Isabella Carter
Nigeria has had many constitutions, with the current form enacted on May 29, 1999, establishing the Fourth Nigerian Republic. The country's structure and composition are a legacy of British colonial rule, with over 374 multilingual groups with different cultures and traditions. This diversity has contributed to Nigeria's deep political divisions and rampant corruption, resulting in various attempts to form an effective constitution. The first constitution of Nigeria as an independent sovereign country was established in 1960, retaining Queen Elizabeth II as the titular head of state. This constitution provided for a parliamentary system of government, recognizing three regions, a two-tier legislative framework at both the federal and regional levels, and outlining the process for acquiring Nigerian citizenship.
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What You'll Learn
- The first amendment of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was signed in 2023
- The amendment addressed the retirement age and pension rights of judicial officers
- The Nigerian Constitution is the written supreme law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
- The 1999 Constitution created the Fourth Nigerian Republic
- The 1999 Constitution defines the national capital, 36 states and their capitals, and 774 local government areas within Nigeria
The first amendment of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was signed in 2023
The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, enacted on 29 May 1999, marked the beginning of the Fourth Nigerian Republic and democratic rule. It defines the national capital, states and their capitals, and local government areas within the country. The constitution outlines the legislative powers of the Federal Republic, which are vested in a National Assembly consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives. This assembly has the power to make laws for the peace, order, and good government of the Federation.
The 1999 Constitution also establishes Nigeria as a federation consisting of 36 states and a Federal Capital Territory, with each state consisting of the area shown in the First Schedule to the Constitution. It further emphasises the indivisibility and indissolubility of the sovereign state, known as the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The constitution takes precedence over any other law that may be inconsistent with its provisions, rendering such laws void to the extent of their inconsistency.
The First Amendment, signed in 2023, specifically addressed the retirement age and pension rights of judicial officers, bringing them into uniformity. With this amendment, President Tinubu demonstrated his administration's commitment to strengthening the judiciary, upholding the rule of law, and empowering judicial officers to effectively carry out their duties.
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The amendment addressed the retirement age and pension rights of judicial officers
Nigeria's current constitution was enacted on 29 May 1999, establishing the Fourth Nigerian Republic. The country has had many constitutions due to its diverse nature, which has resulted in political division and corruption.
The first amendment to this constitution, signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on 8 June 2023, addressed the retirement age and pension rights of judicial officers. This amendment, known as the Constitutional Amendment Bill, standardised the retirement age and pension rights of all judges, setting the retirement age at 70.
The bill was the first law signed by President Tinubu, who pledged his administration's dedication to strengthening the judiciary, ensuring the rule of law, and empowering judicial officers to carry out their duties effectively.
The 1999 constitution created a democratic federation, defining the national capital, 36 states and their capitals, and 774 local government areas within Nigeria. This constitution was preceded by the 1993 constitution, which established the Third Nigerian Republic but was never fully implemented due to military rule.
The 1979 constitution established the Second Nigerian Republic, introducing a US-style presidential system with direct elections. This constitution also mandated the registration of political parties in at least two-thirds of states and established a Cabinet with each state having at least one representative.
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The Nigerian Constitution is the written supreme law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
The Nigerian Constitution outlines the rights of Nigerian citizens and residents, detailing the process for acquiring citizenship. It also establishes a federal system with a central government and 36 states, each with its capital, as well as 774 local government areas. The Constitution defines the roles of the President, the Senate, and the House of Representatives in the law-making process. It also mandates that the press, radio, television, and other media agencies uphold the fundamental objectives of the Constitution and hold the government accountable to the people.
The country's first constitution was established during the colonial era when Nigeria was administered as a Crown Colony. The 1922 Clifford Constitution paved the way for Nigeria's first electoral system. This was followed by the 1946 Richards Constitution, which recognised the country's diversity and introduced a federal principle with regional authorities. The Richards Constitution was suspended in 1950, and the Macpherson Constitution was drafted, providing for greater regional autonomy and a federal union.
