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1. Supremacy of constitution

2. The Federal Republic of Nigeria.

3.States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

4. Legislative powers.

5. Executive powers.

6. Judicial powers

7. Local government system.

8. New states and boundary adjustment, etc.

9. Mode of altering provisions of the constitution.

10. Prohibition of State Religion.

11. Public order and public security.

12. Implementation of treaties.

13. Fundamental obligations of the Government.

14. The Government and the people

15. Political objectives.

16. Economic objectives.

17. Social objectives.

18. Educational objectives.

19. Foreign policy objectives.

20. Environmental objectives

21. Directive on Nigeria cultures

22. Obligation of the mass media

23. National ethics.

24. Duties of the citizen.

25. Citizenship by birth.

26. Citizenship by registration.

27. Citizenship by naturalisation.

28. Dual citizenship.

29. Renunciation of citizenship.

30. Deprivation of citizenship.

31. Persons deemed to be Nigerian citizens.

32. Power to make regulations.

33. Right to life.

34. Right to dignity of human persons.

35. Right to personal liberty.

36. Right to fair hearing.

37. Right to private and family life.

38. Right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion

39. Right to freedom of expression and the press.

40. Right to peaceful assembly and association.

41. Right to freedom of movement.

42. Right to freedom from discrimination

43. Right to acquire and own immovable property.

44. Compulsory acquisition of property.

45. Restriction on and derogation from fundamental human rights.

46. Special jurisdiction of High Court and Legal aid.

47. Establishment of National Assembly.

48. Composition of the Senate

49. Composition of the House of Representatives.

50. President of the senate and speaker of the House of Representatives.

51. Staff of the National Assembly.

52. Declaration of assets and liabilities ;oath of members.

53. Presiding at sitting of the National Assembly and at joint sittings.

54.Quorum.

55. Languages.

56. Voting.

57. Unqualified person sitting or voting.

58. Mode of exercising Federal Legislative power: general

59. Mode of exercising Federal Legislative power: money bills.

60. Regulation of procedure

61. Vacancy or participation of strangers not to invalidate proceedings

62. Committees

63. Sittings

64. Dissolution and issue of proclamations by president.

65. Qualifications for election

66. Disqualifications

67. Right of attendance of President

68. Tenure of Seat of Members

69. Recall

70. Remuneration

71. Senatorial districts and Federal constituencies

72. Size of Senatorial districts and Federal constituencies.

73. Periodical review of Senatorial districts and Federal constituencies

74. Time when alteration of senatorial districts or Federal constituencies takes effects.

75. Ascertainment of population

76. Time of Election to the National Assembly

77. Direct Election and franchise

78. Supervision of election

79. Power of the National Assembly as to determination of certain questions.

80. Establishment of Consolidated Revenue Fund

81. Authorisation of expenditure from Consolidated Revenue Fund

82. Authorisation of expenditure in default appropriations

83. Contingencies Fund

84. Remuneration, etc. of the President and certain other officers

85. Audit of Public accounts

86. Appointment of Auditor-Genera

87. Tenure of office of Auditor-General

88. Power to conduct investigations

89. Power as to matters of evidence

90. Establishment of House of assembly for each State

91. Composition of the House of Assembly

92. Speaker of House of Assembly

93. Staff of house of Assembly

94. Declaration of assets and liabilities; oaths of members

95. Presiding at sittings

96. Quorum

97. Languages

98. Voting

99. Unqualified person sitting or voting

100. Mode of exercising legislative power of a state

101. Regulation of procedure

102. Vacancy or participation of strangers not to invalidate proceedings.

103. Committees

104. Sittings

105. Dissolution and issue of proclamation by Governor

106. Qualifications for election

107. Disqualifications

108. Right of attendance of President

109. Tenure of Seat of Members

110. Recall

111. Remuneration

112. State constituencies

113. Size of state constituencies

114. Periodical review of State constituencies

115. Time when alteration of state constituencies takes effect

116. Time of elections to Houses of Assembly

117. Direct election and franchise

118. Supervision and election

119. Power of National Assembly as to determination of certain questions

120. Establishment of Consolidated Revenue Fund

121. Authorisation of expenditure from Consolidated Revenue fund

122. Authorisation of expenditure in default of appropriations.

123. Contingencies Fund

124. Remuneration, etc. of the governor and certain other officers

125. Audit of Public accounts

126. Appointment of Auditor-General

127. Tenure of office of Auditor-General

128. Power to conduct investigations

129. Power as to matters of evidence.

130. Establishment of the office of President

131. Qualification for election as President

132. Election of the President: general

133. Election: single presidential candidate

134. Election: two or more presidential candidates

135. Tenure of office of President

136. Death, etc. of president-elect before oath of office.

137. Disqualifications.

138. President: disqualification from other jobs.

139. Determination of certain questions relating to election

140. Declaration of assets and liabilities; oaths of President.

141. Establishment of office of Vice-President

142. Nomination and election of Vice-President

143. Removal of President from office

144. Permanent incapacity of President or Vice-President.

145. Acting President during temporary absence of President

146. Discharge of functions of President

147. Ministers of federal Government

148. Executive Responsibilities of Ministers

149. Declaration of Assets and liabilities; oaths of Ministers.

150. Attorney-General of the Federation

151. Special Advisers.

152. Declaration of assets and Liabilities; oaths of Special Adviser.

153. Federal Commissions and Councils, etc.

154. Appointment of Chairman and members

155. Tenure of office of members.

156. Qualification for membership.

157. Removal of members.

158. Independence of certain bodies

159. Quorum and decisions160Powers and Procedure.

161. Interpretation.

162. Distributable pool account

163. Allocation of other revenues

164. Federal grants-in-aid of State revenue.

165. Cost of collection of certain duties

166. Set-off.

167. Sums charged on consolidated Revenue Fund.

168. Provisions with regard to payments

169. Establishment of civil service of the Federation

170. Federal Civil Service Commission: power to delegate functions

171. Presidential appointments

172. Code of Conduct

173. Protection of pension rights.

174. Public persecutions

175. Prerogative of mercy.

176. Establishment of office of Governor

177. Qualification for election as Governor

178. Election of Governor: general.

179. Election: single candidate and two or more candidates

180. Tenure of office of Governor

181. Death, etc. of Governor before oath of office.

182. Disqualifications

183. Governor: disqualification from other jobs.

184. Determination of certain questions relating to elections.

185. Declaration of assets and liabilities; oaths of office of Governor.

186. Establishment of the office of the Deputy Governor

187. Nomination and election of the Deputy Governor

188. Removal of Governor or Deputy Governor from office.

189. Permanent incapacity of Governor or Deputy Governor.

190. Acting governor during temporary absence of Governor.

191. Discharge of functions of Governor.

192. Commissioners of State Government.

193. Executive responsibilities of Deputy Governor and Commissioners.

194. Declaration of assets and liabilities; oaths of Commissioners

195. Attorney-General of a State

196. Special Advisers

197. State Commissioners

198. Appointment of Chairman and members.

199. Tenure of office of the members.

200. Qualification for membership

201. Removal of members.

202. Independence of certain bodies.

203. Quorum and decisions.

204. Powers and procedure

205. Interpretation

206. Establishment of State Civil Service

207. State Civil Service Commission: Power of delegation

208. Appointments by Governor

209. Code of Conduct.

210. Protection of pension rights.

211. Public prosecutions

212. Prerogative of mercy

213. National Population census

214. Establishment of Nigeria Police Force.

215. Appointment of Inspector-General and control of Nigeria Police Force.

216. Delegation of powers to the Inspector-General of Police

217. Establishment and composition of the armed force of the Federation

218. Command and operational use

219. Establishment of body to ensure federal character of armed forces

220. Compulsory military service.

221. Prohibition of political activities by certain associations.

222. Restrictions on formation of political parties

223. Constitution and rules of political parties.

224. Aims and objectives

225. Finances of political parties.

226. Annual reports on finances

227. Prohibition of quasi-military organisations.

228. Powers of the national assembly with respect to political parties.

229. Interpretation.

232. Original jurisdiction.

233. Appellate jurisdiction.

234. Constitution

235. Finality of determinations

236. Practice and procedure

237. Establishment of Court of Appeal

238. Appointment of President and Justices of the Court of Appeal.

239. Original jurisdiction

240. Appellate jurisdiction

241. Appeals as of rights from the Federal high Court or a High Court.

242. Appeals with leave.

243. Exercise of the rights of appeal from the Federal High Court of a High

Court in civil and criminal matters.

244. Appeals from Sharia court of Appeal

245. Appeals from customary court of appeal.

246. Appeal from Code of Conduct Tribunal and other courts and tribunals

247. Constitution

248. Practice and procedure.

249. Establishment of the Federal High Court.

250. Appointment of Chief Judge and Judges of the federal high Court.

251. Jurisdiction

252. Powers

253. Constitution.

254. Practice and procedure

255. Establishment of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

256. Appointment of Chief Judge and Judges of the High Court of the

Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

257. Jurisdiction.

258. Constitution.

259. Practice and procedure

260. Establishment of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital

Territory, Abuja.

261. Appointment of Grand Kadi and Kadis of the Sharia

Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

262. Jurisdiction.

263. Constitution.

264. Practice and Procedure

265. Establishment of the Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital

Territory, Abuja.

266. Appointment of President and Judges of Court of Appeal

of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

267. Jurisdiction.

268. Constitution.

269. Practice and Procedure

270. Establishment of a High Court for each State.

271. Appointment of Chief Judge and Judges of the High Court of a State.

272. Jurisdiction.

273. Constitution.

274. Practice and Procedure

275. Establishment of Sharia Court of Appeal.

276. Appointment of Grand Kadi and Kadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal of a State.

277. Jurisdiction.

278. Constitution.

279. Practice and Procedure

280. Establishment of a Customary Court of Appeal.

281. Appointment of President and Judges of the Customary Court of Appeal of a

State.

282. Jurisdiction.

283. Constitution.

284. Practice and Procedure

285. Establishment and jurisdiction of election tribunals.

286. Jurisdiction of state courts in respect of federal causes

287. Enforcement of decisions.

288. Appointment of persons leaned in Islamic personal law and

Customary law

289. Disqualification of certain legal practitioners.

290. Declaration of assets and liabilities: oaths of judicial officers.

291.Tenure of office and pension rights of judicial officers.

292. Removal of other judicial officers from office.

293. Vacancies

294. Determination of causes and matters

295. Reference of questions of law.

296. Interpretation

297. Federal Capital territory, Abuja: ownership of lands.

298. Capital of the federation

299. Application of Constitution.

300. Representation in the National Assembly

301. Adaptation of certain references.

302. Minister of Federal Capital territory, Abuja.

303. Administration of the Federal Capital territory, Abuja.

304. Establishment of the Judicial Service Committee of the Federal Capital territory, Abuja

305. Procedure for proclamation of state of emergency

306. Resignations.

307. Restriction on certain citizens

308. Restrictions on legal proceedings.

309. Citizenship

310. Staff of legislative houses.

311. Standing Orders

312. Special provisions in respect of first election.

313. System of revenue allocation.

314. Debts.

315. Existing law.

316. Existing offices, courts and authorities.

317. Succession to property, rights, liabilities and obligations.

318. Interpretation.

319. Citation.

320. Commencement.

Code of Conduct Bureau

Council of State

Federal Character Commission

Federal Civil Service Commission

Federal Judicial Service Commission

Independent National Electoral Commission

National Defence Council

National Economic Council

National Judicial Council

National Population Commission

National Security Council

Nigeria Police Council

Police Service Commission

Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

State Civil Service Commission

State Independent Electoral Commission

State Judicial Service Commission.

Federal Capital Territory, Abuja Executive Body

Judicial Service Committee of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja

Functions of a Local Council

Code of Conduct for Public officers

Code of Conduct Tribunal

Interpretation

Public Officers for the Purposes of the Code of Conduct

Election Tribunal

National Assembly Election Tribunal

Governorship and Legislative Houses Election tribunal

Oaths of Allegiance

Oath of Office of President

Oath of Office of Governor of a State

Oath of Office of Vice-President, Deputy Governor, Minister, Commissioner or

Special Adviser

Oath of a Member of the National Assembly or of a House of Assembly

Judicial Oath

We the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, having firmly and solemnly resolved, to live in unity and harmony as one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign nation under God, dedicated to the promotion of inter-African solidarity, world peace, international co-operation and understanding and to provide for a Constitution for the purpose of promoting the good government and welfare of all persons in our country, on the principles of freedom, equality and justice, and for the purpose of consolidating the unity of our people, do hereby make, enact and give to ourselves the following Constitution: -

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1. (1) This Constitution is supreme and its provisions shall have binding

force on the authorities and persons throughout the Federal Republic of

Nigeria.

(2) The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall not be governed, nor shall any

persons or group of persons take control of the Government of Nigeria or

any part thereof, except in accordance with the provisions of this

Constitution.

(3) If any other law is inconsistent with the provisions of this

Constitution, this Constitution shall prevail, and that other law shall,

to the extent of the inconsistency, be void.

2. (1) Nigeria is one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign state to be

known by the name of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

(2) Nigeria shall be a Federation consisting of States and a Federal

Capital Territory.

3. (1) There shall be 36 states in Nigeria, that is to say, 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 and Zamfara.

(2) Each state of Nigeria, named in the first column of Part I of the

First Schedule to this Constitution, shall consist of the area shown

opposite thereto in the second column of that Schedule.

(3) The headquarters of the Governor of each State shall be known as the

Capital City of that State as shown in the third column of the said Part I

of the First Schedule opposite the State named in the first column thereof.

(4) The Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, shall be as defined in Part II

of the First Scheduled to this Constitution.

(5) The provisions of this Constitution in Part I of Chapter VIII hereof

shall in relation to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, have effect in

the manner set out there under.

(6) There shall be 768 Local Government Areas in Nigeria as shown in the

second column of Part I of the First Schedule to this Constitution and six

area councils as shown in Part II of that Schedule.

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4. (1) The legislative powers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be

vested in a National Assembly for the Federation, which shall consist of a

Senate and a House of Representatives.

(2) The National Assembly shall have power to make laws for the peace,

order and good government of the Federation or any part thereof with

respect to any matter included in the Exclusive Legislative List set out

in Part I of the Second Schedule to this Constitution.

(3) The power of the National Assembly to make laws for the peace, order

and good government of the Federation with respect to any matter included

in the Exclusive Legislative List shall, save as otherwise provided in

this Constitution, be to the exclusion of the Houses of Assembly of

States.

(4) In addition and without prejudice to the powers conferred by

subsection (2) of this section, the National Assembly shall have power to

make laws with respect to the following matters, that is to say:-

(a) any matter in the Concurrent Legislative List set out in the first

column of Part II of the Second Schedule to this Constitution to the

extent prescribed in the second column opposite thereto; and

(b) any other matter with respect to which it is empowered to make

laws in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.

(5) If any Law enacted by the House of Assembly of a State is inconsistent

with any law validly made by the National Assembly, the law made by the

National Assembly shall prevail, and that other Law shall, to the extent

of the inconsistency, be void.

(6) The legislative powers of a State of the Federation shall be vested in

the House of Assembly of the State.

(7) The House of Assembly of a State shall have power to make laws for the

peace, order and good government of the State or any part thereof with

respect to the following matters, that is to say:-

(a) any matter not included in the Exclusive Legislative List set out

in Part I of the Second Schedule to this Constitution.

(b) any matter included in the Concurrent Legislative List set out in

the first column of Part II of the Second Schedule to this

Constitution to the extent prescribed in the second column opposite

thereto; and

(c) any other matter with respect to which it is empowered to make

laws in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.

(8) Save as otherwise provided by this Constitution, the exercise of

legislative powers by the National Assembly or by a House of Assembly

shall be subject to the jurisdiction of courts of law and of judicial

tribunals established by law, and accordingly, the National Assembly or a

House of Assembly shall not enact any law, that ousts or purports to oust

the jurisdiction of a court of law or of a judicial tribunal established

by law.

(9) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, the National

Assembly or a House of Assembly shall not, in relation to any criminal

offence whatsoever, have power to make any law which shall have

retrospective effect.

5. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the executive powers

of the Federation:

(a) shall be vested in the President and may subject as aforesaid and

to the provisions of any law made by the National Assembly, be

exercised by him either directly or through the Vice-President and

Ministers of the Government of the Federation or officers in the

public service of the Federation; and

(b) shall extend to the execution and maintenance of this

Constitution, all laws made by the National Assembly and to all

matters with respect to which the National Assembly has, for the time

being, power to make laws.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the executive powers

of a State:

(a) shall be vested in the Governor of that State and may, subject as

aforesaid and to the provisions of any Law made by a House of

Assembly, be exercised by him either directly or through the Deputy

Governor and Commissioners of the Government of that State or officers

in the public service of the State; and

(b) shall extend to the execution and maintenance of this

Constitution, all laws made by the House of Assembly of the State and

to all matters with respect to which the House of Assembly has for the

time being power to make laws.

(3) The executive powers vested in a State under subsection (2) of this

section shall be so exercised as not to:-

(a) impede or prejudice the exercise of the executive powers of the

Federation;

(b) endanger any asset or investment of the Government of the

Federation in that State; or

(c) endanger the continuance of a Federal Government in Nigeria.

(4) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section:-

(a) the President shall not declare a state of war between the

Federation and another country except with the sanction of a

resolution of both Houses of the National Assembly, sitting in a joint

session; and

(b) except with the prior approval of the Senate, no member of the

armed forces of the Federation shall be deployed on combat duty

outside Nigeria.

(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (4) of this section, the

President, in consultation with the National Defence Council, may deploy

members of the armed forces of the Federation on a limited combat duty

outside Nigeria if he is satisfied that the national security is under

imminent threat or danger:

Provided that the President shall, within seven days of actual combat

engagement, seek the consent of the Senate and the Senate shall thereafter

give or refuse the said consent within 14 days.

(6)ade. (1) The judicial powers of the Federation shall be vested in the courts

to which this section relates, being courts established for the Federation.

(2) The judicial powers of a State shall be vested in the courts to which

this section relates, being courts established, subject as provided by

this Constitution, for a State.

(3) The courts to which this section relates, established by this

Constitution for the Federation and for the States, specified in

subsection (5) (a) to (1) of this section, shall be the only superior

courts of record in Nigeria; and save as otherwise prescribed by the

National Assembly or by the House of Assembly of a State, each court shall

have all the powers of a superior court of record.

(4) Nothing in the foregoing provisions of this section shall be construed

as precluding:-

(a) the National Assembly or any House of Assembly from establishing

courts, other than those to which this section relates, with

subordinate jurisdiction to that of a High Court;

(b) the National Assembly or any House of Assembly, which does not

require it, from abolishing any court which it has power to establish

or which it has brought into being.

(5) This section relates to:-

(a) the Supreme Court of Nigeria;

(b) the Court of Appeal;

(c) the Federal High Court;

(d) the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja;

(e) a High Court of a State

(f) the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory,

Abuja;

(g) a Sharia Court of Appeal of a State;

(h) the Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory,

Abuja;

(i) a Customary Court of Appeal of a State;

(j) such other courts as may be authorised by law to exercise

jurisdiction on matters with respect to which the National Assembly

may make laws; and

(k) such other court as may be authorised by law to exercise

jurisdiction at first instance or on appeal on matters with respect to

which a House of Assembly may make laws.

