§ 112. Mr. J. Hyndasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any further statement to make on the progress of the constitutional review in Nigeria.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsYes. This review has resulted in general agreement over a wide field as to the form and direction of future constitutional advance in Nigeria. One important point—the composition of the Central Legislature—is still under 75W discussion. But in view of the wide measure of agreement already reached by representatives of all sections of the people of Nigeria, after discussions throughout the territory, His Majesty's Government decided, after carefully considering the agreed recommendations, to let it be known that they are ready to accept those recommendations as the framework of a new Nigerian Constitution subject to a satisfactory settlement about the composition of the Central Legislature and to further examination of details when the constitutional review has been completed.
A despatch in this sense is being published today here and in Nigeria and copies of it have been placed in the Library together with copies of the recommendations of the Nigerian General Conference and the Report of a local Select Committee on those recommendations. I will keep the House informed of developments.