§ 82. Mr. E. L. Mallalieuasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he is taking in the preparation of the new Nigeria Constitution to ensure that the Opposition in the Federation of Nigeria shall be effective after independence; and if he will consider the setting up of a small permanent secretariat for the purpose of assisting the Opposition in its work in the Federal Parliament of Nigeria.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodThe Nigerian Constitution on independence will be on the lines agreed at successive Nigerian Constitutional Conferences, at which all shades of political opinion, including parties in opposition, were represented. Many safeguards for democratic liberties will be entrenched in it, and these should permit effective parliamentary opposition. The novel proposal in the second part of the Question does not therefore arise.