(6) The judicial powers vested in accordance with the foregoing provisions

of this section -

(a) shall extend, notwithstanding anything to the contrary government

or authority and to any persons in Nigeria, and to all actions and

proceedings relating thereto, for the determination of any question as

to the civil rights and obligations of that persons;

(c) shall not except as otherwise provided by this Constitution,

extend to any issue or question as to whether any act of omission by

any authority or person or as to whether any law or any judicial

decision is in conformity with the Fundamental Objectives and

Directive Principles of State Policy set out in Chapter II of this

Constitution;

(d) shall not, as from date when this section comes into force, extend

to any action or proceedings relating to any existing law made on or

after 15th January, 1966 for determining any issue or question as to

the competence of any authority or person to make any such law.

7. (1) The system of local government by democratically elected local

government councils is under this Constitution guaranteed; and accordingly,

the Government of every State shall, subject to section 8 of this

Constitution, ensure their existence under a Law which provides for the

establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of such

councils.

(2) The person authorised by law to prescribe the area over which a local

government council may exercise authority shall-

(a) define such area as clearly as practicable; and

(b) ensure, to the extent to which it may be reasonably justifiable

that in defining such area regard is paid to -

(i) the common interest of the community in the area;

(ii) traditional association of the community; and

(iii) administrative convenience.

(3) it shall be the duty of a local government council within the State to

participate in economic planning and development of the area referred to

in subsection (2) of this section and to this end an economic planning

board shall be established by a Law enacted by the House of Assembly of

the State.

(4) The Government of a State shall ensure that every persons who is

entitled to vote or be voted for at an election to House of Assembly shall

have the right to vote or be voted for at an election to a local

government council.

(5) The functions to be conferred by Law upon local government council

shall include those set out in the Fourth Schedule to this Constitution.

(6) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution -

(a) the National Assembly shall make provisions for statutory

allocation of public revenue to local government councils in the

Federation; and

(b) the House of Assembly of a State shall make provisions for

statutory allocation of public revenue to local government councils

within the State.

8. (1) An Act of the National Assembly for the purpose of creating a new

State shall only be passed if-

(a) a request, supported by at least two-thirds majority of members

(representing the area demanding the creation of the new State) in

each of the following, namely -

(i) the Senate and the House of Representatives,

(ii) the House of Assembly in respect of the area, and

(iii) the local government councils in respect of the area,

is received by the National Assembly;

(b) a proposal for the creation of the State is thereafter approved in

a referendum by at least two-thirds majority of the people of the area

where the demand for creation of the State originated;

(c) the result of the referendum is then approved by a simple majority

of all the States of the Federation supported by a simple majority of

members of the Houses of Assembly; and

(d) the proposal is approved by a resolution passed by two-thirds

majority of members of each House of the National Assembly.

(2) An Act of the National Assembly for the purpose of boundary adjustment

of any existing State shall only be passed if-

(a) a request for the boundary adjustment, supported by two-thirds

majority of members (representing the area demanding and the area

affected by the boundary adjustment) in each of the following, namely-

(i) the Senate and the House of Representatives,

(ii) the House of Assembly in respect of the area, and

(iii) the local government councils in respect of the area.

is received by the National Assembly; and

(b) a proposal for the boundary adjustment is approved by -

(i) a simple majority of members of each House of the National

Assembly, and

(ii) a simple majority of members of the House of Assembly in

respect of the area concerned.

(3) A bill for a Law of a House of Assembly for the purpose of creating a

new local government area shall only be passed if -

(a) a request supported by at least two-thirds majority of members

(representing the area demanding the creation of the new local

government area) in each of the following, namely -

(i) the House of Assembly in respect of the area, and

(ii) the local government councils in respect of the area,

is received by the House of Assembly;

(b) a proposal for the creation of the local government area is

thereafter approved in a referendum by at least two-thirds majority of

the people of the local government area where the demand for the

proposed local government area originated;

(c) the result of the referendum is then approved by a simple majority

of the members in each local government council in a majority of all

the local government councils in the State; and

(d) the result of the referendum is approved by a resolution passed by

two-thirds majority of members of the House of Assembly.

(4) A bill for a Law of House of Assembly for the purpose of boundary

adjustment of any existing local government area shall only be passed if-

(a) a request for the boundary adjustment is supported by two-thirds

majority of members (representing the area demanding and the area

affected by the boundary adjustment) in each of the following, namely

-

(i) the House of Assembly in respect of the area, and

(ii) the local government council in respect of the area,

is received by the House of Assembly; and

(b) a proposal for the boundary adjustment is approved by a simple

majority of members of the House of Assembly in respect of the area

concerned.

(5) An Act of the National Assembly passed in accordance with this section

shall make consequential provisions with respect to the names and

headquarters of State or Local government areas as provided in section 3

of this Constitution and in Parts I and II of the First Schedule to this

Constitution.

(6) For the purpose of enabling the National Assembly to exercise the

powers conferred upon it by subsection (5) of this section, each House of

Assembly shall, after the creation of more local government areas pursuant

to subsection (3) of this section, make adequate returns to each House of

the National Assembly

9. (1) The National Assembly may, subject to the provision of this section,

alter any of the provisions of this Constitution.

(2) An Act of the National Assembly for the altertion of this

Constitution, not being an Act to which section 8 of this Constitution

applies, shall not be passed in either House of the National Assembly

unless the proposal is supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds

majority of all the members of that House and approved by resolution of

the Houses of Assembly of not less than two-thirds of all the States.

(3) An Act of the National Assembly for the purpose of altering the

provisions of this section, section 8 or Chapter IV of this Constitution

shall not be passed by either House of the National Assembly unless the

proposal is approved by the votes of not less than four-fifths majority of

all the members of each House, and also approved by resolution of the

House of Assembly of not less than two-third of all States.

(4) For the purposes of section 8 of this Constitution and of subsections

(2) and (3) of this section, the number of members of each House of the

National Assembly shall, notwithstanding any vacancy, be deemed to be the

number of members specified in sections 48 and 49 of this Constitution.

10. The Government of the Federation or of a State shall not adopt any

religion as State Religion.

11. (1) The National Assembly may make laws for the Federation or any part

therefore with respect to the maintenance and securing of public safety and

public order and providing, maintaining and securing of such supplies and

service as may be designed by the National Assembly as essential supplies

and services.

(2) Nothing in this section shall preclude a House of Assembly from making

laws with respect to the matter referred to in this section, including the

provision for maintenance and securing of such supplies and services as

may be designated by the National Assembly as essential supplies and

services.

(3) During any period when the Federation is at war the National Assembly

may make such laws for the peace, order and good government of the

Federation or any part therefore with respect to matters not included in

the Exclusive Legislative List as may appear to it to be necessary or

expedient for the defence of the Federation.

(4) At any time when any House of Assembly of a State is unable to perform

its functions by reason of the situation prevailing in that State, the

National Assembly may make such laws for the peace, order and good

government of that State with respect to matters on which a House of

Assembly may make laws as may appear to the National Assembly to be

necessary or expedient until such time as the House of Assembly is able to

resume its functions; and any such laws enacted by the National Assembly

pursuant to this section shall have effect as if they were laws enacted by

the House of Assembly of the State:

Provided that nothing in this section shall be construed as conferring on

the National Assembly power to remove the Governor or the Deputy Governor

of the State from office.

(5) For the purposes of subsection (4) of this section, a House of

Assembly shall not be deemed to be unable to perform its functions so long

as the House of Assembly can hold a meeting and transact business.

12. (1) No treaty between the Federation and any other country shall have

the force of law to the extent to which any such treaty has been enacted

into law by the National Assembly.

(2) The National Assembly may make laws for the Federation or any part

thereof with respect to matters not included in the he Exclusive

Legislative List for the purpose of implementing a treaty.

(3) A bill for an Act of the National Assembly passed pursuant to the

provisions of subsection (2) of this section shall not be presented to the

President for assent, and shall not be enacted unless it is ratified by a

majority of all the House of Assembly in the Federation.

Back to Page One

Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy

13. It shall be the duty and responsibility of all organs of government, and

of all authorities and persons, exercising legislative, executive or

judicial powers, to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of this

Chapter of this Constitution.

14. (1) The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a State based on the

principles of democracy and social justice.

(2) It is hereby, accordingly, declared that:

(a) sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government

through this Constitution derives all its powers and authority;

(b) the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary

purpose of government: and

(c) the participation by the people in their government shall be

ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.

(3) The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its

agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a

manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to

promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby

ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few State

or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in

any of its agencies.

(4) The composition of the Government of a State, a local government

council, or any of the agencies of such Government or council, and the

conduct of the affairs of the Government or council or such agencies shall

be carried out in such manner as to recognise the diversity of the people

within its area of authority and the need to promote a sense of belonging

and loyalty among all the people of the Federation.

15. (1) The motto of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be Unity and

Faith, Peace and Progress.

(2) Accordingly, national integration shall be actively encouraged, whilst

discrimination on the grounds of place of origin, sex, religion, status,

ethnic or linguistic association or ties shall be prohibited.

(3) For the purpose of promoting national integration, it shall be the

duty of the State to:

(a) provide adequate facilities for and encourage free mobility of

people, goods and services throughtout the Federation.

(b) secure full residence rights for every citizen in all parts of the

Federation.

(c) encourage inter-marriage among persons from different places of

origin, or of different religious, ethnic or linguistic association or

ties; and

(d) promote or encourage the formation of associations that cut across

ethnic, linguistic, religious and or other sectional barriers.

(4) The State shall foster a feeling of belonging and of involvement among

the various people of the Federation, to the end that loyalty to the

nation shall override sectional loyalties.

(5) The State shall abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.

16. (1) The State shall, within the context of the ideals and objectives for

which provisions are made in this Constitution.

(a) harness the resources of the nation and promote national

prosperity and an efficient, a dynamic and self-reliant economy;

(b) control the national economy in such manner as to secure the

maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen on the basis

of social justice and equality of status and opportunity;

(c) without prejudice to its right to operate or participate in areas

of the economy, other than the major sectors of the economy, manage

and operate the major sectors of the economy;

(d) without prejudice to the right of any person to participate in

areas of the economy within the major sector of the economy, protect

the right of every citizen to engage in any economic activities

outside the major sectors of the economy.

(2) The State shall direct its policy towards ensuring:

(a) the promotion of a planned and balanced economic development;

(b) that the material resources of the nation are harnessed and

distributed as best as possible to serve the common good;

(c) that the economic system is not operated in such a manner as to

permit the concentration of wealth or the means of production and

exchange in the hands of few individuals or of a group; and

(d) that suitable and adequate shelter, suitable and adequate food,

reasonable national minimum living wage, old age care and pensions,

and unemployment, sick benefits and welfare of the disabled are

provided for all citizens.

(3) A body shall be set up by an Act of the National Assembly which shall

have power;

(a) to review, from time to time, the ownership and control of

business enterprises operating in Nigeria and make recommendations to

the President on same; and

(b) to administer any law for the regulation of the ownership and

control of such enterprises.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section -

(a) the reference to the "major sectors of the economy" shall be

construed as a reference to such economic activities as may, from time

to time, be declared by a resolution of each House of the National

Assembly to be managed and operated exclusively by the Government of

the Federation, and until a resolution to the contrary is made by the

National Assembly, economic activities being operated exclusively by

the Government of the Federation on the date immediately preceding the

day when this section comes into force, whether directly or through

the agencies of a statutory or other corporation or company, shall be

deemed to be major sectors of the economy;

(b) "economic activities" includes activities directly concerned with

the production, distribution and exchange of weather or of goods and

services; and

(c) "participate" includes the rendering of services and supplying of

goods.

17. (1) The State social order is founded on ideals of Freedom, Equality and

Justice.

(2) In furtherance of the social order-

(a) every citizen shall have equality of rights, obligations and

opportunities before the law;

(b) the sanctity of the human person shall be recognised and human

dignity shall be maintained and enhanced;

(c) governmental actions shall be humane;

(d) exploitation of human or natural resources in any form whatsoever

for reasons, other than the good of the community, shall be prevented;

and

(e) the independence, impartiality and integrity of courts of law, and

easy accessibility thereto shall be secured and maintained.

(3) The State shall direct its policy towards ensuring that-

(a) all citizens, without discrimination on any group whatsoever, have

the opportunity for securing adequate means of livelihood as well as

adequate opportunity to secure suitable employment;

(b) conditions of work are just and humane, and that there are

adequate facilities for leisure and for social, religious and cultural

life;

(c) the health, safety and welfare of all persons in employment are

safeguarded and not endangered or abused;

(d) there are adequate medical and health facilities for all persons:

(e) there is equal pay for equal work without discrimination on

account of sex, or on any other ground whatsoever;

(f) children, young persons and the age are protected against any

exploitation whatsoever, and against moral and material neglect;

(g) provision is made for public assistance in deserving cases or

other conditions of need; and

(h) the evolution and promotion of family life is encouraged.

18. (1) Government shall direct its policy towards ensuring that there are

equal and adequate educational opportunities at all levels.

(2) Government shall promote science and technology

(3) Government shall strive to eradicate illiteracy; and to this end

Government shall as and when practicable provide

(a) free, compulsory and universal primary education;

(b) free secondary education;

(c) free university education; and

(d) free adult literacy programme.

19. The foreign policy objectives shall be -

(a) promotion and protection of the national interest;

(b) promotion of African integration and support for African unity;

(c) promotion of international co-operation for the consolidation of

universal peace and mutual respect among all nations and elimination

of discrimination in all its manifestations;

(d) respect for international law and treaty obligations as well as

the seeking of settlement of international disputes by negotiation,

mediation, conciliation, arbitration and adjudication; and

(e) promotion of a just world economic order.

20. The State shall protect and improve the environment and safeguard the

water, air and land, forest and wild life of Nigeria.

21. The State shall -

(a) protect, preserve and promote the Nigerian cultures which enhance

human dignity and are consistent with the fundamental objectives as

provided in this Chapter; and

(b) encourage development of technological and scientific studies

which enhance cultural values.

22. The press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall

at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this

Chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government

to the people.

23. The national ethics shall be Discipline, Integrity, Dignity of Labour,

Social, Justice, Religious Tolerance, Self-reliance and Patriotism.

24. It shall be the duty of every citizen to -

(a) abide by this Constitution, respect its ideals and its

institutions, the National Flag, the National Anthem, the National

Pledge, and legitimate authorities;

(b) help to enhance the power, prestige and good name of Nigeria,

defend Nigeria and render such national service as may be required;

(c) respect the dignity of other citizens and the rights and

legitimate interests of others and live in unity and harmony and in

the spirit of common brotherhood;

(d) make positive and useful contribution to the advancement, progress

and well-being of the community where he resides;

(e) render assistance to appropriate and lawful agencies in the

maintenance of law and order; and

(f) declare his income honestly to appropriate and lawful agencies and

pay his tax promptly.

Back to Page One

Chapter III

Citizenship

25. (1) The following persons are citizens of Nigeria by birth-namely-

(a) every person born in Nigeria before the date of independence,

either of whose parents or any of whose grandparents belongs or

belonged to a community indigenous to Nigeria;

Provided that a person shall not become a citizen of Nigeria by virtue

of this section if neither of his parents nor any of his grandparents

was born in Nigeria.

(b) every person born in Nigeria after the date of independence either

of whose parents or any of whose grandparents is a citizen of Nigeria;

and

(c) every person born outside Nigeria either of whose parents is a

citizen of Nigeria.

(2) In this section, "the date of independence" means the 1st day of

October 1960.

26. (1) Subject to the provisions of section 28 of this Constitution, a

person to whom the provisions of this section apply may be registered as a

citizen of Nigeria, if the President is satisfied that -

(a) he is a person of good character;

(b) he has shown a clear intention of his desire to be domiciled in

Nigeria; and

(c) he has taken the Oath of Allegiance prescribed in the Seventh

Schedule to this Constitution.

(2) the provisions of this section shall apply to-

(a) any woman who is or has been married to a citizen of Nigeria; or

(b) every person of full age and capacity born outside Nigeria any of

whose grandparents is a citizen of Nigeria.

27. (1) Subject to the provisions of section 28 of this Constitution, any

person who is qualified in accordance with the provisions of this section

may apply to the President for the same of a certificate of naturalisation.

(2) No person shall be qualified to apply for the grant of a certificate

or naturalisation, unless he satisfies the President that -

(a) he is a person of full age and capacity;

(b) he is a person of good character;

(c) he has shown a clear intention of his desire to be domiciled in

Nigeria;

(d) he is, in the opinion of the Governor of the State where he is or

he proposes to be resident, acceptable to the local community in which

he is to live permanently, and has been assimilated into the way of

life of Nigerians in that part of the Federation;

(e) he is a person who has made or is capable of making useful

contribution to the advancement; progress and well-being of Nigeria;

(f) he has taken the Oath of Allegiance prescribed in the Seventh

Schedule to this Constitution; and

(g) he has, immediately preceding the date of his application, either-

(i) resided in Nigeria for a continuous period of fifteen years; or

(ii) resided in Nigeria continuously for a period of twelve months,

and during the period of twenty years immediately preceding that

period of twelve months has resided in Nigeria for periods amounting

in the aggregate to not less than fifteen years.

28. (1) Subject to the other provisions of this section, a person shall

forfeit forthwith his Nigerian citizenship if, not being a citizen of

Nigeria by birth, he acquires or retains the citizenship or nationality of a

country, other than Nigeria, of which he is not a citizen by birth.

(2) Any registration of a person as a citizen of Nigeria or the grant of a

certificate of naturalisation to a person who is a citizen of a country

other than Nigeria at the time of such registration or grant shall, if he

is not a citizen by birth of that other country, be conditional upon

effective renunciation of the citizenship or nationality of that other

country within a period of not more than five months from the date of such

registration or grant.

29. (1) Any citizen of Nigeria of full age who wishes to renounce his

Nigerian citizenship shall make a declaration in the prescribed manner for

the renunciation.

(2) The President shall cause the declaration made under subsection (1) of

this section to be registered and upon such registration, the person who

made the declaration shall cease to be a citizen of Nigeria.

(3) The President may withhold the registration of any declaration made

under subsection (1) of this section if-

(a) the declaration is made during any war in which Nigeria is

physically involved; or

(b) in his opinion, it is otherwise contrary to public policy.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section.

(a) "full age" means the age of eighteen years and above;

(b) any woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age.

30. (1) The President may deprive a person, other than a person who is a

citizen of Nigeria by birth or by registration, of his citizenship, if he is

satisfied that such a person has, within a period of seven years after

becoming naturalised, been sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not less

than three years.

(2) The President shall deprive a person, other than a person who is

citizen of Nigeria by birth, of his citizenship, if he is satisfied from

the records of proceedings of a court of law or other tribunal or after

due inquiry in accordance with regulations made by him, that -

(a) the person has shown himself by act or speech to be disloyal

towards the Federal Republic of Nigeria; or

(b) the person has, during any war in which Nigeria was engaged,

unlawfully traded with the enemy or been engaged in or associated with

any business that was in the opinion of the president carried on in

such a manner as to assist the enemy of Nigeria in that war, or

unlawfully communicated with such enemy to the detriment of or with

intent to cause damage to the interest of Nigeria.

