Nigeria Overview

Executive System

  • Presidential System

    • Executive: President and Cabinet

    • Head of State/Gov: President

      • Directly elected, 2 term limit w 4 year terms

      • 2-round/Majority model

        • Must win majority of votes

        • At least 25% of votes cast in 2/3 states

        • If no majority in first round, 2nd round only considers top 2 candidates (run off election)

      • Appoints ministers to Federal Executive Council

        • Requires ministers from each state

    • Legislature: National Assembly

      • Lower House: House of Representatives

        • Elected with single-member district plurality

      • Upper House: Senate

    • Federal division of power

    • Chief Judicial Body: Supreme court

  • Constitution

    • Current one implemented in 1999

    • Established bicameral legislature + federal democratic republic w presidential executive

    • Patrimonialism = most prominent form of government

      • Patrimonialism: Ruler treats state as possession, authority based on connection/loyalty rather than rational/legal institutions

  • Executive Powers

    • May appoint officials without approval of legislature

      • Can be appointed anywhere

    • Receives all gov oil, distributes some to states as directed by law

    • Head of armed forces

    • Veto power on laws passed by legislature

    • Can be impeached

  • Bureaucracy

    • Assumed corrupt and inefficient

    • Parastatals: Provide public utilities/major industries

      • Privately owned, headed by gov appointees

    • State corporatism

      • Parastatals give appearance of public + private cooperation 

        • Actually giving control to state

    • Jobs awarded through prebendalism (using public office for personal gain)

Parliamentary System

Judiciary

  • Transitioning to independence

  • Supreme Court has power of judcial review, recent ammendments allows more independence/effectiveness

    • Court system, rule of law

  • Perceived to be highly corrupt

    • Easily manipulated judges bc of lack of experience

  • Some courts in North have been granted ability to institue Sharia Law

    • Very controverisal

  • Justices recommended by a judicial council, official appointed by President, confirmed by Senate

  • In theory, in charge of judicial review but NOT in practice

Military

  • Central role in politics

  • Military in gov vs Military in barracks after early coups

    • Mil in Gov: Presidents had to restrain influence of traditional miltary