The Lyttleton Constitution, enacted in 1954, further established the federal principle and paved the way for Nigeria's independence from Great Britain. Upon independence in 1960, Nigeria retained Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state, with Nnamdi Azikiwe serving as the first Governor-General. The second constitution of independent Nigeria abolished the monarchy and established the First Nigerian Republic in 1963, with Nnamdi Azikiwe as President.
The 1979 Constitution established the Second Nigerian Republic, adopting a US-style presidential system. The 1993 Constitution was meant to establish the Third Nigerian Republic and return democratic rule, but it was never fully implemented due to military rule until 1999.
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The 1999 Constitution created the Fourth Nigerian Republic
The 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, enacted on 29 May 1999, created the Fourth Nigerian Republic. This constitution kickstarted Nigeria's return to democratic rule after a long period of military control. The 1999 Constitution outlines the fundamental rights of individuals, including life, liberty, dignity, privacy, freedom of expression, religious freedom, and security from slavery, violence, discrimination, and forced service in the military. It also establishes the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government, outlining their duties and the separation of powers between federal and state governments.
The 1999 Constitution defines Nigeria as a federation consisting of 36 states and their capitals, 768 local government areas, and a Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. It vests legislative powers in a National Assembly, consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The National Assembly has the power to make laws for the "peace, order, and good government of the Federation." The constitution also provides for the independence of the judiciary and outlines the process for amending the constitution, with any amendments requiring the approval of both houses of the National Assembly.
The 1999 Constitution replaced the 1979 Constitution, which had established the Second Nigerian Republic. The Second Republic abandoned the Westminster system in favour of a United States-style presidential system with direct elections. However, it was short-lived due to a military coup in 1983 that overthrew Nigeria's democratic institutions once more. The 1993 constitution, which established the Third Nigerian Republic, was supposed to return democratic rule but was never fully implemented due to continued military rule.
The transition to the Fourth Nigerian Republic in 1999 was initiated by General Abdulsalami Abubakar following the death of the military dictator General Sani Abacha in 1998. The ban on political activities was lifted, and Nigeria held widely monitored elections in 1999, which led to the election of former military ruler Olusegun Obasanjo as President. The 1999 Constitution has since been amended multiple times, with the first modifications made in 2011, followed by further amendments in 2017 and 2023.
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The 1999 Constitution defines the national capital, 36 states and their capitals, and 774 local government areas within Nigeria
The 1999 Constitution of Nigeria is the written supreme law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The constitution defines the country's structure as a federation consisting of 36 states and a Federal Capital Territory. The Federal Capital Territory is Abuja, which is not a state but a territory of the federal government.
The 36 states of Nigeria are: 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. Each state is a semi-autonomous political unit that shares power with the federal government. The headquarters of each state's governor is designated as the capital city of that state.
In addition to the states and the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria is further divided into local government areas (LGAs). There are 774 local governments in Nigeria, with 768 Local Government Areas and six area councils. Each state is subdivided into these LGAs, which are defined in the second column of Part I of the First Schedule to the Constitution.
The 1999 Constitution has undergone several amendments since it came into use. The first modifications were signed in 2011, with further amendments in 2017 and 2023. Amendments to the constitution can be proposed by the National Assembly, but they must be approved by a two-thirds majority of the 36 state legislatures to be valid.
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Frequently asked questions
Nigeria has had many constitutions and amendments, so it is unclear what the "First Amendment" refers to. The first constitution of Nigeria as an independent sovereign country was enacted on 1 October 1960, the same day the country gained independence from Britain.
The 1960 Constitution of Nigeria, also known as the Lyttleton Constitution, established Nigeria as a sovereign state with Queen Elizabeth II as its titular head of state. Nnamdi Azikiwe represented the queen as Governor-General.
The first constitution of Nigeria was enacted during the colonial era when the country was administered as a Crown Colony.
Yes, the Nigerian Constitution has been amended several times. The 1946 constitution, also known as the Richard Constitution, was an amendment of the existing 1922 constitution. The 1960 Lyttleton Constitution was amended in 1963, abolishing the monarchy and establishing the First Nigerian Republic.
The current Nigerian Constitution was enacted on 29 May 1999, establishing the Fourth Nigerian Republic.
