First Term Lesson Note for Week Six
Class : Primary Six
Subject : History
Topic : Military Rules in Nigeria
Duration : 40 Minutes
Period : Single Period
Behavioral Objectives : By the end of the lesson learners will be able to :
i. Explain the meaning of military rules
ii. Identify the period of First military rules
iii. Mention when military rules started and ended in Nigeria.
Instructional Material :
Key words or Phrases : Rule, military law,military government, armed forces, independence.
Reference Materials :
- Lagos State Unified schemes of work for Upper Primary School, (Primary 4 – 6).
- Basic History for Primary Schools, Book 6, By Ayengbe JB. E , etal.
- Online Resources
Content :
Military rule simply means military law, the legal system of applying to members of the armed forces.
Martial law is a situation where the military authority takes over power and normal administration of law.
Nigeria has had two periods of military rule since independence in 1960. The periods are :
First Military government : 1966 – 1979;
Second Military government : 1983 – 1999.
First Period of Military Rule 1966 – 1979.
Nigeria’s first military rule began in 1966 following the coup d’ état which overthrew Prime Minister Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi was made the Head of the Federal Military Government of Nigeria, but he was soon overthrown and murdered in a coup on the 29th July, 1966.
Aguiyi-Ironsi was succeeded by General Yakubu Gowon, who established a Supreme Military Council. Gowon held power until July 1975, when he was also overthrown in a bloodless coup.
Brigadier who later became Genaral, Murtala Mohammed succeeded Gowon, few months later in February 1976. He was assassinated by Buka Sula Dimka and others in a violent coup attempt, but the potters failed to kill Olusegun Obasanjo, Who Then succeeded Mohammed as the head of state.
The Supreme Military Council was formally dissolved when Obasanjo handed over power to the elected Shehu Shagari in 1979, ending the military regime and established a Nigerian Second Republic.
Presentation Steps :
Step 1 : The teacher revises the previous lesson with the learners by asking them questions orally.
Step 2 : He introduces the new topic by explaining the meaning of military rules in Nigeria.
Step 3 : He then discuss the military rules in Nigeria, stating the period it started and ended.
Step 4 : The teacher then describes and explain what happened during this period.
Evaluation & Assessment :
1. How many periods of military rules have w) e had in Nigeria since Independence? (a) Four (b) Three (c) Two (d) Five
2. The first period of the military rule lasted for how many years. (a) 12 years (b) 13 years (c) 14 years (d) 20 years
3. Who was the first military head of state in Nigeria? (a) Major General Aguiyi-Ironsi (b) General Yakubu Gowon (c) General Murtala Mohammed (d) General Olusegun Obasanjo
4. When did Military rule begin in Nigeria? (a) 1966 (b) 1967 (c) 1968 (d) 1976
5. The second coup in Nigeria took place in __________________.
6. General Murtala Mohammed was assassinated on ____________________
Wrap up (Conclusion) :
The Teacher summarizes the lesson for a better understanding.
Assignment :
1. The coup that led to the assassination of General Murtala Mohammed was les by ______________________________
2. The first period of military rule ended in _____________________.
3. The head of state in Nigeria that had served for the longest number of years is _______________________.
4.