31. For the purposes of this Chapter, a parent or grandparent of a person

shall be deemed to be a citizen of Nigeria if at the time of the birth of

that person such parent or grandparent would have possessed that status by

birth if he had been alive on the date of independence; and in this section,

"the date of independence" has the meaning assigned to it in section 25 (2)

of this Constitution.

32. (1) The president may make regulations, not inconsistent with this

Chapter, prescribing all matters which are required or permitted to be

prescribed or which are necessary or convenient to be prescribed for

carrying out or giving effect to the provisions of this Chapter, and for

granting special immigrant status with full residential rights to

non-Nigerian spouses of citizens of Nigeria who do not wish to acquire

Nigerian citizenship.

(2) Any regulations made by the president pursuant to the provisions of

this section shall be laid before the National Assembly.

33. (1) Every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived

intentionally of his life, save in execution of the sentence of a court in

respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria.

(2) A person shall not be regarded as having been deprived of his life in

contravention of this section, if he dies as a result of the use, to such

extent and in such circumstances as are permitted by law, of such force as

is reasonably necessary -

(a) for the defence of any person from unlawful violence or for the

defence of property:

(b) in order to effect a lawful arrest or to prevent the escape of a

person lawfully detained; or

(c) for the purpose of suppressing a riot, insurrection or mutiny.

34. (1) Every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his

person, and accordingly -

(a) no person shall be subject to torture or to inhuman or degrading

treatment;

(b) no person shall he held in slavery or servitude; and

(c) no person shall be required to perform forced of compulsory

labour.

(2) for the purposes of subsection (1) (c) of this section, "forced or

compulsory labour" does not include -

(a) any labour required in consequence of the sentence or order of a

court;

(b) any labour required of members of the armed forces of the

Federation or the Nigeria Police Force in pursuance of their duties as

such;

(c) in the case of persons who have conscientious objections to

service in the armed forces of the Federation, any labour required

instead of such service;

(d) any labour required which is reasonably necessary in the event of

any emergency or calamity threatening the life or well-being of the

community; or

(e) any labour or service that forms part of -

(i) normal communal or other civic obligations of the well-being of

the community.

(ii) such compulsory national service in the armed forces of the

Federation as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly,

or

(iii) such compulsory national service which forms part of the

education and training of citizens of Nigeria as may be prescribed

by an Act of the National Assembly.

35. (1) Every person shall be entitled to his personal liberty and no person

shall be deprived of such liberty save in the following cases and in

accordance with a procedure permitted by law -

(a) in execution of the sentence or order of a court in respect of a

criminal offence of which he has been found guilty;

(b) by reason of his failure to comply with the order of a court or in

order to secure the fulfilment of any obligation imposed upon him by

law;

(c) for the purpose of bringing him before a court in execution of the

order of a court or upon reasonable suspicion of his having committed

a criminal offence, or to such extent as may be reasonably necessary

to prevent his committing a criminal offence;

(d) in the case of a person who has not attained the age of eighteen

years for the purpose of his education or welfare;

(e) in the case of persons suffering from infectious or contagious

disease, persons of unsound mind, persons addicted to drugs or alcohol

or vagrants, for the purpose of their care or treatment or the

protection of the community; or

(f) for the purpose of preventing the unlawful entry of any person

into Nigeria or of effecting the expulsion, extradition or other

lawful removal from Nigeria of any person or the taking of proceedings

relating thereto:

Provided that a person who is charged with an offence and who has been

detained in lawful custody awaiting trial shall not continue to be

kept in such detention for a period longer than the maximum period of

imprisonment prescribed for the offence.

(2) Any person who is arrested or detained shall have the right to remain

silent or avoid answering any question until after consultation with a

legal practitioner or any other person of his own choice.

(3) Any person who is arrested or detained shall be informed in writing

within twenty-four hours (and in a language that he understands) of the

facts and grounds for his arrest or detention.

(4) Any person who is arrested or detained in accordance with subsection

(1) (c) of this section shall be brought before a court of law within a

reasonable time, and if he is not tried within a period of -

(a) two months from the date of his arrest or detention in the case of

a person who is in custody or is not entitled to bail; or

(b) three months from the date of his arrest or detention in the case

of a person who has been released on bail, he shall (without prejudice

to any further proceedings that may be brought against him) be

released either unconditionally or upon such conditions as are

reasonably necessary to ensure that he appears for trial at a later

date.

(5) In subsection (4) of this section, the expression "a reasonable time"

means -

(a) in the case of an arrest or detention in any place where there is

a court of competent jurisdiction within a radius of forty kilometres,

a period of one day; and

(b) in any other case, a period of two days or such longer period as

in the circumstances may be considered by the court to be reasonable.

(6) Any person who is unlawfully arrested or detained shall be entitled to

compensation and public apology from the appropriate authority or person;

and in this subsection, "the appropriate authority or person" means an

authority or person specified by law.

(7) Nothing in this section shall be construed -

(a) in relation to subsection (4) of this section, as applying in the

case of a person arrested or detained upon reasonable suspicion of

having committed a capital offence; and

(b) as invalidating any law by reason only that it authorises the

detention for a period not exceeding three months of a member of the

armed forces of the federation or a member of the Nigeria Police Force

in execution of a sentence imposed by an officer of the armed forces

of the Federation or of the Nigeria police force, in respect of an

offence punishable by such detention of which he has been found

guilty.

36. (1) In the determination of his civil rights and obligations, including

any question or determination by or against any government or authority, a

person shall be entitled to a fair hearing within a reasonable time by a

court or other tribunal established by law and constituted in such manner as

to secure its independence and impartiality.

(2) Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions of this section, a law

shall not be invalidated by reason only that it confers on any government

or authority power to determine questions arising in the administration of

a law that affects or may affect the civil rights and obligations of any

person if such law -

(a) provides for an opportunity for the persons whose rights and

obligations may be affected to make representations to the

administering authority before that authority makes the decision

affecting that person; and

(b) contains no provision making the determination of the

administering authority final and conclusive.

(3) The proceedings of a court or the proceedings of any tribunal relating

to the matters mentioned in subsection (1) of this section (including the

announcement of the decisions of the court or tribunal) shall be held in

public.

(4) Whenever any person is charged with a criminal offence, he shall,

unless the charge is withdrawn, be entitled to a fair hearing in public

within a reasonable time by a court or tribunal:

Provided that -

(a) a court or such a tribunal may exclude from its proceedings

persons other than the parties thereto or their legal practitioners in

the interest of defence, public safety, public order, public morality,

the welfare of persons who have not attained the age of eighteen

years, the protection of the private lives of the parties or to such

extent as it may consider necessary by reason of special circumstances

in which publicity would be contrary to the interests of justice;

(b) if in any proceedings before a court or such a tribunal, a

Minister of the Government of the Federation or a commissioner of the

government of a State satisfies the court or tribunal that it would

not be in the public interest for any matter to be publicly disclosed,

the court or tribunal shall make arrangements for evidence relating to

that matter to be heard in private and shall take such other action as

may be necessary or expedient to prevent the disclosure of the matter.

(5) Every person who is charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed

to be innocent until he is proved guilty;

Provided that nothing in this section shall invalidate any law by reason

only that the law imposes upon any such person the burden of proving

particular facts.

(6) Every person who is charged with a criminal offence shall be entitled

to -

(a) be informed promptly in the language that he understands and in

detail of the nature of the offence;

(b) be given adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his

defence;

(c) defend himself in person or by legal practitioners of his own

choice;

(d) examine, in person or by his legal practitioners, the witnesses

called by the prosecution before any court or tribunal and obtain the

attendance and carry out the examination of witnesses to testify on

his behalf before the court or tribunal on the same conditions as

those applying to the witnesses called by the prosecution; and

(e) have, without payment, the assistance of an interpreter if he

cannot understand the language used at the trial of the offence.

(7) When any person is tried for any criminal offence, the court or

tribunal shall keep a record of the proceedings and the accused person or

any persons authorised by him in that behalf shall be entitled to obtain

copies of the judgement in the case within seven days of the conclusion of

the case.

(8) No person shall be held to be guilty of a criminal offence on account

of any act or omission that did not, at the time it took place, constitute

such an offence, and no penalty shall be imposed for any criminal offence

heavier than the penalty in force at the time the offence was committed

(9) No person who shows that he has been tried by any court of competent

jurisdiction or tribunal for a criminal offence and either convicted or

acquitted shall again be tried for that offence or for a criminal offence

having the same ingredients as that offence save upon the order of a

superior court.

(10) No person who shows that he has been pardoned for a criminal offence

shall again be tried for that offence.

(11) No person who is tried for a criminal offence shall be compelled to

give evidence at the trial.

(12) Subject as otherwise provided by this Constitution, a person shall

not be convicted of a criminal offence unless that offence is defined and

the penalty therefor is prescribed in a written law, and in this

subsection, a written law refers to an Act of the National Assembly or a

Law of a State, any subsidiary legislation or instrument under the

provisions of a law.

37. The privacy of citizens, their homes, correspondence, telephone

conversations and telegraphic communications is hereby guaranteed and

protected.

38. (1) Every person shall be entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and

religion, including freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom

(either alone or in community with others, and in public or in private) to

manifest and propagate his religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice

and observance.

(2) No person attending any place of education shall be required to

receive religious instruction or to take part in or attend any religious

ceremony or observance if such instruction ceremony or observance relates

to a religion other than his own, or religion not approved by his parent

or guardian.

(3) No religious community or denomination shall be prevented from

providing religious instruction for pupils of that community or

denomination in any place of education maintained wholly by that community

or denomination.

(4) Nothing in this section shall entitle any person to form, take part in

the activity or be a member of a secret society.

39. (1) Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including

freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information

without interference.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) of this section,

every person shall be entitled to own, establish and operate any medium

for the dissemination of information, ideas and opinions:

Provided that no person, other than the Government of the Federation or of

a State or any other person or body authorised by the President on the

fulfilment of conditions laid down by an Act of the National Assembly,

shall own, establish or operate a television or wireless broadcasting

station for, any purpose whatsoever.

(3) Nothing in this section shall invalidate any law that is reasonably

justifiable in a democratic society -

(a) for the purpose of preventing the disclosure. of information

received in confidence, maintaining the authority and independence of

courts or regulating telephony, wireless broadcasting, television or

the exhibition of cinematograph films; or

(b) imposing restrictions upon persons holding office under the

Government of the Federation or of a State, members of the armed

forces of the Federation or members of the Nigeria Police Force or

other Government security services or agencies established by law.

40. Every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with

other persons, and in particular he may form or belong to any political

party, trade union or any other association for the protection of his

interests:

Provided that the provisions of this section shall not derogate from the

powers conferred by this Constitution on the Independent National Electoral

Commission with respect to political parties to which that Commission does

not accord recognition.

41. (1) Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout

Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall

be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereby or exit therefrom.

(2) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section shall invalidate any law

that is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society-

(a) imposing restrictions on the residence or movement of any person

who has committed or is reasonably suspected to have committed a

criminal offence in order to prevent him from leaving Nigeria; or

(b) providing for the removal of any person from Nigeria to any other

country to:-

(i) be tried outside Nigeria for any criminal offence, or

(ii) undergo imprisonment outside Nigeria in execution of the sentence

of a court of law in respect of a criminal offence of which he has

been found guilty:

Provided that there is reciprocal agreement between Nigeria and such

other country in relation to such matter.

42. (1) A citizen of Nigeria of a particular community, ethnic group, place

of origin, sex, religion or political opinion shall not, by reason only that

he is such a person:-

(a) be subjected either expressly by, or in the practical application

of, any law in force in Nigeria or any executive or administrative

action of the government, to disabilities or restrictions to which

citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of

origin, sex, religions or political opinions are not made subject; or

(b) be accorded either expressly by, or in the practical application

of, any law in force in Nigeria or any such executive or

administrative action, any privilege or advantage that is not accorded

to citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of

origin, sex, religions or political opinions.

(2) No citizen of Nigeria shall be subjected to any disability or

deprivation merely by reason of the circumstances of his birth.

(3) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section shall invalidate any law by

reason only that the law imposes restrictions with respect to the

appointment of any person to any office under the State or as a member of

the armed forces of the Federation or member of the Nigeria Police Forces

or to an office in the service of a body, corporate established directly

by any law in force in Nigeria.

43. Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, every citizen of Nigeria

shall have the right to acquire and own immovable property anywhere in

Nigeria.

44. (1) No moveable property or any interest in an immovable property shall

be taken possession of compulsorily and no right over or interest in any

such property shall be acquired compulsorily in any part of Nigeria except

in the manner and for the purposes prescribed by a law that, among other

things -

(a) requires the prompt payment of compensation therefore and

(b) gives to any person claiming such compensation a right of access

for the determination of his interest in the property and the amount

of compensation to a court of law or tribunal or body having

jurisdiction in that part of Nigeria.

(2) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section shall be construed as

affecting any general law.

(a) for the imposition or enforcement of any tax, rate or duty;

(b) for the imposition of penalties or forfeiture for breach of any

law, whether under civil process or after conviction for an offence;

(c) relating to leases, tenancies, mortgages, charges, bills of sale

or any other rights or obligations arising out of contracts.

(d) relating to the vesting and administration of property of persons

adjudged or otherwise declared bankrupt or insolvent, of persons of

unsound mind or deceased persons, and of corporate or unincorporate

bodies in the course of being wound-up;

(e) relating to the execution of judgements or orders of court;

(f) providing for the taking of possession of property that is in a

dangerous state or is injurious to the health of human beings, plants

or animals;

(g) relating to enemy property;

(h) relating to trusts and trustees;

(i) relating to limitation of actions;

(j) relating to property vested in bodies corporate directly

established by any law in force in Nigeria;

(k) relating to the temporary taking of possession of property for the

purpose of any examination, investigation or enquiry;

(l) providing for the carrying out of work on land for the purpose of

soil-conservation; or

(m) subject to prompt payment of compensation for damage to buildings,

economic trees or crops, providing for any authority or person to

enter, survey or dig any land, or to lay, install or erect poles,

cables, wires, pipes, or other conductors or structures on any land,

in order to provide or maintain the supply or distribution of energy,

fuel, water, sewage, telecommunication services or other public

facilities or public utilities.

(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, the entire

property in and control of all minerals, mineral oils and natural gas in

under or upon any land in Nigeria or in, under or upon the territorial

waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone of Nigeria shall vest in the

Government of the Federation and shall be managed in such manner as may be

prescribed by the National Assembly.

45. (1) Nothing in sections 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41 of this Constitution shall

invalidate any law that is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society

(a) in the interest of defence, public safety, public order, public

morality or public health; or

(b) for the purpose of protecting the rights and freedom or other

persons

(2) An act of the National Assembly shall not be invalidated by reason

only that it provides for the taking, during periods of emergency, of

measures that derogate from the provisions of section 33 or 35 of this

Constitution; but no such measures shall be taken in pursuance of any such

act during any period of emergency save to the extent that those measures

are reasonably justifiable for the purpose of dealing with the situation

that exists during that period of emergency:

Provided that nothing in this section shall authorise any derogation from

the provisions of section 33 of this Constitution, except in respect of

death resulting from acts of war or authorise any derogation from the

provisions of section 36(8) of this Constitution.

(3) In this section, a " period of emergency" means any period during

which there is in force a Proclamation of a state of emergency declared by

the President in exercise of the powers conferred on him under section 305

of this Constitution.

46. (1) Any person who alleges that any of the provisions of this Chapter

has been, is being or likely to be contravened in any State in relation to

him may apply to a High Court in that State for redress.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, a High Court shall

have original jurisdiction to hear and determine any application made to

it in pursuance of this section and may make such orders, issue such writs

and give such directions as it may consider appropriate for the purpose of

enforcement or securing the enforcing within that State of any right to

which the person who makes the application may be entitled under this

Chapter.

(3) The Chief Justice of Nigeria may make rules with respect to the

practice and procedure of a High Court for the purposes of this section.

(4) The National Assembly -

(a) may confer upon a High Court such powers in addition to those

conferred by this section as may appear to the National Assembly to be

necessary or desirable for the purpose of enabling the court more

effectively to exercise the jurisdiction conferred upon it by this

section; and

(b) shall make provisions-

(i) for the rendering of financial assistance to any indigent citizen

of Nigeria where his right under this Chapter has been infringed or

with a view to enabling him to engage the services of a legal

practitioner to prosecute his claim, and

(ii) for ensuring that allegations of infringement of such rights are

substantial and the requirement or need for financial or legal aid is

real.

47. There shall be a National Assembly for the Federation which shall

consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives.

48. The Senate shall consist of three Senators from each State and one from

the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

49. Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the House of

Representatives shall consist of three hundred and sixty members

representing constituencies of nearly equal population as far as possible,

provided that no constituency shall fall within more than one State.

50. (1) There shall be:-

(a) a President and a Deputy President of the Senate, who shall be

elected by the members of that House from among themselves; and

(b) a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives,

who shall be elected by the members of that House from among

themselves.

(2) The President or Deputy President of the Senate or the Speaker or

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives shall vacate his office -

(a) if he ceases to be a member of the Senate or of the House of

Representatives, as the case may be, otherwise than by reason of a

dissolution of the Senate or the House of Representatives; or

(b) when the House of which he was a member first sits after any

dissolution of that House; or

(c) if he is removed from office by a resolution of the Senate or of

the House of Representatives, as the case may be, by the votes of not

less than two-thirds majority of the members of that House.

51. There shall be a Clerk to the National Assembly and such other staff as

may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly, and the method of

appointment of the Clerk and other staff of the National Assembly shall be

as prescribed by that tab

B - Procedure for Summoning and Dissolution of National Assembly

52. (1) Every member of the Senate or the House of Representatives shall,

before taking his seat, declare his assets and liabilities as prescribed in

this Constitution and subsequently take and subscribe the Oath of Allegiance

and the oath of membership as prescribed in the Seventh Schedule to this

Constitution before the President of the Senate or, as the case may be, the

Speaker of the House of Representatives, but a member may before taking the

oaths take part in the election of a President and a Deputy President of the

Senate, as the case may be, or a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker of the House

of Representatives.

(2) The President and Deputy President of the Senate and the Speaker and

the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representative s shall declare their

assets and liabilities as prescribed in this Constitution and subsequently

take and subscribe the Oath of Allegiance and the oath of membership

prescribed as aforesaid before the Clerk of the National Assembly.

53. (1) At any sitting of the National Assembly -

(a) in the case of the Senate, the President of the Senate shall

preside, and in his absence the Deputy President shall preside; and

(b) in the case of the House of Representatives, the Speaker of that

House shall preside, and in his absence the Deputy Speaker shall

preside.

(2) At any joint sitting of the Senate and House of Representatives -

(a) the President of Senate shall preside, and in his absence the

Speaker of the House of Representatives shall preside; and

(b) in the absence of the persons mentioned in paragraph (a) of this

subsection, the Deputy President of the Senate shall preside, and in

his absence the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives shall

preside.

(3) In the absence of the persons mentioned in the foregoing provisions of

this section, such member of the Senate or the House of Representatives or

of the joint sitting, as the case may be, as the Senate or the House of

Representatives or the joint sitting may elect for that purpose shall

preside.

