Our Government

The Federal Republic of Nigeria is governed under a written Constitution. The Constitution that came into effect in 1999 affirms that Nigeria is one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign state, organised on a federal basis. It provides for a presidential system with three arms of government at the federal level (the Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary), each serving as a check on the others, and for three tiers of government: federal, state, and local.

The Federal Executive

The Presidency

At the federal level, an elected President is Head of State, Chief Executive of the Federation, and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. As Head of State, the President is the ceremonial head of the Nigerian government. As Chief Executive, the President carries day-to-day responsibility for the running of the federal government. As Commander-in-Chief, the President is accountable for how the Armed Forces are organised, trained, equipped, and deployed. The President is also the country’s chief diplomat.

The President shares responsibility with the National Assembly for making laws for the good governance of the Federation. The President is not a member of the National Assembly, but may address either House on major national issues, including fiscal measures. The office is elective. No person may hold the presidency for more than two terms of four years each.

The Vice Presidency

A Vice President assists the President and is nominated by the presidential candidate as running mate. The Vice President’s tenure runs with that of the President. If the office of President becomes vacant before the end of the term through death, resignation, or removal under the Constitution, the Vice President assumes the presidency.

Ministers

The President appoints Ministers after screening and confirmation by the Senate, and may assign them responsibility for any business of the Government of the Federation, including the administration of departments. Ministers are to be drawn from all 36 States. A person who is a member of the National Assembly and is appointed a Minister is deemed to have resigned from the Assembly on taking the ministerial oath.

The Federal Legislature

The National Assembly is the highest law-making body of the Federation. It has two Houses: the Senate (upper House) and the House of Representatives (lower House). The Senate is headed by a Senate President, supported by a Deputy Senate President, and consists of three members from each State and one member from the Federal Capital Territory (109 members in all). The House of Representatives is led by a Speaker, supported by a Deputy Speaker.

Each House works through specialised committees. Members are required to sit for a minimum of 181 days in a year. Laws are made through bills passed by both Houses and assented to by the President. A bill may start in either House, but becomes law only after passage by both Houses and presidential assent. If the President withholds assent and each House again passes the bill by a two-thirds majority, the bill becomes law without further assent.

The Judiciary

While the Legislature makes laws and the Executive implements them, the Judiciary interprets the law in line with the Constitution. The Constitution guarantees judicial independence and provides for federal and state courts, as well as election tribunals. The Supreme Court stands at the apex of the judiciary.

• Federal courts Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Federal High Court; High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; Sharia Court of Appeal of the FCT; Customary Court of Appeal of the FCT
• State courts High Court; Sharia Court of Appeal; Customary Court of Appeal
• Election tribunals National Assembly Election Tribunals; Governorship and Legislative Houses Election Tribunals

State government

Nigeria comprises 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory. Each State is administered by an elected Governor, assisted by a Deputy Governor, for a four-year term in the first instance. The Governor appoints commissioners and advisers and assigns responsibilities to them. The Governor, Deputy Governor, and commissioners form the State Executive Council and may not sit as members of the State House of Assembly.

The State House of Assembly is a unicameral legislature. It makes laws for the good governance of the State and acts as a check on the State Executive. Its size is three times the number of seats the State holds in the House of Representatives.

Local government

Local government is the third tier of administration. There are 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs). Each LGA is administered by a Local Government Council led by a Chairman (normally elected), with elected Councillors. Councils are close to communities and play a central role in local planning and basic services.

Constitutional functions of local governments include recommending on economic development to the State, collecting certain rates and licences, maintaining markets, motor parks, and public conveniences, constructing and maintaining local roads and open spaces, naming roads and numbering houses, registering births, deaths, and marriages, and regulating matters such as outdoor advertising, shops, and restaurants. Local governments also work with State governments on primary education, agriculture (other than mineral exploitation), and health services.