Nigeria Political Institutions. II. Political Institutions a) Executive Branch b) Legislative Branch...
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Transcript of Nigeria Political Institutions. II. Political Institutions a) Executive Branch b) Legislative Branch...
NigeriaPolitical Institutions
II. Political Institutionsa) Executive Branchb) Legislative Branchc) Judicial Branchd) The Militarye) The Party Systemf) The Electoral System
Appoints
Confirms
Elects
The President The Cabinet The Nigerian Civil Service
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
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
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?
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
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
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
Ethnic , religious, and regional tensions occasionally disrupt the civility of the House of Representatives as evidenced by a recent brawl (2010)
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
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
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
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
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
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
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:
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?
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
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?
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)
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
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?
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
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
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?
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:
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?