54. (1) The quorum of the Senate or of the House of Representatives shall be

one-third of all the members on of the Legislative House concerned.

(2) The quorum of a joint sitting of both the Senate or of the House of

Representatives shall be one-third of all the members of both Houses.

(3) If objection is taken by any member of the Senate or the House of

Representatives present that there are present in the House of which he is

a member (besides the person presiding fewer than one-third of all the

members of that House and that it is not competent for the House to

transact business, and after such interval as may be prescribed in the

rules of procedure of the House, the person presiding ascertains that the

number of members present is still less than one-third of all the members

of the House he shall adjourn the House.

(4) The foregoing provisions of this section shall apply in relation to a

joint sitting of both Houses of the National Assembly as they apply in

relation to a House of the National Assembly as if references to the

Senate or the House of Representatives and a member of either Houses are

references to both Houses and to any member of the National Assembly,

respectively.

55. The business of the National Assembly shall be conducted in English, and

in Hausa, Ibo and Yoruba when adequate arrangements have been made therefor.

56. (1) Except as otherwise provided by this Constitution any question

proposed for decision in the Senate or the House of Representatives shall be

determined by the required majority or the members present and voting; and

the person presiding shall cast a vote whenever necessary y to avoid an

equality of votes but shall not vote in any other case.

(2) Except as otherwise provided by this Constitution, the required

majority for the purpose of determining any question shall be a simple

majority.

(3) The Senate or the House of Representatives shall by its rules provide

-

(a) that a member of the House shall declare any direct pecuniary

interest he may have in any matter coming before the House for

deliberation;

(b) that the House may by resolution decide whether or not such member

may vote, or participate in its deliberations, on such matter;

(c) the penalty, if any, which the House may impose for failure to

declare any direct pecuniary interest such member may have; and`

(d) for such other matters pertaining to the foregoing as the House

may think necessary,

but nothing in the foregoing provisions shall enable any rules to be

made to require any member, who signifies his intention not to vote on

or participate in such matter, and who does not so vote or

participate, to declare any such interest.

57. Any person who sits or votes in the Senate or the House of

Representatives knowing or having reasonable grounds for knowing that he is

not entitled to do so commits an offence and is liable on conviction to such

punishment as shall be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.

58. (1) The power of the National Assembly to make laws shall be exercised

by bills passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives and,

except as otherwise provided by subsection (5) of this section, assented to

by the President.

(2) A bill may originate in either the Senate or the House of

Representatives and shall not become law unless it has been passed and,

except as otherwise provided by this section and section 59 of this

Constitution, assented to in accordance with the provisions of this

section.

(3) Where a bill has been passed by the House in which it originated, it

shall be sent to the other House, and it shall be presented to the

President for assent when it has been passed by that other House and

agreement has been reached between the two Houses on any amendment made on

it.

(4) Where a bill is presented to the President for assent, he shall within

thirty days thereof signify that he assents or that he withholds assent.

(5) Where the President withholds his assent and the bill is again passed

by each House by two-thirds majority, the bill shall become law and the

assent of the President shall not be required.

59. (1) The provisions of this section shall apply to:

(a) an appropriation bill or a supplementary appropriation bill,

including any other bill for the payment, issue or withdrawal from the

Consolidated Revenue Fund or any other public fund of the Federation

of any money charged thereon or any alteration in the amount of such a

payment, issue or withdrawal; and

(b) a bill for the imposition of or increase in any tax, duty or fee

or any reduction, withdrawal or cancellation thereof.

(2) Where a bill to which this section applies is passed by one of the

Houses of the National Assembly but is not passed by the other House

within a period of two months from the commencement of a financial year,

the President of the Senate shall within fourteen days thereafter arrange

for and convene a meeting of the joint finance committee to examine the

bill with a view to resolving the differences between the two Houses.

(3) Where the joint finance committee fails to resolve such differences,

then the bill shall be presented to the National Assembly sitting at a

joint meeting, and if the bill is passed at such joint meeting, it shall

be presented to the President for assent.

(4) Where the President, within thirty days after the presentation of the

bill to him, fails to signify his assent or where he withholds assent,

then the bill shall again be presented to the National Assembly sitting at

a joint meeting, and if passed by two-thirds majority of members of both

houses at such joint meeting, the bill shall become law and the assent of

the President shall not be required.

(5) In this section, "joint finance committee" refers to the joint

committee of the National Assembly on finance established pursuant to

section 62(3) of this Constitution.

60. Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Senate or the House

of Representatives shall have power to regulate its own procedure, including

the procedure for summoning and recess of the House.

61. The Senate or the House of Representatives may act notwithstanding any

vacancy in its membership, and the presence or participation of any person

not entitled to be present at or to participate in the proceedings of the

House shall not invalidate those proceedings.

62. (1) The Senate or the House of Representatives may appoint a committee

of its members for such special or general purpose as in its opinion would

be better regulated and managed by means of such a committee, and may by

resolution, regulation or otherwise, as it thinks fit, delegate any

functions exercisable by it to any such committee.

(2) The number of members of a committee appointed under this section,

their terms of office and quorum shall be fixed by the House appointing

it.

(3) The Senate and the House of Representatives shall appoint a joint

committee on finance consisting of an equal number of persons appointed by

each House and may appoint any other joint committee under the provisions

of this section.

(4) Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorising such House

to delegate to a committee the power to decide whether a bill shall be

passed into law or to determine any matter which it is empowered to

determine by resolution under the provisions of this Constitution, but the

committee may be authorised to make recommendations to the House on any

such matter.

63. The Senate and the House of Representatives shall each sit for a period

of not less than one hundred and eighty-one days in a year.

64. (1) The Senate and the House of Representatives shall each stand

dissolved at the expiration of a period of four years commencing from the

date of the first sitting of the House.

(2) If the Federation is at war in which the territory of Nigeria is

physically involved and the President considers that it is not practicable

to hold elections, the National Assembly may by resolution extend the

period of four years mentioned in subsection (1) of this section from time

to time but not beyond a period of six months at any one time.

(3) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the person elected as

the President shall have power to issue a proclamation for the holding of

the first session of the National Assembly immediately after his being

sworn in, or for its dissolution as provided in this section.

65. (1) Subject to the provisions of section 66 of this Constitution, a

person shall be qualified for election as a member of:

(a) the Senate, if he is a citizen of Nigeria and has attained the age

of 35 years; and

(b) the House of Representatives, if he is a citizen of Nigeria and

has attained the age of 30 years;

(2) A person shall be qualified for election under subsection (1) of this

section if:

(a) he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or

its equivalent; and

(b) he is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that

party.

66. (1) No person shall be qualified for election to the Senate or the House

of Representatives if:

(a) subject to the provisions of section 28 of this Constitution, he

has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a country other than

Nigeria or, except in such cases as may be prescribed by the National

Assembly, has made a declaration of allegiance to such a country;

(b) under any law in force in any part of Nigeria, he is adjudged to

be a lunatic or otherwise declared to be of unsound mind;

(c) he is under a sentence of death imposed on him by any competent

court of law or tribunal in Nigeria or a sentence of imprisonment or

fine for an offence involving dishonesty or fraud (by whatever name

called) or any other offence imposed on him by such a court or

tribunal or substituted by a competent authority for any other

sentence imposed on him by such a court;

(d) within a period of less than 10 years before the date of an

election to a legislative house, he has been convicted and sentenced

for an offence involving dishonesty or he has been found guilty of a

contravention of the Code of Conduct;

(e) he is an undischarged bankrupt, having been adjudged or otherwise

declared bankrupt under any law in force in any part of Nigeria;

(f) he is a person employed in the public service of the Federation or

of any State and has not resigned, withdrawn or retired from such

employment 30 days before the date of election;

(g) he is a member of a secret society;

(h) he has been indicted for embezzlement or fraud by Judicial

Commission of Inquiry or an Administrative Panel of Inquiry or a

Tribunal set up under the Tribunals of Inquiry Act, a Tribunals of

Inquiry Law or any other law by the Federal or State Government which

indictment has been accepted by the Federal or State Governments

respectively; or.

(i) he has presented a forged certificate to the Independence National

Electoral Commission.

(2) Where in respect of any person who has been-

(a) adjudged to be a lunatic;

(b) declared to be of unsound mind;

(c) sentenced to death or imprisonment; or

(d) adjudged or declared bankrupt,

any appeal against the decision is pending in any court of law in

accordance with any law in force in Nigeria, subsection (1) of the

section shall not apply during a period beginning from the date when

such appeal is lodged and ending on the date when the appeal is

finally determined or, as the case may be, the appeal lapses or is

abandoned, whichever is earlier.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2) of this section "appeal" includes

any application for an injunction or an order certiorari, mandamus,

prohibition or habeas corpus, or any appeal from any such application.

67. (1) The President may attend any joint meeting of the National Assembly

or any meeting of either House of the National Assembly, either to deliver

an address on national affairs including fiscal measures, or to make such

statement on the policy of government as he considers to be of national

importance.

(2) A Minister of the Government of the Federation attend either House of

the National Assembly if invited to express to the House the conduct of

his Ministry, and in particular when the affairs of that Ministry are

under discussion.

(3) Nothing in this section shall enable any person who is not a member of

the Senate or of the House of Representatives to vote in that House or in

any of its committees.

68. (1) A member of the Senate or of the House of Representatives shall

vacate his seat in the House of which he is a member if -

(a) he becomes a member of another legislative house.

(b) any other circumstances arise that, if he were not a member of the

Senate or the House of Representatives, would cause him to be

disqualified for election as a member;

(c) he ceases to be a citizen of Nigeria;

(d) he becomes President, Vice-President, Governor, Deputy Governor or

a Minister of the Government of the Federation or a Commissioner of

the Government of a State or a Special Adviser.

(e) save as otherwise prescribed by this Constitution, he becomes a

member of a commission or other body established by this Constitution

or by any other law.

(f) without just cause he is absent from meetings of the House of

which he is a member for a period amounting in the aggregate to more

than one-third of the total number of days during which the House

meets in any one year;

(g) being a person whose election to the House was sponsored by a

political party, he becomes a member of another political party before

the expiration of the period for which that House was elected;

Provided that his membership of the latter political party is not as a

result of a division in the political party of which he was previously

a member or of a merger of two or more political parties or factions

by one of which he was previously sponsored; or

(h) the President of the Senate or, as the case may be, the Speaker of

the House of Representatives receives a certificate under the hand of

the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission stating

that the provisions of section 69 of this Constitution have been

complied with in respect of the recall of that member.

(2) The President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of

Representatives, as the case may be, shall give effect to the provisions

of subsection (1) of this section, so however that the President of the

Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives or a member shall

first present evidence satisfactory to the House concerned that any of the

provisions of that subsection has become applicable in respect of that

member.

(3) A member of the Senate or of the House of Representatives shall be

deemed to be absent without just cause from a meeting of the House of

which he is a member, unless the person presiding certifies in writing

that he is satisfied that the absence of the member from the meeting was

for a just cause.

69. A member of the Senate or of the House Representatives may be recalled

as such a member if -

(a) there is presented to the Chairman of the Independent National

Electoral Commission a petition in that behalf signed by more than

one-half of the persons registered to vote in that member's

constituency alleging their loss of confidence in that member; and

(b) the petition is thereafter, in a referendum conducted by the

Independent National Electoral Commission within ninety days of the

date of receipt of the petition, approved by a simple majority of the

votes of the persons registered to vote in that member's constituency.

70. A member of the Senate or of the House of Representatives shall receive

such salary and other allowances as Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and

Fiscal Commission may determine

71. Subject to the provisions of section 72 of this Constitution, the

Independent National Electoral Commission shall -

(a) divide each State of the Federation into three Senatorial

districts for purposes of elections to the Senate; and

(b) subject to the provisions of section 49 of this Constitution,

divide the Federation into three hundred and sixty Federal

constituencies for purposes of elections to the House of

Representatives.

72. No Senatorial district or Federal constituency shall fall within more

than one State, and the boundaries of each district or constituency shall be

as contiguous as possible and be such that the number of inhabitants thereof

is as nearly equal to the population quota as is reasonably practicable.

73. (1) The Independent National Electoral Commission shall review the

division of States and of the Federation into Senatorial districts and

Federal constituencies at intervals of not less than ten years, and may

alter the districts or constituencies in accordance with the provisions of

this section to such extent as it may consider desirable in the light of the

review.

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, the Independent

National Electoral Commission may at any time carry out such a review and

alter the districts or constituencies in accordance with the provisions of

this section to such extent as it considers necessary, in consequence of

any amendment to section 8 of this Constitution or any provision replacing

that section, or by reason of the holding of a census of the population,

or pursuant to an Act of the National Assembly.

74. Where the boundaries of any Senatorial district or Federal constituency

established under section 71 of this Constitution are altered in accordance

with the provisions section 73 hereof, the alteration shall come into effect

after it has been approved by each House of the National Assembly and after

the current life of the Senate (in the case of an alteration to the

boundaries of a Senatorial district) or the House of s (in the case of an

alteration to the boundaries of a Federal constituency).

75. For the purposes of section 72 of this Constitution, the number of

inhabitants of Nigeria or any part thereof shall be ascertained by reference

to the 1991 census of the population of Nigeria or the latest census held in

pursuance of an Act of the National Assembly after the coming into force of

the provisions of this Part of this Chapter of this Constitution.

76. (1) Elections to each House of the National Assembly shall be held on a

date to be appointed by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

(2) The date mentioned in subsection (1) of this section shall not be

earlier than sixty days before and not later than the date on which the

House stands dissolved, or where the election to fill a vacancy occurring

more than three months before such date; not later than one month after

the vacancy occurred.

77. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, every Senatorial

district or Federal constituency established in accordance with the

provisions of this Part of this Chapter shall return a member who shall be

directly elected to the Senate or the House of Representatives in such

manner as may be prescribed by an act of the National Assembly.

(2) Every citizen of Nigeria, who has attained the age of eighteen years

residing in Nigeria at the time of the registration of voters for purposes

of election to a legislative house, shall be entitled to be registered as

a voter for that election.

78. The registration of voters and the conduct of elections shall be subject

to the direction and supervision of Independent National Electoral

Commission.

79. The National Assembly shall make provisions in respects -

(a) persons who may apply to an election tribunal for determination of

any question as to whether -

(i) any person has been validly elected as a member of the Senate or

of the House of Representatives,

(ii) the term of office of any person has ceased, or

(iii) the seat in the Senate or in the House of Representatives of a

member of that House has become vacant;

(b) circumstances and manner in which, and the conditions upon which,

such application may be made; and

(c) powers, practice and procedure of the election tribunal in

relation to any such application.

80. (1) All revenues or other moneys raised or received by the Federation

(not being revenues or other moneys payable under this Constitution or any

Act of the National Assembly into any other public fund of the Federation

established for a specific purpose) shall be paid into and form one

Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.

(2) No moneys shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the

Federation except to meet expenditure that is charged upon the fund by

this Constitution or where the issue of those moneys has been authorised

by an Appropriation Act, Supplementary Appropriation Act or an Act passed

in pursuance of section 81 of this Constitution.

(3) No moneys shall be withdrawn from any public fund of the Federation,

other than the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation, unless the

issue of those moneys has been authorised by an Act of the National

Assembly.

(4) No moneys shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund or any

other public fund of the Federation, except in the manner prescribed by

the National Assembly.

81. (1) The President shall cause to be prepared and laid before each House

of the National Assembly at any time in each financial year estimates of the

revenues and expenditure of the Federation for the next following financial

year.

(2) The heads of expenditure contained in the estimates (other than

expenditure charged upon the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation

by this Constitution) shall be included in a bill, to be known as an

Appropriation Bill, providing for the issue from the Consolidated Revenue

Fund of the sums necessary to meet that expenditure and the appropriation

of those sums for the purposes specified therein.

(3) Any amount standing to the credit of the judiciary in the Consolidated

Revenue Fund of the Federation shall be paid directly to the National

Judicial Council for disbursement to the heads of the courts established

for the Federation and the State under section 6 of this Constitution.

(4) If in respect of any financial year it is found that -

(a) the amount appropriated by the Appropriation Act for any purpose

is insufficient; or

(b) a need has arisen for expenditure for a purpose for which no

amount has been appropriated by the Act,

a supplementary estimate showing the sums required shall be laid

before each House of the National Assembly and the heads of any such

expenditure shall be included in a Supplementary Appropriation Bill.

82. If the Appropriation Bill in respect of any financial year has not been

passed into law by the beginning of the financial year, the President may

authorise the withdrawal of moneys in the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the

Federation for the purpose of meeting expenditure necessary to carry on the

services of the Government of the Federation for a period not exceeding

months or until the coming into operation of the Appropriate Act, whichever

is the earlier:

Provided that the withdrawal in respect of any such period shall not exceed

the amount authorised to be withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of

the Federation under the provisions of the Appropriation Act passed by the

National Assembly for the corresponding period in the immediately preceding

financial year, being an amount proportionate to the total amount so

authorised for the immediately preceding financial year.

83. (1) The National Assembly may by law make provisions for the

establishment of a Contingencies Fund for the Federation and for authorising

the President, if satisfied that there has arisen an urgent and unforeseen

need for expenditure for which no other provision exists, to make advances

from the Fund to meet the need.

(2) Where any advance is made in accordance with the provisions of this

section, a Supplementary Estimate shall be presented and a Supplementary

Appropriation Bill shall be introduced as soon as possible for the purpose

of replacing the amount so advanced.

84. (1) There shall be paid to the holders of the offices mentioned in this

section such remuneration, salaries and allowances as may be prescribed by

the National Assembly, but not exceeding the amount as shall have been

determined by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

(2) The remuneration, salaries and allowances payable to the holders of

the offices so mentioned shall be a charge upon the Consolidated Revenue

Fund of the Federation.

(3) The remuneration and salaries payable to the holders of the said

offices and their conditions of service, other than allowances, shall not

be altered to their disadvantage after their appointment.

(4) The offices aforesaid are the offices of President, Vice-President,

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice of the Supreme Court, President of the

Court of Appeal, Justice of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judge of the

Federal High Court, Judge of the Federal High Court, Chief Judge and Judge

of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Chief Judge of

a State, Judge of the High Court of a State, Grand Kadi of the Sharia

Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, President and

Judge of the Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory,

Abuja, Grand Kadi and Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of a State,

President and Judge of the Customary Court of Appeal of a State, the

Auditor-General for the Federation and the Chairmen and members of the

following executive bodies, namely, the Code of Conduct Bureau, the

Federal Civil Service Commission, the Independent National Electoral

Commission, the National Judicial Council, the Federal Judicial Service

Commission, the Judicial Service Committee of the Federal Capital

Territory, Abuja, the Federal Character Commission, the Code of Conduct

Tribunal, the National Population Commission, the Revenue Mobilisation

Allocation and Fiscal Commission, the Nigeria Police Council and the

Police Service Commission.

(5) Any person who has held office as President or Vice-President shall be

entitled to pension for life at a rate equivalent to the annual salary of

the incumbent President or Vice-President:

Provided that such a person was not removed from office by the process of

impeachment or for breach of any provisions of this Constitution.

(6) Any pension granted by virtue of subsection (5) of this section shall

be a charge upon the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.

