Nigerian Government Structure

Study Notes

Structure of the Nigerian Government

Federal Republic with a Presidential system
Three tiers of government: Federal, State, and Local

Federal Government

Comprises the:
- Executive (President and Ministers)
- Legislative (National Assembly: Senate and House of Representatives)
- Judicial (Supreme Court and other federal courts)
Head of State and Government: President
Current President: Muhammadu Buhari (since 2015)

Executive Branch

President:
- Elected by popular vote for a 4-year term
- Limited to two terms
- Appoints federal ministers and other high-ranking officials
Vice President:
- Supports the President and assumes office if the President is incapacitated
Federal Ministers:
- Responsible for various portfolios (e.g., finance, education, defense)
- Appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate

Legislative Branch

National Assembly:
- Bicameral legislature consisting of the Senate and House of Representatives
- Senate: 109 members, each representing a state, serving 4-year terms
- House of Representatives: 360 members, each representing a federal constituency, serving 4-year terms
Powers:
- Lawmaking
- Budget approval
- Oversight of the Executive

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court:
- Highest court in the land
- Interprets the Constitution and federal laws
Other federal courts:
- Court of Appeal
- Federal High Court
- High Courts of the Federal Capital Territory

State Government

36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
Each state has:
- Executive (Governor and Deputy Governor)
- Legislative (State House of Assembly)
- Judicial (State High Court and other state courts)

Local Government

774 local government areas (LGAs)
Each LGA has:
- Executive (Chairman and Vice Chairman)
- Legislative (Local Government Council)
- Administrative roles (e.g., provision of basic services)

Structure of the Nigerian Government

Nigeria is a Federal Republic with a Presidential system
The government has three tiers: Federal, State, and Local

Federal Government

Comprises the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches
Head of State and Government is the President
The President is the head of the Executive branch
Current President is Muhammadu Buhari, in office since 2015

Executive Branch

The President is elected by popular vote for a 4-year term
The President is limited to two terms
The President appoints federal ministers and other high-ranking officials
The Vice President supports the President and assumes office if the President is incapacitated
Federal Ministers are responsible for various portfolios and are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate

Legislative Branch

The National Assembly is a bicameral legislature consisting of the Senate and House of Representatives
The Senate has 109 members, each representing a state, serving 4-year terms
The House of Representatives has 360 members, each representing a federal constituency, serving 4-year terms
The National Assembly has the power to make laws, approve the budget, and oversee the Executive

Judicial Branch

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land
The Supreme Court interprets the Constitution and federal laws
Other federal courts include the Court of Appeal, Federal High Court, and High Courts of the Federal Capital Territory

State Government

Nigeria has 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
Each state has an Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branch
The Executive branch of a state is headed by the Governor and Deputy Governor
The Legislative branch of a state is the State House of Assembly
The Judicial branch of a state is the State High Court and other state courts

Local Government

Nigeria has 774 local government areas (LGAs)
Each LGA has an Executive, Legislative, and administrative roles
The Executive branch of an LGA is headed by the Chairman and Vice Chairman
The Legislative branch of an LGA is the Local Government Council
The administrative roles of an LGA include the provision of basic services

Description

Learn about the federal republic of Nigeria's presidential system, comprising three tiers of government, and the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Understand the roles and responsibilities of the President and other key institutions.