigeria (Clifford Constitution).pdf/1

 At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 21st Day of November, 1922.

The KING’s Most Excellent Majesty in Council.

WHEREAS by certain Letters Patent passed under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland bearing date at Westminster the Twenty-ninth day of November, 1913, His Majesty the King did constitute the Office of Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Colony of Nigeria, and did amongst other things provide for the establishment of a Legislative Council for the said Colony and did further reserve to Himself, His heirs and successors, His and their undoubted right, with the advice of His or their Privy Council, from time to time to make all such laws or ordinances as might appear to Him or them necessary for the peace, order, and good government of the Colony:

And whereas by the Foreign Jurisdiction Act, 1890, it is amongst other things, enacted that it shall be lawful for His Majesty to hold, exercise and enjoy any jurisdiction which His Majesty now has or may at any time hereafter have within a foreign country in the same and as ample a manner as if His Majesty had acquired that jurisdiction by the cession or conquest of territory:

And whereas by treaty, grant, usage, sufferance and other lawful means His Majesty has power and jurisdiction within the territories known as the Protectorate of Nigeria:

And whereas by an Order in Council bearing date the Twenty-second day of November, 1913, known as the Nigerian Council Order in Council, 1913, provision was made for the establishment of an advisory and deliberative body to be known as the Nigerian Council:

And whereas by an Order in Council bearing date the Tenth day of August, 1914, known as the Nigeria Order in Council, 1914, power was conferred upon the Governor and the Legislative Council of the Colony of Nigeria and the Governor of the Protectorate of Nigeria of legislating jointly for matters affecting the whole territory of Nigeria:

And whereas His Majesty has this day, by and with the advice of His Privy Council, been pleased to direct that Letters Patent be passed under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland for the purpose of providing for the Government of the Colony of Nigeria, as in the said Letters Patent more fully appears, and the draft of the said Letters Patent has this day been approved by His Majesty in Council:

And whereas by an order in Council bearing date this day and known as the Nigeria Protectorate Order in Council, 1922, provision has been made for the exercise of His Majesty’s jurisdiction in the territories known as the Protectorate of Nigeria:

Now, therefore, His Majesty, by virtue and in exercise of all powers enabling Him in that behalf, is pleased, by and with the advice of His Privy Council, to order, and it is hereby ordered, as follows:—

I. This Order may be cited as the Nigeria (Legislative Council) Order in Council, 1922.

II. This Order shall apply to the Colony and to the Protectorate of Nigeria, which are hereinafter referred to collectively as “Nigeria.”

III. In this Order “His Majesty” includes His Majesty’s heirs and successors; “Secretary of State” means one of His Majesty’s Principal Secretaries of State; “Governor” means the Governor and Commander-inChief for the time being of Nigeria and includes every person for the time being administering the Government of Nigeria; “the Council” means the Legislative Council established by or under the provisions of the last hereinbefore recited Letters Patent and Order in Council, which Council shall be known as “the Legislative Council of Nigeria.”

IV. The Council shall consist of:—The Governor as President, 26 Official Members, 3