(7) The recurrent expenditure of judicial offices in the Federation (in

addition to salaries and allowances of the judicial officers mentioned in

subsection (4) of this section) shall be charge upon the Consolidated

Revenue Fund of the Federation.

85. (1) There shall be an Auditor-General for the Federation who shall be

appointed in accordance with the provisions of section 86 of this

Constitution.

(2) The public accounts of the Federation and of all offices and courts of

the Federation shall be audited and reported on to the Auditor-General who

shall submit his reports to the National Assembly; and for that purpose,

the Auditor-General or any person authorised by him in that behalf shall

have access to all the books, records, returns and other documents

relating to those accounts.

(3) Nothing in subsection (2) of this section shall be construed as

authorising the Auditor-General to audit the accounts of or appoint

auditors for government statutory corporations, commissions, authorities,

agencies, including all persons and bodies established by an Act of the

National Assembly, but the Auditor-General shall -

(a) provide such bodies with -

(i) a list of auditors qualified to be appointed by them as external

auditors and from which the bodies shall appoint their external

auditors, and

(ii) guidelines on the level of fees to be paid to external

auditors; and

(b) comment on their annual accounts and auditor's reports thereon.

(4) The Auditor-General shall have power to conduct checks of all

government statutory corporations, commissions, authorities, agencies,

including all persons and bodies established by an Act of the National

Assembly.

(5) The Auditor-General shall, within ninety days of receipt of the

Accountant-General's financial statement, submit his reports under this

section to each House of the National Assembly and each House shall cause

the reports to be considered by a committee of the House of the National

Assembly responsible for public accounts.

(6) In the exercise of his functions under this Constitution, the

Auditor-General shall not be subject to the direction or control of any

other authority or person.

86. (1) The Auditor-General for the Federation shall be appointed by the

President on the recommendation of the Federal Civil Service Commission

subject to confirmation by the Senate.

(2) The power to appoint persons to act in the office of the

Auditor-General shall vest in the President.

(3) Except with the sanction of a resolution of the Senate, no person

shall act in the office of the Auditor-General for a period exceeding six

months.

87. (1) A person holding the office of the Auditor-General for the

Federation shall be removed from office by the President acting on an

address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate praying that he be so

removed for inability to discharge the functions of his-office (whether

arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other cause) or for

misconduct.

(2) The Auditor-General shall not be removed from office before such

retiring age as may be prescribed by law, save in accordance with the

provisions of this section.

88. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, each House of the

National Assembly shall have power by resolution published in its journal or

in the Official Gazette of the Government of the Federation to direct or

cause to be directed investigation into -

(a) any matter or thing with respect to which it has power to make

laws, and

(b) the conduct of affairs of any person, authority, ministry or

government department charged, or intended to be charged, with the

duty of or responsibility for -

(i) executing or administering laws enacted by National Assembly,

and

(ii) disbursing or administering moneys appropriated or to be

appropriated by the National Assembly.

(2) The powers conferred on the National Assembly under the provisions of

this section are exercisable only for the purpose of enabling it to -

(a) make laws with respect to any matter within its legislative

competence and correct any defects in existing laws; and

(b) expose corruption, inefficiency or waste in the execution or

administration of laws within its legislative competence and in the

disbursement or administration of funds appropriated by it.

89. (1) For the purposes of any investigation under section 88 of this

Constitutional and subject to the provisions thereof, the Senate or the

House of Representatives or a committee appointed in accordance with section

62 of this Constitution shall have power to -

(a) procure all such evidence, written or oral, direct or

circumstantial, as it may think necessary or desirable, and examine

all persons as witnesses whose evidence may be material or relevant to

the subject matter;

(b) require such evidence to be given on oath;

(c) summon any person in Nigeria to give evidence at any place or

produce any document or other thing in his possession or under his

control, and examine him as a witness and require him to produce any

document or other thing in his possession or under his control,

subject to all just exceptions; and

(d) issue a warrant to compel the attendance of any person who, after

having been summoned to attend, fails, refuses or neglects to do so

and does not excuse such failure, refusal or neglect to the

satisfaction of the House or the committee in question, and order him

to pay all costs which may have been occasioned in compelling his

attendance or by reason of his failure, refusal or neglect to obey the

summons, and also to impose such fine as may be prescribed for any

such failure, refused or neglect; and any fine so imposed shall be

recoverable in the same manner as a fine imposed by a court of law.

(2) A summons or warrant issued under this section may be served or

executed by any member of the Nigeria Police Force or by any person

authorised in that behalf by the President of the Senate or the Speaker of

the House of Representatives, as the case may require.

90. There shall be a House of Assembly for each of the States of the

Federation.

91. Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, a House of Assembly of a

State shall consist of three or four times the number of seats which that

State has in the House of Representatives divided in a way to reflect, as

far as possible nearly equal population:

Provided that a House of Assembly of a State shall consist of not less than

twenty-four and not more than forty members.

92. (1) There shall be a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker of a House of Assembly

who shall be elected by the members of the House from among themselves.

(2) The Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly shall vacate

his office -

(a) if he ceases to be a member of the House of Assembly otherwise

than by reason of the dissolution of the House;

(b) When the House first sits after any dissolution of House; or

(c) if he is removed from office by a resolution of House of Assembly

by the votes of not less than two-third majority of the members of the

House.

93. There shall be a Clerk to a House of Assembly and such other staff as

may be prescribed by a Law enacted by the House of Assembly, and the method

of appointment of the Clerk and other staff of the House shall be as

prescribed by that Law.

B - Procedure for Summoning and Dissolution of House of Assembly

94. (1) Every person elected to a House of Assembly shall before taking his

seat in that House, declare his assets and liabilities in the manner

prescribed in this Constitution and subsequently take and subscribe before

the Speaker of the House, the Oath of Allegiance and oath of membership

prescribed in the Seventh Schedule to this Constitution, but a member may,

before taking the oaths, take part in the election of the Speaker and Deputy

Speaker of the House of Assembly.

(2) The Speaker and Deputy Speaker of a House of Assembly shall declare

their assets and liabilities in the manner prescribed by this Constitution

and subsequently take and subscribe to the Oath of Allegiance and the oath

of membership prescribed as aforesaid before the Clerk of the House of

Assembly.

95. (1) At any sitting of a House of Assembly, the Speaker of that House

shall preside, and in his absence the Deputy Speaker shall preside.

(2) In the absence of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House, such

member of the House as the House may elect for a purpose shall preside.

96. (1) The quorum of a House of Assembly shall be one-third of all the

than one-third of all the members of that House and that it is not

competent for the House to transact business, and after such interval as

may be prescribed in the rules of procedure of the House, the person

presiding ascertains that the number of members present is still less than

one-third of all the members of the House, he shall adjourn the House.

97. The business of a House of Assembly shall be conducted in English, but

the House may in addition to English conduct the business of the House in

one or more other languages spoken in the State as the House may by

resolution approve.

98. (1) Except as otherwise provided by this Constitution, any question

proposed for decision in a House of Assembly shall be determined by the

required majority of the members present and voting; and the person

presiding shall cast a vote whenever necessary to avoid an equality of votes

but shall not vote in any other case.

(2) Except as otherwise provided by this Constitution, the required

majority for the purpose of determining any question shall be a simple

majority.

(3) A House of Assembly shall by its rules provide -

(a) that a member of the House shall declare any direct pecuniary

interest he may have in any matter coming before the House for

deliberation;

(b) that the House may by resolution decide whether or not such member

may vote or participate in its deliberations, on such matter;

(c) the penalty, if any, which the House may impose for failure to

declare any direct pecuniary interest such member may have; and

(d) for such other matters pertaining to the foregoing as the House

may think necessary, but nothing in this subsection shall enable any

rules to be made to require any member, who signifies his intention

not to vote on or participate in such matter, and who does not so vote

or participate, to declare any such interest. 99. Any person who sits or votes in a House of Assembly of a State knowing

or having reasonable grounds for knowing that he is not entitled to do so

commits an offence and is liable on conviction to such punishment as shall

be prescribed by a Law of the House of Assembly.

100. (1) The power of a House of Assembly to make laws shall be exercised by

bills passed by the House of Assembly and, except as otherwise provided by

this section, assented to by the Governor.

(2) A bill shall not become Law unless it has been duly passed and,

subject to subsection (1) of this section, assented to in accordance with

the provisions of this section.

(3) Where a bill has been passed by the House of Assembly it shall be

presented to the Governor for assent.

(4) Where a bill is presented to the Governor for assent he shall within

members of the House.

(2) If objection is taken by any member of a House of Assembly present

that there are present in that House (besides the person presiding) fewer

thirty days thereof signify that he assents or that he withholds assent.

(5) Where the Governor withholds assent and the bill is again passed by

the House of Assembly by two-thirds majority, the bill shall become law

and the assent of the Governor shall not be required.

101. Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, a House of Assembly

shall have power to regulate its own procedure, including the procedure for

summoning and recess of the House.

102. A House of Assembly may act notwithstanding any vacancy in its

membership, and the presence or participation of any person not entitled to

be present at or to participate in the proceedings of the House shall not

invalidate such proceedings.

103. (1) A House of Assembly may appoint a committee of its members for any

special or general purpose as in its opinion would be better regulated and

managed by means of such a committee, and may by resolution, regulation or

otherwise as it thinks fit delegate any functions exercisable by it to any

such committee.

(2) The number of members of a committee appointed under this section,

their term of office and quorum shall be fixed by the House of Assembly.

(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorising a House of

Assembly to delegate to a committee the power to decide whether a bill

shall be passed into Law or to determine any matter which it is empowered

to determine by resolution under the provisions of this Constitution, but

such a committee of the House may be authorised to make recommendations to

the House on any such matter.

104. A House of Assembly shall sit for a period of not less than one hundred

and eighty-one days in a year.

105. (1) A House of Assembly shall stand dissolved at the expiration of a

period of four years commencing from the date of the first sitting of the

House.

(2) If the Federation is at war in which the territory of Nigeria is

physically involved and the President considers that it is not practicable

to hold elections, the National Assembly may by resolution extend the

period of four years mentioned in subsection (1) of this section from time

to time but not beyond a period of six months at any one time.

(3) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the person elected as

the Governor of a State shall have power to issue a proclamation for the

holding of the first session of the House of Assembly of the State

concerned immediately after his being sworn in, or for its dissolution as

provided in this section.

106. Subject to the provisions of section 107 of this Constitution, a person

shall be qualified for election as a member of a House of Assembly if -

(a) he is a citizen of Nigeria;

(b) he has attained the age of thirty years;

(c) he has been educated up to at least the School Certificate level

or its equivalent; and

(d) he is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that

party.

107. (1) No person shall be qualified for election to a House of Assembly if

-

(a) subject to the provisions of Section 28 of this Constitution, he

has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a country other than

Nigeria or, except in such cases as may be prescribed by the National

Assembly, has made a declaration of allegiance to such a country;

(b) under any law in force in any part of Nigeria, he is adjudged to

be a lunatic or otherwise declared to be of unsound mind;

(c) he is under a sentence of death imposed on him by any competent

court of law or tribunal in Nigeria or a sentence of imprisonment or

fine for an offence involving dishonesty or fraud (by whatever name

called) or any other offence imposed on him by such a court or

tribunal substituted by a competent authority for any other sentence

imposed on him by such a court or tribunal;

(d) within a period of less than ten years before the date of an

election to the House of Assembly, he has been convicted and sentenced

for an offence involving dishonesty or he has been found guilty of a

contravention of the Code of Conduct;

(e) he is an undischarged bankrupt, having been adjudged or otherwise

declared bankrupt under any law in force in any part of Nigeria;

(f) he is a person employed in the public service of the Federation or

of any State and he has not resigned, withdrawn or retired from such

employment thirty days before the date of election;

(g) he is a member of any secret society;

(h) he has been indicted for embezzlement or fraud by a Judicial

Commission of Inquiry or an Administrative Panel of Inquiry or a

Tribunal set up under the Tribunals of Inquiry Act, a Tribunals of

Inquiry Law or any other law by the Federal and State Government which

indictment has been accepted by the Federal or State Government,

respectively; or

(i) he has presented a forged certificate to the Independent

National Electoral Commission.

(2) Where in respect of any person who has been -

(a) adjudged to be a lunatic;

(b) declared to be of unsound mind;

(c) sentenced to death or imprisonment; or

(d) adjudged or declared bankrupt,

any appeal against the decision is pending in any court of law in

accordance with any law in force in Nigeria, subsection (1) of this

section shall not apply during a period beginning from the date when

such appeal is lodged and ending on the date when the appeal is

finally determined or, as the case may be, the appeal lapses or is

abandoned, whichever is earlier.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2) of this section, an "appeal"

includes any application for an injunction or an order of certiorari,

mandamus, prohibition or habeas corpus, or any appeal from any such

application.

108. (1) The Governor of a State may attend a meeting of a House of Assembly

of the State either to deliver an address on State affairs or to make such

statement on the policy of government as he may consider to be of importance

to the State.

(2) A Commissioner of the Government of a State shall attend the House of

Assembly of the State if invited to explain to the House of Assembly the

conduct of his Ministry, and in particular when the affairs of that

Ministry are under discussion.

(3) Nothing in this section shall enable any person who is not a member of

a House of Assembly to vote in that House or in any of its committees.

109. (1) A member of a House of Assembly shall vacate his seat in the House

if -

(a) he becomes a member of another legislative house;

(b) any other circumstances arise that, if he were not a member of

that House, would cause him to be disqualified for election as such a

member;

(c) he ceases to be a citizen of Nigeria;

(d) he becomes President, Vice-President, Governor, Deputy Governor or

a Minister of the Government of the Federation or a Commissioner of

the Government of a State or a Special Adviser;

(e) save as otherwise prescribed by this Constitution, he becomes a

member of a commission or other body established by this Constitution

or by any other law;

(f) without just cause he is absent from meetings of the House of

Assembly for a period amounting in the aggregate to more than

one-third of the total number of days during which the House meets in

any one year;

(g) being a person whose election to the House of Assembly was

sponsored by a political party, he becomes a member of another

political party before the expiration of the period for which that

House was elected:

Provided that his membership of the latter political party is not as a

result of a division in the political party of which he was previously

a member or of a merger of two or more political parties or factions

by one of which he was previously sponsored; or

(h) the Speaker of the House of Assembly receives a certificate under

the hand of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral

Commission stating that the provisions of section 110 of this

Constitution have been complied with in respect of the recall of the

member.

(2) The Speaker of the House of Assembly shall give effect to subsection

(1) of this section, so however that the Speaker or a member shall first

present evidence satisfactory to the House that any of the provisions of

that subsection has become applicable in respect of the member.

(3) A member of a House of Assembly shall be deemed to be absent without

just cause from a meeting of the House of Assembly unless the person

presiding certifies in writing that he is satisfied that the absence of

the member from the meeting was for a just cause.

110. A member of the House of Assembly may be recalled as such a member if -

(a) there is presented to the Chairman of the Independent National

Electoral Commission a petition in that behalf signed by more than

one-half of the persons registered to vote in that members's

constituency alleging their loss of confidence in that member; and

(b) the petition is thereafter, in a referendum conducted by the

Independent National Electoral Commission within ninety days of the

date of the receipt of the petition, approved by a simple majority of

the votes of the persons registered to vote in that member's

constituency.

111. A member of the House of Assembly shall receive such salary and other

allowances as the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission may

determine.

112. Subject to the provisions of sections 91 and 113 of this Constitution,

the Independent National Electoral Commission shall divide every state in

the federation into such number of state constituencies as is equal to three

or four times the number of Federal constituencies within that state.

113. The boundaries of each State constituency shall be such that the number

of inhabitants thereof is as nearly equal to the population quota as is

reasonably practicable.

114. (1) The Independent National Electoral Commission shall review the

division of every State into constituencies at intervals of not less than

ten years, and may alter such constituencies in accordance with the

provisions of this section to such extent as it may consider desirable in

the light of the review.

(2) The Independent National Electoral Commission may at any time carry

out such a review and alter the constituencies in accordance with the

provisions of this section to such extent as it considers necessary in

consequence of any alteration of the boundaries of the State or by reason

of the holding of a census of the population of Nigeria in pursuance of an

Act of the National Assembly.

115. Where the boundaries of any State constituency established under

section 112 of this Constitution are altered in accordance with the

provisions of section 114 of this Constitution, that alteration shall come

into effect after it has been approved by the National Assembly and after

the current life of the House of Assembly.

116. (1) Elections to a House of Assembly shall be held on a date to be

appointed by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

(2) The date mentioned in subsection (1) of this section shall not be

earlier than sixty days before and not later than the date on which the

House of Assembly stands dissolved, or where the election is to fill a

vacancy occurring more than three months before such date, not later than

one month after the vacancy occurred.

117. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, every State

constituency established in accordance with the provisions of this part of

this Chapter shall return one member who shall be directly elected to a

House of Assembly in such manner as may be prescribed by an Act of the

National Assembly.

(2) Every citizen of Nigeria, who has attained the age of eighteen years

residing in Nigeria at the time of the registration of voters for purposes

of election to any legislative house, shall be entitled to be registered

as a voter for that election.

118. The registration of voters and the conduct of elections shall be

subject to the direction and supervision of the Independent National

Electoral Commission.

119. The National Assembly shall make provisions as respects -

(a) persons who may apply to an election tribunal for the

determination of any question as to whether -

(i) any person has been validly elected as a member of a House of

Assembly,

(ii) the term of office of any person has ceased, or

(iii) the seat in a House of Assembly of a member of that House has

become vacant;

(b) circumstances and manner in which, and the conditions upon which,

such application may be made; and

(c) powers, practice and procedure of the election tribunal in

relation to any such application.

120. (1) All revenues or other moneys raised or received by a State (not

being revenues or other moneys payable under this Constitution or any Law of

a House of Assembly into any other public fund of the State established for

a specific purpose) shall be paid into and form one Consolidated Revenue

Fund of the State.

(2) No moneys shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the

State except to meet expenditure that is charged upon the Fund by this

Constitution or where the issue of those moneys has been authorised by an

Appropriation Law, Supplementary Appropriation Law or Law passed in

pursuance of section 121 of this Constitution.

(3) No moneys shall be withdrawn from any public fund of the State, other

than the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the State, unless the issue of those

moneys has been authorised by a Law of the House of Assembly of the State.

(4) No moneys shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the

State or any other public fund of the State except in the manner

prescribed by the House of Assembly.

121. (1) The Governor shall cause to be prepared and laid before the House

of Assembly at any time before the commencement of each financial year

estimates of the revenues and expenditure of the State for the next

following financial year.

(2) The heads of expenditure contained in the estimates, other than

expenditure charged upon the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the State by

this Constitution, shall be included in a bill, to be known as an

Appropriation Bill, providing for the issue from the Consolidated Revenue

Fund of the State of the sums necessary to meet that expenditure and the

appropriation of those sums for the purposes specified therein.

(3) Any amount standing to the credit of the judiciary in the Consolidated

Revenue Fund of the State shall be paid directly to the heads of the

courts concerned.

(4) If in respect of any financial year, it is found that -

(a) the amount appropriated by the Appropriation Law for any purpose

is insufficient; or

(b) a need has arisen for expenditure for a purpose for which no

amount has been appropriated by the Law,

a supplementary estimate showing the sums required shall be laid

before the House of Assembly and the heads of any such expenditure

shall be included in a Supplementary Appropriation Bill.

