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Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
1999






General Provisions



Part I
Federal Republic of Nigeria

1.Supremacy of constitution.2The Federal Republic of Nigeria.3
States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Part II


4.
Legislative powers.5Executive powers.6Judicial powers
7.Local government system.8New states and boundary adjustment, etc.9Mode of altering provisions of the constitution
10.Prohibition of State Religion.11Public order and public security.12
Implementation of treaties.



Fundamental Objectives and directive Principles of State Policy

13.
Fundamental obligations of the Government.14The Government and the people15Political objectives.
16.Economic objectives.17Social objectives.18Educational objectives.
19.Foreign policy objectives.20.Environmental objectives.21.Directive on Nigeria cultures
22.Obligation of the mass media23.National ethics.24.
Duties of the citizen.



Citizenship

25.
Citizenship by birth.26Citizenship by registration.27Citizenship by naturalisation.
28.Dual citizenship.29Renunciation of citizenship.30Deprivation of citizenship.
31.Persons deemed to be Nigerian citizens.32Power to make regulations.



Fundamental Rights

33.
Right to life.34Right to dignity of human persons.35Right to personal liberty.
36.Right to fair hearing.37Right to private and family life.38Right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion
39.Right to freedom of expression and the press.40Right to peaceful assembly and association.41Right to freedom of movement.
42Right to freedom from discrimination.43Right to acquire and own immovable property.44Compulsory acquisition of property.
45Restriction on and derogation from fundamental human rights.46Special jurisdiction of High Court and Legal aid.


The Legislature

Part I

National Assembly

47
Establishment of National Assembly.48Composition of the Senate49Composition of the House of Representatives.
50President of the senate and speaker of the House of Representatives.51Staff of the National Assembly.


52
Declaration of assets and liabilities ;oath of members.53Presiding at sitting of the National Assembly and at joint sittings.54Quorum.
55Languages.56Voting.57Unqualified person sitting or voting.
58Mode of exercising Federal Legislative power: general59Mode of exercising Federal Legislative power: money bills.60Regulation of procedure
61Vacancy or participation of strangers not to invalidate proceedings62Committees63Sittings
64Dissolution and issue of proclamations by president.


65
Qualifications for election66Disqualifications67Right of attendance of President
68Tenure of Seat of Members69Recall70
Remuneration


71
Senatorial districts and Federal constituencies72Size of Senatorial districts and Federal constituencies.73Periodical review of Senatorial districts and Federal constituencies
74Time when alteration of senatorial districts or Federal constituencies takes effects.75Ascertainment of population76Time of Election to the National Assembly
77Direct Election and franchise78Supervision of election79
Power of the National Assembly as to determination of certain questions.


80
Establishment of Consolidated Revenue Fund81Authorisation of expenditure from Consolidated Revenue Fund82Authorisation of expenditure in default appropriations
83Contingencies Fund84Remuneration, etc. of the President and certain other officers85Audit of Public accounts
86Appointment of Auditor-General87Tenure of office of Auditor-General88Power to conduct investigations
89Power as to matters of evidence


Part II




A - Composition and Staff of House of Assembly

90
Establishment of House of assembly for each State91Composition of the House of Assembly92Speaker of House of Assembly
93Staff of house of Assembly



94
Declaration of assets and liabilities; oaths of members95Presiding at sittings96Quorum
97Languages98Voting99Unqualified person sitting or voting
100Mode of exercising legislative power of a state101Regulation of procedure102Vacancy or participation of strangers not to invalidate proceedings.
103Committees104Sittings105
Dissolution and issue of proclamation by Governor



106
Qualifications for election107Disqualifications108Right of attendance of President
109Tenure of Seat of Members110Recall111
Remuneration


112
State constituencies113Size of state constituencies114Periodical review of State constituencies
115Time when alteration of state constituencies takes effect116Time of elections to Houses of Assembly117Direct election and franchise
118Supervision and election119Power of National Assembly as to determination of certain questions



120
Establishment of Consolidated Revenue Fund121Authorisation of expenditure from Consolidated Revenue fund122Authorisation of expenditure in default of appropriations.
123Contingencies Fund124Remuneration, etc. of the governor and certain other officers125Audit of Public accounts
126Appointment of Auditor-General127Tenure of office of Auditor-General128Power to conduct investigations
129Power as to matters of evidence.



The Executive


Part I



A-The President of the Federation

130
Establishment of the office of President131Qualification for election as President132Election of the President: general
133Election: single presidential candidate134Election: two or more presidential candidates135Tenure of office of President
136
Death, etc. of president-elect before oath of office.
137Disqualifications.138President: disqualification from other jobs.
139Determination of certain questions relating to election140Declaration of assets and liabilities; oaths of President.141Establishment of office of Vice-President
142Nomination and election of Vice-President143Removal of President from office144Permanent incapacity of President or Vice-President.
145Acting President during temporary absence of President146Discharge of functions of President147Ministers of federal Government
148Executive Responsibilities of Ministers149Declaration of Assets and liabilities; oaths of Ministers.150Attorney-General of the Federation
151Special Advisers.152Declaration of assets and Liabilities; oaths of special Adviser.



153
Federal Commissions and Councils, etc.154Appointment of Chairman and members155Tenure of office of members.
156Qualification for membership.157Removal of members.158Independence of certain bodies
159Quorum and decisions160Powers and Procedure.161
Interpretation.


C - Public Revenue



162
Distributable pool account163Allocation of other revenues164Federal grants-in-aid of State revenue.
165Cost of collection of certain duties166Set-off.167Sums charged on consolidated Revenue Fund.
168Provisions with regard to payments



169
Establishment of civil service of the Federation170Federal Civil service Commission: power to delegate functions171Presidential appointments
172Code of Conduct173Protection of pension rights.174Public persecutions
175Prerogative of mercy.


