Nigeria's constitutional development
Nigeria gained independence from British colonial rule in 1960, initially as a parliamentary system under a constitutional monarchy (with the British monarch as head of state). Nigeria became a republic in 1963, with its own president as head of state. After periods of military rule, Nigeria adopted a presidential system of government under the 1979 Constitution, which (after further military interruptions) was followed by the current 1999 Constitution, marking the return to civilian, democratic rule that continues today.
Structure of Nigeria's government
Nigeria's federal government has three arms: the executive (headed by the President), the legislature (the bicameral National Assembly, made up of the Senate and House of Representatives), and the judiciary (headed by the Supreme Court). Power is federally divided between the central government and the 36 states, each with its own governor and House of Assembly.
Example 1: Explain the purpose of Nigeria's federal character principle.
The federal character principle requires that appointments to public offices and the composition of government bodies reflect Nigeria's diverse states and ethnic groups, aiming to prevent any single group from dominating government and to promote national unity and a sense of fair representation across Nigeria's many different communities.