122. If the Appropriation Bill in respect of any financial year has not been

passed into Law by the beginning of the financial year, the Governor may

authorise the withdrawal of moneys from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the

State for the purpose of meeting expenditure necessary to carry on the

services of the government for a period not exceeding six months or until

the coming into operation of the Law, whichever is the earlier:

Provided that the withdrawal in respect of any such period shall not exceed

the amount authorised to be withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of

the State under the provisions of the Appropriation Law passed by the House

of Assembly for the corresponding period in the immediately preceding

financial year, being an amount proportionate to the total amount so

authorised for the immediately preceding financial year.

123. (1) A House of Assembly may by Law make provisions for the

establishment of a Contingencies Fund for the State and for authorising the

Governor, if satisfied that there has arisen an urgent and unforeseen need

for expenditure for which no other provision exists, to make advances from

the Fund to meet that need.

(2) Where any advance is made in accordance with the provisions of this

section, a Supplementary Estimate shall be presented and a Supplementary

Appropriation Bill shall be introduced as soon as possible for the purpose

of replacing the amount so advanced.

124. (1) There shall be paid to the holders of the offices mentioned in this

section such remuneration and salaries as may be prescribed by a House of

Assembly, but not exceeding the amount as shall have been determined by the

Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

(2) The remuneration, salaries and allowances payable to the holders of

the offices so mentioned shall be charged upon the Consolidated Revenue

Fund of the State.

(3) The remuneration and salaries payable to the holders of the said

offices and their conditions of service, other than allowances, shall not

be altered to their disadvantage after their appointment.

(4) The offices aforesaid are the offices of Governor, Deputy Governor,

Auditor-General for a State and the Chairman and members of the following

bodies, that is to say, the State Civil Service Commission, the State

Independent Electoral Commission and the State Judicial Service

Commission.

(5) Provisions may be made by a Law of a House of Assembly for the grant

of a pension or gratuity to or in respect of a person who had held office

as Governor or Deputy Governor and was not removed from office as a result

of impeachment; and any pension granted by virtue of any provisions made

in pursuance of this subsection shall be a charge upon the Consolidated

Revenue Fund of the State.

125. (1) There shall be an Auditor-General for each State who shall be

appointed in accordance with the provisions of section 126 of this

Constitution.

(2) The public accounts of a State and of all offices and courts of the

State shall be audited by the Auditor-General for the State who shall

submit his reports to the House of Assembly of the State concerned, and

for that purpose the Auditor-General or any person authorised by him in

that behalf shall have access to all the books, records, returns and other

documents relating to those accounts.

(3) Nothing in subsection (2) of this section shall be construed as

authorising the Auditor-General to audit the accounts of or appoint

auditors for government statutory corporations, commissions, authorities,

agencies, including all persons and bodies established by Law by the

Auditor-General shall -

(a) provide such bodies with -

(i) a list of auditors qualified to be appointed by them as external

auditors and from which the bodies shall appoint their external

auditors, and

(ii) a guideline on the level of fees to be paid to external

auditors; and

(b) comment on their annual accounts and auditor's report thereon.

(4) The Auditor-General for the State shall have power to conduct periodic

checks of all government statutory corporations, commissions, authorities,

agencies, including all persons and bodies established by a law of the

House of Assembly of the State.

(5) The Auditor-General for a State shall, within ninety days of receipt

of the Accountant-General's financial statement and annual accounts of the

State, submit his report to the House of Assembly of the State and the

House shall cause the report to be considered by a committee of the House

responsible for public accounts.

(6) In the exercise of his functions under this Constitution, the

Auditor-General for a State shall not be subject to the direction or

control of any other authority or person.

126. (1) The Auditor-General for a State shall be appointed by the Governor

of the State on the recommendation of the State Civil Service Commission

subject to confirmation by the House of Assembly of the State.

(2) The power to appoint persons to act in the office of the

Auditor-General for a State shall vest in the Governor.

(3) Except with the sanction of a resolution of the House of Assembly of a

State, no person shall act in the office of the Auditor-General for a

State for a period exceeding six months.

127. (1) A person holding the office of Auditor-General under section 126

(1) of this Constitution shall be removed from office by the Governor of the

State acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the House of

Assembly praying that he be so removed for inability to discharge the

functions of his office (whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or

any other cause) or for misconduct.

(2) An Auditor-General shall not been removed from office before such

retiring age as may be prescribed by Law, save in accordance with the

provisions of this section.

128. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, a House of Assembly

shall have power by resolution published in its journal or in the Office

Gazette of the Government of the State to direct or cause to be directed an

inquiry or investigation into -

(a) any matter or thing with respect to which it has power to make

laws; and

(b) the conduct of affairs of any person, authority, ministry or

government department charged, or intended to be charged, with the

duty of or responsibility for -

(i) executing or administering laws enacted by that House of

Assembly, and

(ii) disbursing or administering moneys appropriated or to be

appropriated by such House.

(2) The powers conferred on a House of Assembly under the provisions of

this section are exercisable only for the purpose of enabling the House to

-

(a) make laws with respect to any matter within its legislative

competence and correct any defects in existing laws; and

(b) expose corruption, inefficiency of waste in the execution or

administration of laws within its legislative competence and in the

disbursement or administration of funds appropriated by it.

129. (1) For the purposes of any investigation under section 128 of this

Constitution, and subject to the provisions thereof, a House of Assembly or

a committee appointed in accordance with section 103 of this Constitution

shall have power to -

(a) procure all such evidence, written or oral, direct or

circumstantial, as it may think necessary or desirable, and examine

all persons as witnesses whose evidence may be material or relevant to

the subject matter;

(b) require such evidence to be given on oath;

(c) summon any person in Nigeria to give evidence at any place or

produce any document or other thing in his possession or under his

control, and examine him as a witness and require him to produce any

document or other thing in his possession or under his control,

subject to all just exceptions; and

(d) issue a warrant to compel the attendance of any person who, after

having been summoned to attend, fails, refuses or neglects to do so

and does not excuse such failure, refusal or neglect to the

satisfaction of the House of Assembly or the committee, and order him

to pay all costs which may have been occasioned in compelling his

attendance or by reason of his failure, refusal or neglect to obey the

summons and also to impose such fine as may be prescribed for any such

failure, refusal or neglect; and any fine so imposed shall be

recoverable in the same manner as a fine imposed by a court of law.

(2) A summons or warrant issued under this section may be served or

executed by any member of the Nigeria Police Force or by any person

authorised in that behalf by the Speaker of the House of Assembly of the

State.

130. (1) There shall be for the Federation a President.

(2) The President shall be the Head of State, the Chief Executive of the

Federation and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation.

131. A person shall be qualified for election to the office of the President

if -

(a) he is a citizen of Nigeria by birth;

(b) he has attained the age of forty years;

(c) he is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that

political party; and

(d) he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or

its equivalent.

132. (1) An election to the office of President shall be held on a date to

be appointed by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

(2) An election to the said office shall be held on a date not earlier

than sixty days and not later than thirty days before the expiration of

the term of office of the last holder of that office.

(3) Where in an election to the office of President one of the two or more

candidates nominated for the election is the only candidate after the

close of nomination, by reason of the disqualification, withdrawal,

incapacitation, disappearance or death of the other candidates, the

Independent National Electoral Commission shall extend the time for

nomination.

(4) For the purpose of an election to the office of President, the whole

of the Federation shall be regarded as one constituency.

(5) Every person who is registered to vote at an election of a member of a

legislative house shall be entitled to vote at an election to the office

of President.

133. A candidate for an election to the office of President shall be deemed

to have been duly elected to such office where, being the only candidate

nominated for the election -

(a) he has a majority of YES votes over NO votes cast at the election;

and

(b) he has not less than one-quarter of the votes cast at the election

in each of at least two-thirds of all the States in the Federation and

the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja

134. (1) A candidate for an election to the office of President shall be

deemed to have be been duly elected, where, there being only two candidates

for the election -

(a) he has the majority of votes cast at the election; and

(b) he has not less than one-quarter of the votes cast at the election

in each of at least two-thirds of all the States in the Federation and

the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

(2) A candidate for an election to the office of President shall be deemed

to have been duly elected where, there being more than two candidates for

the election-

(a) he has the highest number of votes cast at the election;

and

(b) he has not less than one-quarter of the votes cast at the election

each of at least two-thirds of all the States in the Federation and

the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

(3) In a default of a candidate duly elected in accordance with subsection

(2) of this section their shall be a second election in accordance with

subsection (4) of this section at which the only candidate shall be -

(a) the candidate who scored the highest number of votes at any

election held in accordance with the said subsection (2) of this

section; and

(b) one among the remaining candidates who has a majority of votes in

the highest number of States, so however that where there are more

than one candidate with majority of votes in the highest number of

States, the candidate among them with the highest total of votes cast

at the election shall be the second candidate for the election.

(4) In default of a candidate duly elected under the foregoing

subsections, the Independent National Electoral Commission shall within

seven days of the result of the election held under the said subsections,

arrange for an election between the two candidates and a candidate at such

election shall be deemed elected to the office of President if -

(a) he has a majority of votes cast at the election; and

(b) he has not less than one-quarter of the votes cast at the election

in each of at least two-thirds of all the States in the Federation and

the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja

(5) In default of a candidate duly elected under subsection (4) of this

section, the Independent National Electoral Commission shall, within seven

days of the result of the election held under the aforesaid subsection

(4), arrange for another election between the two candidates to which the

subsection relates and a candidate at such election shall be deemed to

have been duly elected to the office of President, if he has a majority of

the votes cast at the election.

135. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, a person shall hold

the office of President until -

(a) when his successor in office takes the oath of that office;

(b) he dies whilst holding such office; or

(c) the date when his resignation from office takes effect;

or

(d) he otherwise ceases to hold office in accordance with the

provisions of this Constitution.

(2) Subject to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, the

President shall vacate his office at the expiration of a period of four

years commencing from the date, when -

(a) in the case of a person first elected as President under this

Constitution, he took the Oath of Allegiance and the oath of office;

and

(b) in any other case, the person last elected to that office under

this Constitution took the Oath of Allegiance and oath of office or

would, but for his death, have taken such Oaths.

(3) If the Federation is at war in which the territory of Nigeria is

physically involved and the President considers that it is not practicable

to hold elections, the National Assembly may by resolution extend the

period of four years mentioned in subsection (2) of this section from time

to time; but no such extension shall exceed a period of six months at any

one time.

136. (1) If a person duly elected as President dies before taking and

subscribing the Oath of Allegiance and oath of office, or is for any reason

whatsoever unable to be sworn in, the person elected with him as

Vice-President shall be sworn in as President and he shall nominate a new

Vice-President who shall be appointed by the President with the approval by

a simple majority of the National Assembly at a joint sitting.

(2) Where the persons duly elected as President and Vice President die or

are unable for any reason whatsoever to assume office before the

inauguration of the National Assembly, the Independent National Electoral

Commission shall immediately conduct an election for a President and the

Vice-President.

137. (1) A person shall not be qualified for election to the office of

President if -

(a) subject to the provisions of section 28 of this Constitution, he

has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a country other than

Nigeria or, except in such cases as may be prescribed by the National

Assembly, he has made a declaration of allegiance to such other

country; or

(b) he has been elected to such office at any two previous elections;

or

(c) under the law in any part of Nigeria, he is adjudged to be a

lunatic or otherwise declared to be of unsound mind;

or

(d) he is under a sentence of death imposed by any competent court of

law or tribunal in Nigeria or a sentence of imprisonment or fine for

any offence involving dishonesty or fraud (by whatever name called) or

for any other offence, imposed on him by any court or tribunal or

substituted by a competent authority for any other sentence imposed on

him by such a court or tribunal; or

(e) within a period of less than ten years before the date of the

election to the office of President he has been convicted and

sentenced for an offence involving dishonesty or he has been found

guilty of the contravention of the Code of Conduct; or

(f) he is an undischarged bankrupt, having been adjudged or otherwise

declared bankrupt under any law in force in Nigeria or any other

country; or

(g) being a person employed in the civil or public service of the

Federation or of any State, he has not resigned, withdrawn or retired

from the employment at least thirty days before the date of the

election; or

(h) he is a member of any secret society; or

(i) he has been indicted for embezzlement or fraud by a Judicial

Commission of Inquiry or an Administrative Panel of Inquiry or a

Tribunal set up under the Tribunals of Inquiry Act, a Tribunals of

Inquiry Law or any other law by the Federal or State Government which

indictment has been accepted by the Federal or State Government,

respectively; or

(j) he has presented a forged certificate to the Independent National

Electoral Commission.

(2) Where in respect of any person who has been -

(a) adjudged to be a lunatic;

(b) declared to be of unsound mind;

(c) sentenced to death or imprisonment; or

(d) adjudged or declared bankrupt

(e) any appeal against the decision is pending in any court of law in

accordance with any law in force in Nigeria, subsection (1) of this

section shall not apply during a period beginning from the date when

such appeal is lodged and ending on the date when the appeal is

finally determined or, as the case may be, the appeal lapses or is

abandoned, whichever is earlier.

138. The President shall not, during his tenure of office, hold any other

executive office or paid employment in any capacity whatsoever.

139. The National Assembly shall by an Act make provisions as respects -

(a) persons who may apply to the Court of Appeal for the determination

of any question as to whether;

(i) any person has been validly elected to the office of President

or Vice-President

(ii) the term of office of the President or Vice President has

cease, or

(iii) the office of the President or Vice-President has become

vacant

(b) circumstances and manner in which, and the conditions upon which

such application may be made; and

(c) powers, practice and procedure of the Court of Appeal in relation

to any such application.

140. (1) A person elected to the office of President shall not begin to

perform the functions of that office until he has declared his assets and

liabilities as prescribed in this Constitution and he has taken and

subscribed the Oath of Allegiance and the oath of office prescribed in the

Seventh Schedule to this Constitution.

(2) The oaths aforesaid shall be administered by the Chief Justice of

Nigeria or the person for the time being appointed to exercise the

functions of that office.

141. There shall be for the Federation a Vice-President.

142. (1) In any election to which the foregoing provisions of this Part of

this Chapter relate, a candidate for an election to the office of President

shall not be deemed to be validly nominated unless he nominates another

candidate as his associate from the same political party for his running for

the office of President, who is to occupy the office of Vice-President and

that candidate shall be deemed to have been duly elected to the office of

Vice-President if the candidate for an election to the office of President

who nominated him as such associate is duly elected as President in

accordance with the provisions aforesaid.

(2) The provisions of this Part of this Chapter relating to qualification

for election, tenure of office, disqualification, declaration of assets

and liabilities and oaths of President shall apply in relation to the

office of Vice-President as if references to President were references to

Vice-President.

143. (1) The President or Vice-President may be removed from office in

accordance with the provisions of this section.

(2) Whenever a notice of any allegation in writing signed by not less than

one-third of the members of the National Assembly:-

(a) is presented to the President of the Senate;

(b) stating that the holder of the office of President or

Vice-President is guilty of gross misconduct in the performance of the

functions of his office, detailed particulars of which shall be

specified,

the President of the Senate shall within seven days of the receipt of

the notice cause a copy thereof to be served on the holder of the

office and on each member of the National Assembly, and shall also

cause any statement made in reply to the allegation by the holder of

the office to be served on each member of the National Assembly.

(3) Within fourteen days of the presentation of the notice to the

President of the Senate (whether or not any statement was made by the

holder of the office in reply to the allegation contained in the notice)

each House of the National Assembly shall resolve by motion without any

debate whether or not the allegation shall be investigated.

(4) A motion of the National Assembly that the allegation be investigated

shall not be declared as having been passed, unless it is supported by the

votes of not less than two-thirds majority of all the members of each

House of the National Assembly.

(5) Within seven days of the passing of a motion under the foregoing

provisions, the Chief Justice of Nigeria shall at the request of the

President of the Senate appoint a Panel of seven persons who in his

opinion are of unquestionable integrity, not being members of any public

service, legislative house or political party, to investigate the

allegation as provide in this section.

(6) The holder of an office whose conduct is being investigated under this

section shall have the right to defend himself in person and be

represented before the Panel by legal practitioners of his own choice.

(7) A Panel appointed under this section shall -

(a) have such powers and exercise its functions in accordance with

such procedure as may be prescribed by the National Assembly; and

(b) within three months of its appointment report its findings to each

House of the National Assembly.

(8) Where the Panel reports to each House of the National Assembly that

the allegation has not been proved, no further proceedings shall be taken

in respect of the matter.

(9) Where the report of the Panel is that the allegation against the

holder of the office has been proved, then within fourteen days of the

receipt of the report at the House the National Assembly shall consider

the report, and if by a resolution of each House of the National Assembly

supported by not less than two-thirds majority of all its members, the

report of the Panel is adopted, then the holder of the office shall stand

removed from office as from the date of the adoption of the report.

(10) No proceedings or determination of the Panel or of the National

Assembly or any matter relating thereto shall be entertained or questioned

in any court.

(11) In this section -

"gross misconduct" means a grave violation or breach of the provisions of

this Constitution or a misconduct of such nature as amounts in the opinion

of the National Assembly to gross misconduct.

144. (1) The President or Vice-President shall cease to hold office, if -

(a) by a resolution passed by two-thirds majority of all the members

of the executive council of the Federation it is declared that the

President or Vice-President is incapable of discharging the functions

of his office; and

(b) the declaration is verified, after such medical examination as may

be necessary, by a medical panel established under subsection (4) of

this section in its report to the President of the Senate and the

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(2) Where the medical panel certifies in the report that in its opinion

the President or Vice-President is suffering from such infirmity of body

or mind as renders him permanently incapable of discharging the functions

of his office, a notice thereof signed by the President of the Senate and

the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall be published in the

Official Gazette of the Government of the Federation.

(3) The President or Vice-President shall cease to hold office as from the

date of publication of the notice of the medical report pursuant to

subsection (2) of this section.

(4) the medical panel to which this section relates shall be appointed by

the President of the Senate, and shall comprise five medical practitioners

in Nigeria:-

(a) one of whom shall be the personal physician of the holder of the

office concerned; and

(b) four other medical practitioners who have, in the opinion of the

President of the Senate, attained a high degree of eminence in the

field of medicine relative to the nature of the examination to be

conducted in accordance with the foregoing provisions.

(5) In this section, the reference to "executive council of the

Federation" is a reference to the body of Ministers of the Government of

the Federation, howsoever called, established by the President and charged

with such responsibilities for the functions of government as the

President may direct.

145. Whenever the President transmits to the President of the Senate and the

Speaker of the House of Representatives a written declaration that he is

proceeding on vacation or that he is otherwise unable to discharge the

functions of his office, until he transmits to them a written declaration to

the contrary such functions shall be discharged by the Vice-President as

Acting President.

146. (1) The Vice-President shall hold the office of President if the office

of President becomes vacant by reason of death or resignation, impeachment,

permanent incapacity or the removal of the President from office for any

other reason in accordance with section 143 of this Constitution.

(2) Where any vacancy occurs in the circumstances mentioned in subsection

(1) of this section during a period when the office of Vice-President is

also vacant, the President of the Senate shall hold the office of

President for a period of not more than three months, during which there

shall be an election of a new President, who shall hold office for the

unexpired term of office of the last holder of the office.

