![Page 1: Nigeria Political Institutions. II. Political Institutions a) Executive Branch b) Legislative Branch c) Judicial Branch d) The Military e) The Party System](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022050909/56649eeb5503460f94bfc086/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
NigeriaPolitical Institutions
![Page 2: Nigeria Political Institutions. II. Political Institutions a) Executive Branch b) Legislative Branch c) Judicial Branch d) The Military e) The Party System](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022050909/56649eeb5503460f94bfc086/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
II. Political Institutionsa) Executive Branchb) Legislative Branchc) Judicial Branchd) The Militarye) The Party Systemf) The Electoral System
![Page 3: Nigeria Political Institutions. II. Political Institutions a) Executive Branch b) Legislative Branch c) Judicial Branch d) The Military e) The Party System](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022050909/56649eeb5503460f94bfc086/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Appoints
Confirms
Elects
![Page 4: Nigeria Political Institutions. II. Political Institutions a) Executive Branch b) Legislative Branch c) Judicial Branch d) The Military e) The Party System](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022050909/56649eeb5503460f94bfc086/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
The President The Cabinet The Nigerian Civil Service
![Page 5: Nigeria Political Institutions. II. Political Institutions a) Executive Branch b) Legislative Branch c) Judicial Branch d) The Military e) The Party System](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022050909/56649eeb5503460f94bfc086/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Directly elected by citizens
Limited to two 4 year terms
Must receive national and regional support to be elected
Appoints Supreme Court Judges
Appoints Cabinet Can veto legislation Commander-in-chief of
the armed forces Current President Goodluck JonathanHe is a Christian from the South
![Page 6: Nigeria Political Institutions. II. Political Institutions a) Executive Branch b) Legislative Branch c) Judicial Branch d) The Military e) The Party System](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022050909/56649eeb5503460f94bfc086/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
1985-1993 1993 1993-1998 1998-1999 1999-2007 2007-2010 2010-present
IbrahimBabangida
Ernest Shonekan
Sani Abacha
AbdulsalamiAbubakar
Olusegun Obsanjo
UmaruYar’ Adua
GoodluckJonathan
Military Dictatorship Democratic Republic
![Page 7: Nigeria Political Institutions. II. Political Institutions a) Executive Branch b) Legislative Branch c) Judicial Branch d) The Military e) The Party System](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022050909/56649eeb5503460f94bfc086/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
There are currently 19 Ministries or Departments
By convention the President appoints one Cabinet Minister from each of Nigeria’s 36 states; since there are more states than Ministries, many Ministries have two Cabinet Ministers
Below: Goodluck Jonathan with his newly appointed (2011) CabinetHow many women are in his Cabinet?
![Page 8: Nigeria Political Institutions. II. Political Institutions a) Executive Branch b) Legislative Branch c) Judicial Branch d) The Military e) The Party System](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022050909/56649eeb5503460f94bfc086/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Modeled after the British Civil Service and established during colonial rule
Like the British Civil Service, the Nigerian Civil Service is composed of a career bureaucrats who craft policy and consult with Cabinet Ministers
The top civil servants are known as permanent secretaries
Nigeria’s Civil Service, however, is generally characterized as inefficient and corrupt
Uses a quota system to ensure balanced representation from Nigeria’s many ethnic groups
![Page 9: Nigeria Political Institutions. II. Political Institutions a) Executive Branch b) Legislative Branch c) Judicial Branch d) The Military e) The Party System](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022050909/56649eeb5503460f94bfc086/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Like all federal systems, Nigeria has a bicameral legislature
The House of Representatives is based on representation by population
The Senate is based on regional representation
![Page 10: Nigeria Political Institutions. II. Political Institutions a) Executive Branch b) Legislative Branch c) Judicial Branch d) The Military e) The Party System](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022050909/56649eeb5503460f94bfc086/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Directly elected to 4 year terms
Based on representation by population
Amends and make laws Debates issues Can impeach the
president Can overturn a veto
with a supermajority vote (66%+)
360 seats
![Page 11: Nigeria Political Institutions. II. Political Institutions a) Executive Branch b) Legislative Branch c) Judicial Branch d) The Military e) The Party System](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022050909/56649eeb5503460f94bfc086/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Ethnic , religious, and regional tensions occasionally disrupt the civility of the House of Representatives as evidenced by a recent brawl (2010)
![Page 12: Nigeria Political Institutions. II. Political Institutions a) Executive Branch b) Legislative Branch c) Judicial Branch d) The Military e) The Party System](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022050909/56649eeb5503460f94bfc086/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Directly elected to 4 year terms
Based on regional representation
Debates issues Amends and creates laws Can impeach the president Can overturn a presidential
veto with a supermajority vote (66%+)
Confirms President’s Supreme Court appointments
109 seats
![Page 13: Nigeria Political Institutions. II. Political Institutions a) Executive Branch b) Legislative Branch c) Judicial Branch d) The Military e) The Party System](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022050909/56649eeb5503460f94bfc086/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Nigeria’s legal system is comprised of three systems:
1) Traditional courts 2) British Law 3) Islamic Sharia Law
There is also Supreme Court with the power of judicial review
![Page 14: Nigeria Political Institutions. II. Political Institutions a) Executive Branch b) Legislative Branch c) Judicial Branch d) The Military e) The Party System](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022050909/56649eeb5503460f94bfc086/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Customary courts were established under British colonial rule to encourage local ethnic groups to resolve minor conflicts peacefully and based on their local customs.
