Section 316 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria
Section 316 of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 is about Existing offices, courts and authorities. It is under Part III (Transitional provisions and savings) of Chapter VIII (Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and general supplementary provisions) of the Constitution.
(1) Any office, court of law or authority which immediately before the date when this section comes into force was established and charged with any function by virtue of any other Constitution or law, shall be deemed to have been duly established and shall continue to be charged with such function until other provisions are made, as if the office, court of law or authority was established and charged with the function by virtue of this Constitution or in accordance with the provisions of a law made thereunder.
(2) Any person who immediately before the date when this section comes into force holds office by virtue of any other Constitution or law in force immediately before the date when this section comes into force shall be deemed to be duly appointed to that office by virtue of this Constitution or by any authority by whom appointments to that office fall to be made in pursuance of this Constitution.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2) of this section, any person holding such office, a member of a court of law or authority, who would have been required to vacate such office, or where his membership of such court of law or authority would have ceased but for the provisions of the said subsection (2) of this section, shall at the expiration of the period prescribed therefor after the date when this section comes into force vacate such office or, as the case may be, his membership of such court of law or authority shall cease, accordingly.
(4) The foregoing provisions of this section are without prejudice to the exercise of such powers as may be conferred by virtue of this Constitution or a law upon any authority or person to make provisions with respect to such matters as may be prescribed or authorised by this Constitution or such law, including the establishment and abolition of offices, courts of law or authorities, and with respect to the appointment of persons to hold offices or to be members of courts of law or authorities and their removal from such offices, courts of law or authorities.
(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the National Industrial Court Act, 2006 and any office or authority established and charged with any function under the Act, shall be deemed to have been duly established and shall continue to be charged with such function by virtue of this Constitution or in accordance with the provision of a law made thereunder.
Credit: Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC)