(3) Where the office of Vice-President becomes vacant:-

(a) by reason of death or resignation, impeachment, permanent

incapacity or removal in accordance with section 143 or 144 of this

Constitution;

(b) by his assumption of the office of President in accordance with

subsection (1) of this section; or

(c) for any other reason,

the President shall nominate and, with the approval of each House of

the National Assembly, appoint a new Vice-President.

147. (1) There shall be such offices of Ministers of the Government of the

Federation as may be established by the President.

(2) Any appointment to the office of Minister of the Government of the

Federation shall, if the nomination of any person to such office is

confirmed by the Senate, be made by the President.

(3) Any appointment under subsection (2) of this section by the President

shall be in conformity with the provisions of section 14(3) of this

Constitution:-

provided that in giving effect to the provisions aforesaid the President

shall appoint at least one Minister from each State, who shall be an

indigene of such State.

(4) Where a member of the National Assembly or of a House of Assembly is

appointed as Minister of the Government of the Federation, he shall be

deemed to have resigned his membership of the National Assembly or of the

House of Assembly on his taking the oath of office as Minister.

(5) No person shall be appointed as a Minister of the Government of the

Federation unless he is qualified for election as a member of the House of

Representatives.

(6) An appointment to any of the offices aforesaid shall be deemed to have

been made where no return has been received from the Senate within

twenty-one working days of the receipt of nomination by the Senate.

148. (1) The President may, in his discretion, assign to the Vice-President

or any Minister of the Government of the Federation responsibility for any

business of the Government of the Federation, including the administration

of any department of government.

(2) The President shall hold regular meetings with the Vice-President and

all the Ministers of the Government of the Federation for the purposes of

-

(a) determining the general direction of domestic and foreign policies

of the Government of the Federation;

(b) co-ordinating the activities of the President, the Vice-President

and the Ministers of the Government of the Federation in the discharge

of their executive responsibilities; and

(c) advising the President generally in discharge of his executive

functions other than those functions with respect to which he is

required by this Constitution to seek the advice or act on the

recommendation of any other person or body.

149. A Minister of the Government of the Federation shall not enter upon the

duties of his office, unless he has declared his assets and liabilities as

prescribed in this Constitution and has subsequently taken and subscribed

the Oath of Allegiance and the oath of office for the due execution of the

duties of his office prescribed in the Seventh Schedule to this

Constitution.

150. (1) There shall be an Attorney-General of the Federation who shall be

the Chief Law Officer of the Federation and a Minister of the Government of

the Federation.

(2) A person shall not be qualified to hold or perform the functions of

the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation unless he is

qualified to practise as a legal practitioner in Nigeria and has been so

qualified for not less than ten years.

151. (1) The President may appoint any person as a Special Adviser to assist

him in the performance of his functions.

(2) The number of such Advisers and their remuneration and allowances shall

be as prescribed by law or by resolution of the National Assembly.

(3) Any appointment made pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be

at the pleasure of the President and shall cease when the President ceases

to hold office.

152. A person appointed as Special Adviser under section 151 of this

Constitution shall not begin to perform the functions of his office until he

has declared his assets and liabilities as prescribed in this Constitution

and has subsequently taken and subscribed the Oath of Allegiance and oath of

office prescribed in the Seventh Schedule to this Constitution.

153. (1) There shall be established for the Federation the following bodies,

namely:

(a) Code of Conduct Bureau;

(b) Council of State;

(c) Federal Character Commission;

(d) Federal Civil Service Commission;

(e) Federal Judicial Service Commission;

(f) Independent National Electoral Commission;

(g) National Defence Council;

(h) National Economic Council;

(i) National Judicial Council;

(j) National Population Commission;

(k) National Security Council;

(l) Nigeria Police Council;

(m) Police Service Commission; and

(n) Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

(2) The composition and powers of each body established by subsection (1)

of this section are as contained in Part 1 of the Third Schedule to this

Constitution.

154. (1) Except in the case of ex officio members or where other provisions

are made in this Constitution, the Chairman and members of any of the bodies

so established shall, subject to the provisions of this Constitution, be

appointed by the President and the appointment shall be subject to

confirmation by the Senate.

(2) In exercising his powers to appoint a person as Chairman or member of

the Council of State or the National Defence Council or the National

Security Council, the President shall not be required to obtain the

confirmation of the Senate.

(3) In exercising his powers to appoint a person as Chairman or member of

the Independent National Electoral Commission, National Judicial Council,

the Federal Judicial Service Commission or the National Population

Commission, the President shall consult the Council of State.

155. (1) A person who is a member of any of the bodies established as

aforesaid shall, subject to the provisions of this Part, remain a member

thereof -

(a) in the case of an ex officio member, whilst he holds the office by

virtue of which he is a member of the body;

(b) in the case of a person who is a member by virtue of his having

previously held an office, for the duration of his life; and

(c) in the case of a person who is a member otherwise than as ex

officio member or otherwise than by virtue of his having previously

held an office, for a period of five years from the date of his

appointment.

(2) A member of any of the bodies shall cease to be member if any

circumstances arise that, if he were not a member of the body, would cause

him to be disqualified for appointment as such a member.

156. (1) No person shall be qualified for appointment as a member of any of

the bodies aforesaid if -

(a) he is not qualified or if he is disqualified for election as a

member of the House of Representatives;

(b) within the preceding ten years, he has been removed as a member of

any of the bodies or as the holder of any other office on the ground

of misconduct.

(2) any person employed in the public service of the Federation shall not

be disqualified for appointment as Chairman or member of any of such

bodies:

Provided that where such person has been duly appointed he shall, on his

appointment, be deemed to have resign his former office as from the date

of the appointment.

(3) No person shall be qualified for appointment to any of the bodies

aforesaid if, having previously been appointed as a member otherwise than

as an ex officio member of that body, he has been re-appointed for a

further term as a member of the same body.

157. (1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (3) of this section, a

person holding any of the offices to which this section applies may only be

removed from that office by the President acting on an address supported by

two-thirds majority of the Senate praying that he be so removed for

inability to discharge the functions of the office (whether arising from

infirmity of mind or body or any other cause) or for misconduct.

(2) This section applies to the offices of the Chairman and members of the

Code of Conduct Bureau, the Federal Civil Service Commission, the

Independent National Electoral Commission, the National Judicial Council,

the Federal Judicial Service Commission, the Federal Character Commission,

the Nigeria Police Council, the National Population Commission, the

Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission and the Police

Service Commission.

(3) All members of the National Population Commission shall cease to be

members if the President declares a National Census Report as unreliable

and the report is rejected in accordance with section 213 of this

Constitution.

158. (1) In exercising its power to make appointments or to exercise

disciplinary control over persons, the Code of Conduct Bureau, the National

Judicial Council, the Federal Civil Service Commission, the Federal Judicial

Service Commission, the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission, the

Federal Character Commission, and the Independent National Electoral

Commission shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other

authority or person.

(2) The National Population Commission shall not be subject to the

direction or control of any other authority or person:-

(a) in appointing, training or arranging for the training of

enumerators or other staff of the Commission to assist it in the

conduct of any population census;

(b) in deciding whether or not to accept or revise the return of any

officer of the said Commission concerning the population census in any

area or part of the Federation;

(c) in carrying out the operation of conducting the census; and

(d) in compiling its report of a national census for publication.

159. (1) The quorum for a meeting of any of the bodies established by

section 153 of this Constitution shall be not less than one-third of the

total number of members of that body at the date of the meeting.

(2) A member of such a body shall be entitled to one vote, and a decision

of the meeting may be taken and any act or thing may be done in the name

of that body by a majority of the members present at the meeting.

(3) Whenever such body is assembled for a meeting, the Chairman or other

person presiding shall, in all matters in which a decision is taken by

vote (by whatever name such vote may be called) have a casting as well as

a deliberative vote.

(4) Subject to its rules of procedure, any such body may act or take part

in any decision notwithstanding any vacancy in its membership or the

absence of any member.

160. (1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, any of the bodies may,

with the approval of the President, by rules or otherwise regulate its own

procedure or confer powers and impose duties on any officer or authority for

the purpose of discharging its functions.

(2) In the exercise of any powers under subsection (1) of this section,

any such body shall not confer powers or impose duties on any officer or

authorities of a State except with the approval of the Governor of the

State.

The President, upon the receipt of advice from the Revenue Mobilisation

Allocation and Fiscal Commission, shall table before the National Assembly

proposals for revenue allocation from the Federation Account, and in

determining the formula, the National Assembly shall take into account,

the allocation principles especially those of population, equality of

States, internal revenue generation, land mass, terrain as well as

population density.`

161. In this Part of this Chapter, unless the context otherwise requires -

(a) any reference to "ex officio member" shall be construed as a

reference to a person who is a member by virtue of his holding or

performing, the functions of an office in the public service of the

Federation;

(b) "office" means an office in the public service of the Federation;

(c) any reference to "member" of a body established by section 153 of

this Constitution shall be construed as including a reference to the

Chairman of that body; and

(d) "misconduct" means a breach of the Oath of Allegiance or oath of

office of a member or a breach of the provisions of this Constitution

or bribery or corruption or false declaration of assets and

liabilities or conviction for treason or treasonable felony.

162. (1) The Federation shall maintain a special account to be called "the

Federation Account" into which shall be paid all revenues collected by the

Government of the Federation, except the proceeds from the personal income

tax of the personnel of the armed forces of the Federation, the Nigeria

Police Force, the Ministry or department of government charged with

responsibility for Foreign Affairs and the residents of the Federal Capital

Territory, Abuja.

(2) The President, upon the receipt of advice from the Revenue

Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, shall table before the

National Assembly proposals for revenue allocation from the Federation

Account, and in determining the formula, the National Assembly shall take

into account, the allocation principles especially those of population,

equality of States, internal revenue generation, land mass, terrain as

well as population density;

Provided that the principle of derivation shall be constantly reflected in

any approved formula as being not less than thirteen per cent of the

revenue accruing to the Federation Account directly from any natural

resources.

(3) Any amount standing to the credit of the Federation Account shall be

distributed among the Federal and State Governments and the local

government councils in each State on such terms and in such manner as may

be prescribed by the National Assembly.

(4) Any amount standing to the credit of the States in the Federation

Account shall be distributed among the States on such terms and in such

manner as may be prescribed by the National Assembly.

(5) The amount standing to the credit of local government councils in the

Federation Account shall also be allocated to the State for the benefit of

their local government councils on such terms and in such manner as may be

prescribed by the National Assembly.

(6) Each State shall maintain a special account to be called "State Joint

Local Government Account" into which shall be paid all allocations to the

local government councils of the State from the Federation Account and

from the Government of the State.

(7) Each State shall pay to local government councils in its area of

jurisdiction such proportion of its total revenue on such terms and in

such manner as may be prescribed by the National Assembly.

(8) The amount standing to the credit of local government councils of a

State shall be distributed among the local government councils of that

State on such terms and in such manner as may be prescribed by the House

of Assembly of the State.

(9) Any amount standing to the credit of the judiciary in the Federation

Account shall be paid directly to the National Judicial Councils for

disbursement to the heads of courts established for the Federation and the

States under section 6 of this Constitution.

(10) For the purpose of subsection (1) of this section, "revenue" means

any income or return accruing to or derived by the Government of the

Federation from any source and includes -

(a) any receipt, however described, arising from the operation of any

law;

(b) any return, however described, arising from or in respect of any

property held by the Government of the Federation;

(c) any return by way of interest on loans and dividends in respect of

shares or interest held by the Government of the Federation in any

company or statutory body.

163. Where under an Act of the National Assembly, tax or duty is imposed in

respect of any of the matters specified in item D of Part II of the Second

Schedule to this Constitution, the net proceeds of such tax or duty shall be

distributed among the States on the basis of derivation and accordingly -

(a) where such tax or duty is collected by the Government of a State

or other authority of the State, the net proceeds shall be treated as

part of the Consolidated Revenue Fund of that State;

(b) where such tax or duty is collected by the Government of the

Federation or other authority of the Federation, there shall be paid

to each State at such times as the National Assembly may prescribe a

sum equal to the proportion of the net proceeds of such tax or duty

that are derived from that State.

164. (1) The Federation may make grants to a State to supplement the revenue

of that State in such sum and subject to such terms and conditions as may be

prescribed by the National Assembly.

(2) The Federation may make external grants to a foreign State or any

international body in furtherance of the foreign policy objectives of

Nigeria in such sum and subject to such terms and conditions as may be

prescribed by the National Assembly.

165. Each State shall, in respect of each financial year, pay to the

Federation an amount equal to such part of the expenditure incurred by the

Federation during that financial year for the purpose of collection of taxes

or duties which are wholly or partly payable to the State pursuant to the

provisions of this Part of this Chapter or of any Act of the National

Assembly as is proportionate to the share of the proceeds of those taxes or

duties received by the State in respect of that financial year.

166. (1) Any payment that is required by this Part of this Chapter to be

made by the Federation to a State may be set-off by the Federation in or

towards payment of any sum that is due from that State to the Federation in

respect of any loan made by the Federation to that State.

(2) The right of set-off conferred by subsection (1) of this section shall

be without prejudice to any other right of the Federation to obtain

payment of any sum due to the Federation in respect of any loan.

167. Any payment that is required by this Part of this Chapter to be made by

the Federation to a State shall be a charge upon the Consolidated Revenue

Fund of the Federation and any payment that is so required to be made by a

State to the Federation shall be a charge upon the Consolidated Revenue Fund

of that State.

189. (1) Where any payment falls to be made under this Part of this Chapter,

the amount payable shall be certified by the Auditor-General for the

Federation;

Provided that a provisional payment may be made before the Auditor-General

has given his certificate.

(2) The National Assembly may prescribe the time at and manner in which

any payment falling to be made under this Part of this Chapter shall be

effected and provide for the making of adjustments and provisional

payment.

169. There shall be a civil service of the Federation.

170. Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Federal Civil

Service Commission may, with the approval of the President and subject to

such conditions as it may deem fit, delegate any of the powers conferred

upon it by this Constitution to any of its members or to any officer in the

civil service of the Federation.

171. (1) Power to appoint persons to hold or act in the offices to which

this section applies and to remove persons so appointed from any such office

shall vest in the President.

(2) The offices to which this section applies are, namely -

(a) Secretary to the Government of the Federation;

(b) Head of the Civil Service of the Federation;

(c) Ambassador, High Commissioner or other Principal Representative of

Nigeria abroad;

(d) Permanent Secretary in any Ministry or Head of any

Extra-Ministerial Department of the Government of the Federation

howsoever designated; and

(e) any office on the personal staff of the President.

(3) An appointment to the office of the Head of the Civil Service of the

Federation shall not be made except from among Permanent Secretaries or

equivalent rank in the civil service of the Federation or of a State.

(4) An appointment to the office of Ambassador, High Commissioner or other

Principal Representative of Nigeria abroad shall not have effect unless

the appointment is confirmed by the Senate.

(5) In exercising his powers of appointment under this section, the

President shall have regard to the federal character of Nigeria and the

need to promote national unity.

(6) Any appointment made pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (e) of subsection

(2) of this section shall be at the pleasure of the President and shall

cease when the President ceases to hold office;

Provided that where a person has been appointed from a public service of

the Federation or a State, he shall be entitled to return to the public

service of the Federation or of the State when the President ceases to

hold office.

172. A person in the public service of the Federation shall observe and

conform to the Code of Conduct.

173. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the right of a

person in the public service of the Federation to receive pension or

gratuity shall be regulated by law.

(2) Any benefit to which a person is entitled in accordance with or under

such law as is referred to in subsection (1) of this section shall not be

withheld or altered to his disadvantage except to such extent as is

permissible under any law, including the Code of Conduct.

(3) Pensions shall be reviewed every five years or together with any

Federal civil service salary reviews, whichever is earlier.

(4) Pensions in respect of service in the public service of the Federation

shall not be taxed.

174. (1) The Attorney-General of the Federation shall have power -

(a) to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against any person

before any court of law in Nigeria, other than a court-martial, in

respect of any offence created by or under any Act of the National

Assembly;

(b) to take over and continue any such criminal proceedings that may

have been instituted by any other authority or person; and

(c) to discontinue at any stage before judgement is delivered any such

criminal proceedings instituted or undertaken by him or any other

authority or person.

(2) The powers conferred upon the Attorney-General of the Federation under

subsection (1) of this section may be exercised by him in person or

through officers of his department.

(3) In exercising his powers under this section, the Attorney-General of

the Federation shall have regard to the public interest, the interest of

justice and the need to prevent abuse of legal process.

175. (1) The President may -

(a) grant any person concerned with or convicted of any offence

created by an Act of the National Assembly a pardon, either free or

subject to lawful conditions;

(b) grant to any person a respite, either for an indefinite or for a

specified period, of the execution of any punishment imposed on that

person for such an offence;

(c) substitute a less severe form of punishment for any punishment

imposed on that person for such an offence; or

(d) remit the whole or any part of any punishment imposed on that

person for such an offence or of any penalty or forfeiture otherwise

due to the State on account of such an offence.

(2) The powers of the President under subsection (1) of this section shall

be exercised by him after consultation with the Council of State.

(3) The President, acting in accordance with the advice of the Council of

State, may exercise his powers under subsection (1) of this section in

relation to persons concerned with offences against the army, naval or

air-force law or convicted or sentenced by a court-martial.

176. (1) There shall be for each State of the Federation a Governor.

(2) The governor of a shall be the Chief Executive of that state

177. A person shall be qualified for election to the office of Governor of a

State if

(a) he is a citizen of Nigeria by birth;

(b) he has attained the age of thirty-five years;

(c) he is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that

political party; and

(d) he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or

its equivalent.

178. (1) An election to the office of Governor of a State shall be held on a

date to be appointed by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

(2) An election to the office of Governor of a State shall be held on a

date not earlier than sixty days and not later than thirty days before the

expiration of the term of office of the last holder of that office.

(3) Where in an election to the office of Governor of a State one of the

two or more candidates nominated for the election is the only candidate

after the close of nomination, by reason of the disqualification,

withdrawal, incapacitation, disappearance or death of the other

candidates, the Independent National Electoral Commission shall extend the

time for nomination.

(4) For the purpose of an election under this section a State shall be

regarded as one constituency.

(5) Every person who is registered to vote at an election of a member of a

legislative house shall be entitled to vote at an election to the office

of Governor of a State.

179. (1) A candidate for an election to the office of Governor of a State

shall be deemed to have been duly elected to such office where, being the

only candidate nominated for the election-

(a) he has a majority of YES votes over NO votes cast at the election;

and

(b) he has not less than one-quarter of the votes cast at the election

in each of at least two-thirds of all the local government areas in

the State,

but where the only candidate fails to be elected in accordance with

this subsection, then there shall be fresh nominations.

(2) A candidate for an election to the office of Governor of a State shall

be deemed to have been duly elected where, there being two or more

candidates -

(a) he has the highest number of votes cast at the election; and

(b) he has not less than one-quarter of all the votes cast in each of

at least two-thirds of all the local government areas in the State.