These courts continue to operate in Nigeria but their jurisdiction is generally limited to minor civil disputes
Below: a traditional Igbo court in Southeastern Nigeria circa 1900
![Page 15: Nigeria Political Institutions. II. Political Institutions a) Executive Branch b) Legislative Branch c) Judicial Branch d) The Military e) The Party System](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022050909/56649eeb5503460f94bfc086/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Nigeria’s criminal code and civil law are based on British legal traditions
For all civil law cases in the South, Nigeria uses British common law
Criminal and civil trials use the adversarial system where defense lawyers and prosecutors argue their cases
Criminal law is also based on the presumption of innocence
Below: senior Nigerian lawyers wearing traditional English wigs
![Page 16: Nigeria Political Institutions. II. Political Institutions a) Executive Branch b) Legislative Branch c) Judicial Branch d) The Military e) The Party System](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022050909/56649eeb5503460f94bfc086/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Islamic law is used in civil and criminal cases in Nigeria’s northern states
Non-Muslims living in northern states do have the right to be tried using British Law
The introduction of sharia law was seen as a concession to Nigeria’s northern Muslims to strengthen Nigerian federalism
![Page 17: Nigeria Political Institutions. II. Political Institutions a) Executive Branch b) Legislative Branch c) Judicial Branch d) The Military e) The Party System](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022050909/56649eeb5503460f94bfc086/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Established in 1999 Composed of approximately 21
judges, who are appointed by the president
Highest Nigerian court Has the authority to interpret
the constitution and provide judicial review
Independent of the executive and legislative branches
![Page 18: Nigeria Political Institutions. II. Political Institutions a) Executive Branch b) Legislative Branch c) Judicial Branch d) The Military e) The Party System](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022050909/56649eeb5503460f94bfc086/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Recently, supreme court judges have begun to exercise their judicial review by challenging the ruling People’s Democratic Party(PDP)
Two recent rulings support the Supreme Court’s claim to providing effective judicial review:
2007- ruled that PDP President Obasanjo could not seek a third term
2012- upheld INEC appeal that 5 state governors had refused to step down from office; the court ordered that these 5 governors be sacked
http://www.proshareng.com/news/16143Source:
![Page 19: Nigeria Political Institutions. II. Political Institutions a) Executive Branch b) Legislative Branch c) Judicial Branch d) The Military e) The Party System](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022050909/56649eeb5503460f94bfc086/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Nigeria has one of the largest military forces in Africa and possesses a modern arsenal
Unlike other case study countries we studied this year, the military dominated Nigerian politics for most of the 20th century
From independence until 1999 there were 10 military coup d’etats
Below: President Goodluck Jonathan riding with top generals
Why do you think Nigeria’s president insisted on a public motorcade standing next two Nigeria’s top generals?
![Page 20: Nigeria Political Institutions. II. Political Institutions a) Executive Branch b) Legislative Branch c) Judicial Branch d) The Military e) The Party System](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022050909/56649eeb5503460f94bfc086/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Until 1999 the military assumed the role of the executive branch; every president until 2007 had a military background, the military controlled Nigeria’s oil wealth and controlled patronage
The strong presence of the military in politics is a feature of many African states
Since the 1999 Constitution the military has accepted its subordinate position and the primacy of civilian rule
![Page 21: Nigeria Political Institutions. II. Political Institutions a) Executive Branch b) Legislative Branch c) Judicial Branch d) The Military e) The Party System](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022050909/56649eeb5503460f94bfc086/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Nigeria’s party system is much more developed than Iran’s, since there are actual political parties with defined ideologies
Nigeria is considered a multi-party system but since 1999 only one party, the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) has dominated politics. Does this describe another country’s party system we studied this year?
