Politics of Nigeria

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Nigeria

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Nigeria

President Umaru Yar'Adua Vice-president Goodluck Jonathan Federal ministries Federal Parastatals National Assembly Senate House of Representatives Supreme Court States State governors Local Government Areas (LGAs) Elections: 2007 general Political parties Foreign relations Human rights

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Politics of Nigeria take place in a framework of a federal presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Nigeria (Umaru Musa Yar'Adua) is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of the legislature, the House of Representatives and the Senate. Nigerian senate is the upper chamber of the legislative house while the house of representatives is the lower house; together they make up the law-making body in Nigeria called the National Assembly. The highest judiciary arm of government in Nigeria in the form of a court is the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Nigeria also practices Baron de Montesquieu's theory of separation of powers. The National Assembly serves as a watchdog to the excesses of the executive arm of government.

[edit] Executive branch

The president is elected by the people. He is both the chief of state and head of government and heads the Federal Executive Council. Nigeria has a rotating presidency so that the three major regions of Nigeria (the North, the East, and the West) share political control of the country.

The executive branch is divided into the following Ministries:^{[1] [2] [3]}

[edit] Federal Executive Council (Cabinet)

Seal of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

* Ministers have been sworn into office as of July 26, 2007. * Please Note that State Ministers were sworn in also

[edit] Legislative branch

The National Assembly of Nigeria has two chambers. The House of Representatives is presided upon by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. It has 360 members, elected for a four year term in single-seat constituencies. The Senate is presided upon by the President of the Senate. It has 109 members, elected for a four year term in 36 three-seat constituencies (corresponding to the country's 36 states) and one seat in a single-seat constituency (the federal capital, Abuja).

[edit] Judicial Branch

The judicial branch consists mainly of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, which is the highest court in the land. It is presided upon by the Chief Justice of Nigeria and thirteen associate justices, appointed by the President of Nigeria on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council and subject to confirmation by the Senate.

[edit] Political parties and elections

[edit] Legal system

There are four distinct systems of law in Nigeria. English Law which is derived from its colonial past with Britain, common law, constitutional law (both a development of its post colonial independence), and Sharia law, used only in the predominantly Hausa and Muslim north of the country. Like the United States, there is a Judicial branch with a Supreme Court which is regarded as the highest court of the land.

[edit] Administrative divisions

The federation is divided in 36 states and 1 territory*; Federal Capital Territory (Abuja)*, Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara

Each state is further divided into Local Government Areas (LGAs). There are 774 LGAs in Nigeria.^[4] For each state they are listed in the article for that state. Kano State has the largest number of LGAs at 44, and Bayelsa State has the fewest at 9. The Federal Capital Territory of Abuja has 6 LGAs.^[4] The Local Government Areas replaced the Districts that were the third tier administrative unit under the British government.

[edit] Military

Main article: Military of Nigeria

Nigerian troops

The military of Nigeria has played a major role in the country's history, often seizing control of the country and ruling it through major periods of its history. Its last period of rule ended in 1999 following the death of the leader of the previous military junta Sani Abacha in 1998.

Active duty personnel in the three Nigerian armed services is total approximately 76,000. The Nigerian Army, the largest of the services, has about 60,000 personnel deployed in two mechanized infantry divisions, one composite division (airborne and amphibious), the Lagos Garrison Command (a division size unit), and the Abuja-based Brigade of Guards. It has demonstrated its capability to mobilize, deploy, and sustain battalions in support of peacekeeping operations in Liberia, former Yugoslavia, Angola, Rwanda, Somalia, and Sierra Leone. The Nigerian Navy (7,000) is equipped with frigates, fast attack craft, convettes, and coastal patrol boats. The Nigerian Air Force (9,000) flies transport, trainer, helicopter, and fighter aircraft, but most are currently not operational. Nigeria also has pursued a policy of developing domestic training and military production capabilities. Nigeria has continued a strict policy of diversification in its military procurement from various countries. After the imposition of sanctions by many Western nations, Nigeria turned to the People's Republic of China, Russia, North Korea, and India for the purchase of military equipment and training.

[edit] Foreign relations

Nigeria is currently in better foreign relations due to its current state of democracy though a fledging one and with the help of the former president Obasanjo. It is a member of the African Union and sits on that organization's Peace and Security Council. Since 1960 Nigeria has been a member of the UN and also joined the Commonwealth of Nations the same year, however they were briefly suspended between 1995 and 1999. Nigeria is member of ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, AU ECOWAS, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, EFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

[edit] Links

• NigeriaDirect - Official website of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

[edit] References

v • d • e Heads of State of Nigeria First Republic Azikiwe Military regime (1st time) Aguiyi-Ironsi • Gowon • Mohammed • Obasanjo Second Republic Shagari Military regime (2nd time) Buhari • Babangida • Shonekan (interim)* • Abacha • Abubakar Fourth Republic Obasanjo • Yar'Adua * civilian; headed transition to abortive Third Republic

v • d • e Vice Presidents of Nigeria Babafemi Ogundipe† • J. E. A. Wey† • Olusegun Obasanjo† • Shehu Musa Yar'Adua† • Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme • Tunde Idiagbon† • Ebitu Ukiwe† • Augustus Aikhomu† • Oladipo Diya† • Jeremiah Useni† • Mike Akhigbe† • Atiku Abubakar • Goodluck Jonathan † military

v • d • e Presidents of the Nigerian Senate Nnamdi Azikiwe • Nwafor Orizu • Joseph Wayas • Iyorchia Ayu • Ameh Ebute • Evan Enwerem • Chuba Okadigbo • Pius Anyim • Adolphus Wabara • Ken Nnamani • David Mark

v • d • e Speakers of the Nigerian House of Representatives Jaja Wachuku • Edwin Ume-Ezeoke • Salisu Buhari • Ghali Umar Na'Abba • Aminu Bello Masari • Patricia Etteh • Dimeji Bankole

v • d • e Nigerian National Assembly Delegations Abia • Adamawa • Akwa Ibom • Anambra • Bauchi • Bayelsa • Benue • Borno • Cross River • Delta • Ebonyi • Edo • Ekiti • Enugu • Gombe • Imo • Jigawa • Kaduna • Kano • Katsina • Kebbi • Kogi • Kwara • Lagos • Nasarawa • Niger • Ogun • Ondo • Osun • Oyo • Plateau • Rivers • Sokoto • Taraba • Yobe • Zamfara — Abuja FCT