(3) In default of a candidate duly elected in accordance with subsection

(2) of this section there shall be a second election in accordance with

subsection (4) of this section at which the only candidates shall be -

(a) the candidate who secured the highest number of votes cast at the

election; and

(b) one among the remaining candidates who secured a majority of votes

in the highest number of local government areas in the State, so

however that where there are more than one candidate with a majority

of votes in the highest number of local government areas, the

candidate among them with the next highest total of votes cast at the

election shall be the second candidate.

(4) In default of a candidate duly elected under subsection (2) of this

section, the Independent National Electoral Commission shall within seven

days of the result of the election held under that subsection, arrange for

an election between the two candidates and a candidate at such election

shall be deemed to have been duly elected to the office of Governor of a

State if -

(a) he has a majority of the votes cast at the election; and

(b) he has not less than one-quarter of the votes cast at the election

in each of at least two-thirds of all the local government areas in

the State.

(5) In default of a candidate duly elected under subsection (4) of this

section, the Independent National Electoral Commission shall within seven

days of the result of the election held under that subsection, arrange for

another election between the two candidates to which that sub-paragraph

relates and a candidate at such election shall be deemed to have been duly

elected to the office of governor of a State if he has a majority of the

votes cast at the election.

180. (1) subject to the provisions of this Constitution, a person shall hold

the office of Governor of a State until -

(a) When his successor in office takes the oath of that office; or

(b) he dies whilst holding such office; or

(c) the date when his resignation from office takes effect; or

(d) he otherwise ceases to hold office in accordance with the

provisions of this constitution.

(2) Subject to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, the

Governor shall vacate his office at the expiration of period of four years

commencing from the date when -

(a) in the case of a person first elected as Governor under this

Constitution, he took the Oath of Allegiance and oath of office; and

(b) the person last elected to that office took the Oath of Allegiance

and oath of office or would, but for his death, have taken such oaths.

(3) If the Federation is at war in which the territory of Nigeria is

physically involved and the President considers that it is not practicable

to hold elections, the National Assembly may be resolution extend the

period of four years mentioned in subsection (2) of this section from time

to time, but no such extension shall exceed a period of six months at any

one time.

181. (1) If a person duly elected as Governor dies before taking and

subscribing the Oath of Allegiance and oath of office, or is unable for any

reason whatsoever to be sworn in, the person elected with him as Deputy

governor shall be sworn in as Governor and he shall nominate a new

Deputy-Governor who shall be appointed by the Governor with the approval of

a simple majority of the House of Assembly of the State.

(2) Where the persons duly elected as Governor and Deputy Governor of a

State die or are for any reason unable to assume office before the

inauguration of the house of Assembly, the Independent National Electoral

Commission shall immediately conduct an election for a Governor and Deputy

Governor of the State.

182. (1) No person shall be qualified for election to the office of Governor

of a State if -

(a) subject to the provisions of section 28 of this Constitution, he

has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a country other than

Nigeria or, except in such cases as may be prescribed by the National

Assembly, he has made a declaration of allegiance to such other

country; or

(b) he has been elected to such office at any two previous elections;

or

(c) under the law in any part of Nigeria, he is adjudged to be a

lunatic or otherwise declared to be of unsound mind; or

(d) he is under a sentence of death imposed by any competent court of

law or tribunal in Nigeria or a sentence of imprisonment for any

offence involving dishonesty or fraud (by whatever name called) or any

other offence imposed on him by any court or tribunal or substituted

by a competent authority for any other sentence imposed on him by such

a court or tribunal; or

(e) within a period of less than ten years before the date of election

to the office of Governor of a State he has been convicted and

sentenced for an offence involving dishonesty or he has been found

guilty of the contravention of the code of Conduct; or

(f) he is an undischarged bankrupt, having been adjudged or otherwise

declared bankrupt under any law in force in Nigeria; or

(g) being a person employed in the public service of the Federation or

of any State, he has not resigned, withdrawn or retired from the

employment at least thirty days to the date of the election; or

(h) he is a member of any secret society; or

(i) he has been indicted for embezzlement or fraud by a Judicial

Commission of Inquiry or an Administrative Panel of Inquiry or a

Tribunal set up under the Tribunals of Inquiry Act, a Tribunals of

Inquiry Law or any other law by the Federal or State Government which

indictment has been accepted by the Federal or State Government; or

(j) he has presented a forged certificate to the independent National

Electoral Commission.

(2) Where in respect of any person who has been

(a) adjudged to be a lunatic;

(b) declared to be of unsound mind;

(c) sentenced or declared bankrupt,

(d) adjudged or declared bankrupt,

an appeal against the decision is pending in any court of law in

accordance with any law in force in Nigeria, subsection (1) of this

section shall not apply during a period beginning from the date when

such appeal is lodged and ending on the date when the appeal is

finally determined or, as the case may be, the appeal lapses or is

abandoned, whichever is earlier.

183. The governor shall not, during the period when he holds office, hold

any other executive office or paid employment in any capacity whatsoever.

184. The National Assembly shall make provisions in respect of -

(a) persons who may apply to an election tribunal for the

determination of any question as to whether

(i) any person has been validly elected to the office of Governor or

Deputy Governor,

(ii) the term of office of a Governor or Deputy Governor has ceased,

or

(iii) the office of Deputy Governor has become vacant;

(b) circumstances and manner in which, and the conditions upon which

such application may be made; and

(c) powers, practice and procedure of the election tribunal in

relation to any such application.

185. (1) A person elected to the office of the Governor of a State shall not

begin to perform the functions of that until he has declared his assets and

liabilities as prescribed in the Constitution and has subsequently taken and

subscribed the Oath of Allegiance and oath of office prescribed in the

Seventh Schedule to this Constitution.

(2) The Oath of Allegiance and the oath of office shall be administered by

the Chief Judge of the State or Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal

of the State, if any or President of the Customary Court of Appeal of the

State, if any, or the person for the time being respectively appointed to

exercise the functions of any of those offices in any State.

186. There shall be for each State of the Federation a Deputy Governor.

187. (1) In any election to which the foregoing provisions of this part of

this Chapter relate a candidate for the office of Governor of a State shall

not be deemed to have been validly nominated for such office unless he

nominates another candidate as his associate for his running for the office

of Governor, who is to occupy the office of Deputy Governor; and that

candidate shall be deemed to have been duly elected to the office of Deputy

Governor if the candidate who nominated him is duly elected as Governor in

accordance with the said provisions.

(2) The provisions of this Part of this Chapter relating to qualification

for election, tenure of office, disqualifications, declaration of assets

and liabilities and Oath of Governor shall apply in relation to the office

of Deputy Governor as if references to Governor were references to Deputy

Governor.

188. (1) The Governor or Deputy Governor of a state may Removal of Governor

be removed from office in accordance with the provisions or Deputy Governor

of this section. from office.

(2) Whenever a notice of any allegation in writing signed by not less than

one-third of the members of the House of Assembly.

(b) stating that the holder of such office is guilty of gross

misconduct in the performance of the functions of his office, detailed

particulars of which shall be specified.

the speaker of the House of Assembly shall, within seven days of the

receipt of the notice, cause a copy of the notice to be served on the

holder of the office and on each member of the House of Assembly, and

shall also cause any statement made in reply to the allegation by the

holder of the office, to be served on each member of the House of

Assembly.

(3) Within fourteen days of the presentation of the notice to the speaker

of the House of Assembly (whether or not any statement was made by the

holder of the office in reply to the allegation contained in the notice-,

the House of Assembly shall resolve by motion, without any debate whether

or not the allegation shall be investigated.

(4) A motion of the House of Assembly that the allegation be investigated

shall not be declared as having been passed unless it is supported by the

votes of not less than two-thirds majority of all the members of the House

of Assembly.

(5) Within seven days of the passing of a motion under the foregoing

provisions of this section, the Chief judge of the State shall at the

request of the speaker of the House of Assembly, appoint a Panel of seven

persons who in his opinion are of unquestionable integrity, not being

members of any public service, legislative house or political party, to

investigate the allegation as provided in this section.

(6) The holder of an office whose conduct is being investigated under this

section shall have the right to defend himself in person or be represented

before the panel by a legal practitioner of his own choice.

(7) A Panel appointed under this section shall -

(a) have such powers and exercise its functions in accordance with

such procedure as may be prescribed by the House of Assembly; and

(b) within three months of its appointment, report its findings to the

House of Assembly.

(8) Where the Panel reports to the House of Assembly that the allegation

has not been proved, no further proceedings shall be taken in respect of

the matter.

(9) Where the report of the Panel is that the allegation against the

holder of the office has been proved, then within fourteen days of the

receipt of the report, the house of Assembly shall consider the report,

and if by a resolution of the House of Assembly supported by not less than

two-thirds majority of all its members, the report of the Panel is

adopted, then the holder of the office shall stand removed form office as

from the date of the adoption of the report.

(10) No proceedings or determination of the Panel or of the House of

Assembly or any matter relating to such proceedings or determination shall

be entertained or questioned in any court.

(11) In this section -

"gross misconduct" means a grave violation or breach of the provisions of

this Constitution or a misconduct of such nature as amounts in the opinion

in the House of Assembly to gross misconduct.

189. (1) The Governor or Deputy Governor of a State shall cease to hold

office if

(a) by a resolution passed by two-thirds majority of all members of

the executive council of the State, it is declared that the Governor

or Deputy Governor is incapable of discharging the functions of his

office; and

(b) the declaration in paragraph (a) of this subsection is verified,

after such medical examination as may be necessary, by a medical panel

established under subsection (4) of this section in its report to the

speaker of the House of Assembly.

(2) Where the medical panel certifies in its report that in its opinion

the Governor or Deputy Governor is suffering from such infirmity of body

or mind as renders him permanently incapable of discharging the functions

of his office, a notice thereof signed by the Speaker of the House of

Assembly shall be published in the Official Gazette of the Government of

the State.

(3) The Governor or Deputy Governor shall cease to hold office as from the

date of publication of the notice of the medical report pursuant to

subsection (2) of this section.

(4) The medical panel to which this section relates shall be appointed by

the Speaker of the House of Assembly of the State, and shall comprise five

medical practitioners in Nigeria -

(a) one of whom shall be the personal physician of the holder of the

office concerned; and

(b) four other medical practitioners who have, in the opinion of the

Speaker of the House of Assembly, attained a high degree of eminence

in the field of medicine relative to the nature of the examination to

be conducted in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this

section.

(5) In this section, the reference to "executive council of the State" is

a reference to the body of Commissioners of the Government of the State,

howsoever called, established by the Governor and charged with such

responsibilities for the functions of Government as the Governor may

direct.

190. Whenever the Governor transmits to the Speaker of the House of Assembly

a written declaration that he is proceeding on vacation or that he is

otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office, until he

transmits to the Speaker of the House of Assembly a written declaration to

the contrary such functions shall be discharged by the Deputy Governor as

Acting Governor.

191. (1) The Deputy Governor of a State shall hold the office of Governor of

the State if the office of Governor becomes vacant by reason of death,

resignation, impeachment, permanent incapacity or removal of the governor

from office for any other reason in accordance with section 188 or 189 of

this constitution.

(2) Where any vacancy occurs in the circumstances mentioned in subsection

(1) of this section during a period when the office of Deputy Governor of

the State is also vacant, the Speaker of the House of Assembly of the

State shall hold the office of Governor of the State for a period of not

more than three months, during which there shall be an election of a new

Governor of the State who shall hold office for the unexpired term of

office of the last holder of the office.

(3) Where the office of the Deputy Governor becomes vacant -

(a) by reason of death, resignation, impeachment, permanent incapacity

or removal in accordance with section 188 or 189 of this Constitution;

(b) by his assumption of the office of Governor of a State in

accordance with subsection (1) of this section; or

(c) for any other reason, the Governor shall nominate and with the

approval of the House of Assembly of the State, appoint a new Deputy

Governor.

192. (1) There shall be such offices of Commissioners of the Government of a

State as may be established by the Governor of the State

(2) Any appointment to the office of Commissioner of the Government of a

State shall, if the nomination of any person to such office is confirmed

by the House of Assembly of the State, be made by the Governor of that

State and in making any such appointment the Governor shall conform with

the provisions of section 14(4) of this Constitution.

(3) Where a member of a House of Assembly or of the National Assembly is

appointed as Commissioner of the Government of a State, he shall be deemed

to have resigned his membership of the House of Assembly or of the

National Assembly on his taking the Oath of office as Commissioner.

(4) No person shall be appointed as a Commissioner of the Government of a

State unless he is qualified for election as a member of the House of

Assembly of the State.

(5) An appointment to the office of Commissioner under this section shall

be deemed to have been made where no return has been received from the

House of Assembly within twenty-one working days of the receipt of

nomination, by the House of Assembly.

193. (1) The Governor of a State may, in his discretion, assign to the

Deputy Governor or any Commissioner of the Government of the State

responsibility for any business of the Government of that State, including

the administration of any department of Government.

(2) The Governor of a State shall hold regular meetings with the Deputy

Governor and all Commissioners of the Government of the State for the

purposes of -

(a) determining the general direction of the policies of the

Government of the State;

(b) co-ordinating the activities of the Governor, the Deputy Governor

and the Commissioners of the Government of the State in the discharge

of their executive responsibilities; and

(c) advising the Governor generally in the discharge of his executive

functions, other than those functions with respect to which he is

required by this Constitution to seek the advice or act on the

recommendation of any other person or body.

194. A Commissioner of the Government of a State shall not enter upon the

duties of his office unless he has declared his assets and liabilities as

prescribed in this Constitution and has subsequently taken and subscribed

the oath of Allegiance and the oath for the due execution of the duties of

his office prescribed in the Seventh Schedule to this Constitution.

195. (1) There shall be an Attorney-General for each State who shall be the

Chief Law Officer of the State and Commissioner for Justice of the

Government of that State.

(2) A person shall not be qualified to hold or perform the functions of

the office of the Attorney-General of a State unless he is qualified to

practise as a legal practitioner in Nigeria and has been so qualified for

not less than ten years.

196. (1) The Governor of a State may appoint any person as a Special Adviser

to assist him in the performance of his functions.

(2) The number of such Advisers and their remuneration and allowances

shall be as prescribed by law or by resolution of the House of Assembly of

the State.

(3) Any appointment made pursuant to the provisions of this section shall

be at the pleasure of the Governor, and shall cease when the Governor

ceases to hold office.

(4) A person appointed as a Special Adviser under subsection (1) of this

section shall not begin to perform the functions of the office unless he

has declared his assets and liabilities as prescribed in this Constitution

and has subsequently taken and subscribed the Oath of Allegiance and the

oath of office prescribed in the Seventh Schedule to this Constitution.

197. (1) There shall be established for each State of the Federation the

following bodies, namely -

(a) State Civil Service Commission;

(b) State Independent Electoral Commission; and

(c) State Judicial Service Commission.

(2) The composition and powers of each body established by subsection (1)

of this section are as set out in Part II of the Third Schedule to this

Constitution.

(3) In appointing Chairmen and members of boards and governing bodies of

statutory corporations and companies in which the Government of the State

has controlling shares or interests and councils of Universities, Colleges

and other institutions of higher learning, the Governor shall conform with

the provisions of section 14(4) of this Constitution.

198. Except in the case of ex-officio members or where other provisions are

made in this Constitution, the Chairman and members of any of the bodies so

established shall, subject to the provisions of this Constitution, be

appointed by the Governor of the State and the appointment shall be subject

to confirmation by a resolution of the House of Assembly of the State.

199. (1) A person who is a member of any of the bodies established as

aforesaid shall, subject to the provisions of this Part, remain a member

thereof -

(a) in the case of an ex-officio member, whilst he holds the office by

virtue of which he is a member of the body;

(b) in the case of a person who is a member by virtue of his having

previously held an office, for the duration of his life; and

(c) in the case of a person who is a member otherwise than as an

ex-officio member or otherwise than by virtue of his having previously

held an office, for a period of five years from the date of his

appointment.

(2) A member of any of the bodies shall cease to be a member if any

circumstances arise that, if he were not a member of the body, would cause

him to be disqualified for appointment as such a member.

200. (1) No person shall be qualified for appointment as a member of any of

the bodies aforesaid if -

(a) he is not qualified or if he is disqualified for election as a

member of a House of Assembly;

(b) he has within the preceding ten years, been removed as a member of

any of the bodies or as the holder of any other office on the ground

of misconduct.

(2) Any person employed in the public service of a State shall not be

disqualified for appointment as Chairman or member of any of such bodies

provided that where such a person has been duly appointed, he shall on his

appointment be deemed to have resigned his former office as from the date

of the appointment.

(3) No person shall be qualified for appointment to any of the bodies

aforesaid, if, having previously been appointed as a member otherwise than

as an ex officio member of that body, he has been re-appointed for a

further term as a member of the same body.

201. (1) Any person holding any of the offices to which this section applies

shall only be removed from that office by the Governor of that State acting

on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the House of Assembly of

the State praying that he be so removed for inability to discharge the

functions of the office (whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or

any other cause) or for misconduct.

(2) This section applies to the Offices of the Chairman and members of the

State Civil Service Commission, the State Independent Electoral Commission

and the State Judicial Service Commission.

202. In exercising its power to make appointments or to exercise

disciplinary control over persons the State Civil Service Commission, the

State Independent Electoral Commission and the State Judicial Service

Commission shall not be subject to the direction and control of any other

authority or person.

203. (1) The quorum for a meeting of any of the bodies established by

section 197 of this Constitution shall not be less than one-third of the

total number of members of that body at the date of the meeting.

(2) A member of such a body shall be entitled to one vote and a decision

of the meeting may be taken and any act or thing may be done in the name

of that body by a majority of the members present at a meeting.

(3) Whenever such bodies is assembled for a meeting, the Chairman or other

person presiding shall, in all matters in which a decision is taken by

vote (by whatever name such vote may be called) have a casting as well as

a deliberative vote.

(4) Subject to its rules of procedure, any such body may act or take any

decision notwithstanding any vacancy in its membership or the absence of

any member.

204. (1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, any of the bodies may,

with the approval of the Governor, by rules or otherwise regulate its own

procedure or confer powers or impose duties on any officer or authority for

the purpose of discharging its functions.

(2) In the exercise of any powers under subsection (1) of this section any

such body shall not confer powers or impose duties on any officer or

authority of the Federation except with the approval of the President.

205. In this Part of this Chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:-

(a) any reference to ex officio member shall be construed as a

reference to a person who is a member by virtue of his holding or

performing the functions of an office in the public service of a

State;

(b) office means an office in the public service of a State;

(c) any reference to member of any of the bodies established by

section 197 of this Constitution shall be construed as including a

reference, to the Chairman of that body; and

(d) misconduct means breach of the Oath of Allegiance or oath of

office of a member or a breach of the provisions of this Constitution

or bribery or corruption or false declaration of assets and

liabilities or conviction for treason or treasonable felony.

206. There shall be for each State of the Federation a Civil Service.

207. Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, a State Civil Service

Commission may, with the approval of the Governor and subject to such

conditions as it may deem fit, delegate any of the powers conferred upon it

by this Constitution to any of its members or to any officer in the civil

service of the State.

208. (1) Power to appoint persons to hold or act in the offices to which

this section applies and to remove persons so appointed from any such office

shall vest in the Governor of the State.

(2) The offices to which this section applies are, namely -