![Page 22: Nigeria Political Institutions. II. Political Institutions a) Executive Branch b) Legislative Branch c) Judicial Branch d) The Military e) The Party System](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022050909/56649eeb5503460f94bfc086/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
The party system in Nigeria is still in its infancy
Party popularity is still largely determined by the popularity of powerful personalities- this is very much rooted in Nigeria’s authoritarian political culture
Left Centre Right
People’s Democratic Party (PDP)
Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)
All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP)Congress for Progressive Change (CPC)
![Page 23: Nigeria Political Institutions. II. Political Institutions a) Executive Branch b) Legislative Branch c) Judicial Branch d) The Military e) The Party System](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022050909/56649eeb5503460f94bfc086/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
Congress for Progressive Change (CPC)
Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)
All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP)
People’s Democratic Party (PDP)
•Left of Centre•Strong supporter of social welfare•Favours more devolution of powers to the states•Strong support base in the North
•Progressive Party•Supports economic liberalization but also emphasizes social welfare•Popular in the South
•Right-wing•Strong supporter of sharia law for the North•Strong support base in the North
•Centre-right party•Champion of economic liberalization•Ruling party since 1999•Very strong support base in the South
![Page 24: Nigeria Political Institutions. II. Political Institutions a) Executive Branch b) Legislative Branch c) Judicial Branch d) The Military e) The Party System](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022050909/56649eeb5503460f94bfc086/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
PDP position is in Nigerian politics is still dominant. However, in the 2011 election it lost its majority in the House of Representatives for the first time since 1999. Is this the beginning of a competitive party system?
![Page 25: Nigeria Political Institutions. II. Political Institutions a) Executive Branch b) Legislative Branch c) Judicial Branch d) The Military e) The Party System](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022050909/56649eeb5503460f94bfc086/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
Despite losing its majority in the House of Representatives, the PDP still has an overwhelming majority in the Senate and every president since 1999 has come from the PDP
![Page 26: Nigeria Political Institutions. II. Political Institutions a) Executive Branch b) Legislative Branch c) Judicial Branch d) The Military e) The Party System](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022050909/56649eeb5503460f94bfc086/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
Nigeria has three direct and regular elections for the President, Senate, and House of Representatives
The House of Representatives and Senate use the SMD system. A simple plurality is needed to win a seat.
To be elected president a candidate requires both regional and national support, at least 25% in 2/3 of Nigeria’s 36 states as well as an absolute majority (50%+ overall)
A second round, run-off vote is required if no candidate can meet the above criteria in the first round; since 1999 no second round has been needed
![Page 27: Nigeria Political Institutions. II. Political Institutions a) Executive Branch b) Legislative Branch c) Judicial Branch d) The Military e) The Party System](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022050909/56649eeb5503460f94bfc086/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
Given what you know about Nigeria’s system of federalism why do you think the Constitution called for the president to have at least 25% support in 2/3 of Nigeria’s 36 states?
Judging by the results of the 2011 presidential election is this electoral rule having the intended effect?
![Page 28: Nigeria Political Institutions. II. Political Institutions a) Executive Branch b) Legislative Branch c) Judicial Branch d) The Military e) The Party System](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022050909/56649eeb5503460f94bfc086/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
Nigeria’ s elections have been repeatedly criticized by the international community as fraudulent, and neither free nor fair
Nonetheless, unlike authoritarian Iran or China, Nigeria does have an independent electoral commission which monitors and supervises elections, tabulates results, and ensures that the elections are free and fair
http://www.inecnigeria.org/
For further inquiry into INEC visit the website:
![Page 29: Nigeria Political Institutions. II. Political Institutions a) Executive Branch b) Legislative Branch c) Judicial Branch d) The Military e) The Party System](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022050909/56649eeb5503460f94bfc086/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
1) Compare and contrast Nigeria’s party system with Mexico’s and Russia’s.
2) Explain why the Nigerian president is much more powerful than the Iranian president.
3) Does Nigeria’s government structure promote or hinder national unity?
4) Does Nigeria have the rule of law? Are there encouraging signs? How does it compare with Mexico and Russia?