Part II



A - The Governor of a State

176
Establishment of office of Governor177Qualification for election as Governor178Election of Governor: general.
179Election: single candidate and two or more candidates180Tenure of office of Governor181Death, etc. of Governor before oath of office.
182Disqualifications183Governor: disqualification from other jobs.184Determination of certain questions relating to elections.
185Declaration of assets and liabilities; oaths of office of Governor.186Establishment of the office of the Deputy Governor187Nomination and election of the Deputy Governor
188Removal of Governor or Deputy Governor from office.189Permanent incapacity of Governor or Deputy Governor.190Acting governor during temporary absence of Governor.
191Discharge of functions of Governor.192Commissioners of State Government.193Executive responsibilities of Deputy Governor and Commissioners.
194Declaration of assets and liabilities; oaths of Commissioners195Attorney-General of a State196
Special Advisers



197
State Commissioners198Appointment of Chairman and members.199Tenure of office of the members.
200Qualification for membership201Removal of members.202Independence of certain bodies.
203Quorum and decisions.204Powers and procedure205
Interpretation



206
Establishment of State Civil Service207State Civil Service Commission: Power of delegation208Appointments by Governor
209Code of Conduct.210Protection of pension rights.211Public prosecutions
212Prerogative of mercy


Part III
Supplemental


A - National Population Census

213
National Population census



214
Establishment of Nigeria Police Force.215Appointment 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 Federation218Command and operational use219Establishment of body to ensure federal character of armed forces
220Compulsory military service.



221
Prohibition of political activities by certain associations.222Restrictions on formation of political parties223Constitution and rules of political parties.
224Aims and objectives225Finances of political parties.226Annual reports on finances
227Prohibition of quasi-military organisations.228Powers of the national assembly with respect to political parties.229
Interpretation.



The Judicature

Part I
Federal Courts


A - The Supreme Court of Nigeria

230
Establishment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria231Appointment of Chief justices of Nigeria and justices of the Supreme Court232Original jurisdiction.
233Appellate jurisdiction.234Constitution235Finality of determinations
236Practice and procedure



237
Establishment of Court of Appeal238Appointment of President and Justices of the Court of Appeal.239Original jurisdiction
240Appellate jurisdiction241Appeals as of rights from the Federal high Court or a High Court.242Appeals with leave.
243Exercise of the rights of appeal from the Federal High Court of a High Court in civil and criminal matters.244Appeals from Sharia court of Appeal245Appeals from customary court of appeal.
246Appeal from Code of Conduct Tribunal and other courts and tribunals247Constitution248
Practice and procedure.



249
Establishment of the Federal High Court.250Appointment of Chief Judge and Judges of the federal high Court.251Jurisdiction
252Powers253Constitution.254
Practice and procedure



255
Establishment of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.256Appointment of Chief Judge and Judges of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.257Jurisdiction.
258Constitution.259Practice and procedure



260
Establishment of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.261Appointment of Grand Kadi and Kadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.262Jurisdiction.
263Constitution.264Practice and Procedure



265
Establishment of the Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.266Appointment of President and Judges of Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.267Jurisdiction.
268Constitution.269Practice and Procedure


Part II



A - High Court of a State

270
Establishment of a High Court for each State.271Appointment of Chief Judge and Judges of the High Court of a State.272Jurisdiction.
273Constitution.274Practice and Procedure



275
Establishment of Sharia Court of Appeal.276Appointment of Grand Kadi and Kadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal of a State.277Jurisdiction.
278Constitution.279Practice and Procedure



280
Establishment of a Customary Court of Appeal.281Appointment of President and Judges of the Customary Court of Appeal of a State.282Jurisdiction.
283Constitution.284Practice and Procedure


Part III

285Establishment and jurisdiction of election tribunals.


Part IV

286Jurisdiction of state courts in respect of federal causes287Enforcement of decisions.288Appointment of persons leaned in Islamic personal law and Customary law
289Disqualification of certain legal practitioners.290Declaration of assets and liabilities: oaths of judicial officers.291Tenure of office and pension rights of judicial officers.
292Removal of other judicial officers from office.293Vacancies294Determination of causes and matters
295
Reference of questions of law.
296
Interpretation



Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and General Supplementary Provisions

Part I
Federal Capital Territory, Abuja


297
Federal Capital territory, Abuja: ownership of lands.298Capital of the federation299Application of Constitution.
300Representation in the National Assembly301Adaptation of certain references.302Minister of Federal Capital territory, Abuja.
303Administration of the Federal Capital territory, Abuja.304Establishment of the Judicial Service Committee of the Federal Capital territory, Abuja


Part II


305
Procedure for proclamation of state of emergency306Resignations.307Restriction on certain citizens
308Restrictions on legal proceedings.


Part III


309
Citizenship
310
Staff of legislative houses.
311
Standing Orders
312Special provisions in respect of first election.313System of revenue allocation.314Debts.
315Existing law.316Existing offices, courts and authorities.317Succession to property, rights, liabilities and obligations.


Part IV


318
Interpretation.319Citation.320
Commencement.



First Schedule

Part I


Part II
Definition and Area Councils of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja



Second Schedule

Part I


Part II


Part III
Supplemental and Interpretation



Third Schedule

Part I


















Part II







Part III
Federal Capital Territory, Abuja Executive Body





Fourth Schedule





Fifth Schedule

Part I



General





Part II




Sixth Schedule








Seventh Schedule




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

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