Nigeria Terms

type of government system

federalist presidential system

ethnic groups

Hausa in the North, Yoruba in the Southwest, Igbo in the South

terrorist group

Boko Haram

requirements to run for president

citizen at birth, 35 y/o or older, member of political party or sponsored by one, have a degree or school certificate (passing national education exams)

legislative body

House of Representatives (Lower House) approves legislation, Senate (Upper House) possesses unique impeachment and confirmation powers

president

directly elected by citizens every 4 years, must gain at least 25% of the vote in at least 2/3 of 36 states, appoints all cabinet members, appoints all Supreme Court judges, nominates vice president, commands armed forces, limited to two 4-year terms, can veto legislation

House of Representatives

360 seats (represents the population through districts), SMD, directly elected every 4 years and limited to 2 terms, can overturn presidential veto with 2/3 supermajority, makes and amends laws, can impeach president

Senate

109 Senate seats (3 or each state plus one for the federal capital), directly elected every 4 years, can overturn presidential veto with 2/3 supermajority, makes and amends laws, can impeach president, confirms cabinet heads and Supreme Court appointments

Nigerian Electorate

direct elections every 4 years for the House, Senate, and president

Nigerian Judiciary

power of judicial review, effort has been made to reestablish its legitimacy and independence by reducing corruption, under system of federalism Islamic Sharia Courts established in the North, justices recommended by judicial council and appointed by president with confirmation from Senate

Judicial System

national law operates on common law, state autonomy allows states to choose what state law they want to use, three law systems (state level): common law, Sharia law (used by 12 northern states), tribal law

common law

common la (federal judiciary and most states), came from British colonization, based in western law, based off of precedent, utilized at the national level

Sharia law

history of sharia in Northern Nigeria prior to British colonization, law based off the Quran and other Islamic traditions and texts, characterized by strict physical punishments for crimes

Supreme Court

independent judiciary thru Constitution, commission makes recommendations to President, President nominates, Senate confirms justices, has no more than 21 justices, mandatory age requirement of 70, power of judicial review

British influence

English language of Nigerian govt, Southern Nigerians are Protestant Christians, neoliberalism capitalism policies, use of common law, originally tried a parliamentary system of government

factors that have helped Nigeria’s process of democratization

election of Olusegun Obasanjo (elected by the people, ended 16 years of military rule), freedom of expression, religion, association, etc., formation of Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission (citizens can publish and submit petitions regarding human rights violations)