Preamble to the Constitution
Section 1 – Supremacy of constitution
Section 2 – The Federal Republic of Nigeria
Section 3 – States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja
Section 4 – Legislative powers
Section 5 – Executive powers
Section 6 – Judicial powers
Section 7 – Local government system
Section 8 – New states and boundary adjustment, etc.
Section 9 – Mode of altering provisions of the constitution
Section 10 – Prohibition of State Religion
Section 11 – Public order and public security
Section 12 – Implementation of treaties
Section 13-24 – Chapter II [Fundamental Objectives and directive Principles of State Policy]
Section 25-32 – Chapter III [Citizenship]
Section 33 – Right to life
Section 34 – Right to dignity of human persons
Section 35 – Right to personal liberty
Section 36 – Right to fair hearing
Section 37 – Right to private and family life
Section 38 – Right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion
Section 39 – Right to freedom of expression and the press
Section 40 – Right to peaceful assembly and association
Section 41 – Right to freedom of movement
Section 42 – Right to freedom from discrimination
Section 43 – Right to acquire and own immovable property
Section 44 – Compulsory acquisition of property
Section 45 – Restriction on and derogation from fundamental human rights
Section 46 – Special jurisdiction of High Court and Legal aid
Section 47-51 [Part I – National Assembly
(A – Composition and Staff of National Assembly)]
Section 52-64 (B – Procedure for Summoning and Dissolution of National Assembly)
Section 65-70 (C – Qualifications for Membership of National Assembly and Right of Attendance)
Section 71-79 (D – Elections to National Assembly)
Section 80-89 (E – Powers and Control over Public Funds)
Section 90-93 [Part II – House of Assembly of a State
(A – Composition and Staff of House of Assembly)]
Section 94-105 (B – Procedure for Summoning and Dissolution of House of Assembly)
Section 106-111 (C – Qualification for Membership of House of Assembly and Right of Attendance)
Section 112-119 (D – Elections to a House of Assembly)
Section 120-129 (E – Powers and control over Public Funds)
Section 130-152 [Part I – Federal Executive
(A – The President of the Federation)]
Section 153-161 (B – Establishment of Certain Federal Executive Bodies)
Section 162-168 (C – Public Revenue)
Section 169-175 (D – The Public Service of the Federation)
Section 176-196 [Part II – State Executive
(A – The Governor of a State)]
Section 197-205 (B – Establishment of Certain State Executive Bodies)
Section 206-212 (C – The Public Service of State)
Section 213 [Part III – Supplemental
(A – National Population Census)]
Section 214-216 (B – Nigeria Police Force)
Section 217-220 (C – Armed Forces of the Federation)
Section 221-229 (D – Political Parties)
Section 230-236 [Part I – Federal Courts
(A – The Supreme Court of Nigeria)]
Section 237-248 (B – The Court of Appeal)
Section 249-254 (C – The Federal High Court)
Section 255-259 (D – The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja)
Section 260-264 (E – The Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja)
Section 265-269 (F – The Customary Court of appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja)
Section 270-274 [Part II – State Courts
(A – High Court of a State)]
Section 275-279 (B – Sharia Court of Appeal of a State)
Section 280-284 (C – Customary Court of Appeal of a State)
Section 285 [Part III – Election Tribunals]
Section 286-296 [Part IV – Supplemental]
Section 297-304 [Part I – Federal Capital Territory, Abuja]
Section 305-308 [Part II – Miscellaneous Provisions]
Section 309-317 [Part III – Transitional Provisions and Savings]
Section 318-320 [Part IV – Interpretation, Citation and Commencement]
First Schedule
Second Schedule
Third Schedule
Fourth Schedule
Fifth Schedule
Sixth Schedule
Seventh Schedule
Schedule III to the Nigerian Constitution 1999
Below is the content for the third schedule of the Nigerian Constitution.
Part I
Federal Executive Bodies
(Established by Section 153)
A – Code of Conduct Bureau
- The Code of Conduct Bureau shall comprise the following members:
(a) a Chairman; and
(b) nine other members, each of whom, at the time of appointment, shall not be
less than fifty years of age and subject to the provisions of section 157 of this
Constitution shall vacate his office on attaining the age of seventy years. - The Bureau shall establish such offices in each state of the Federation as it may require for the discharge of its
functions under this Constitution. - The Bureau shall have power to:
(a) receive declarations by public officers made under paragraph 12 of Part I of the Fifth Schedule to this
Constitution;
(b) examine the declarations in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct or any law;
(c) retain custody of such declarations and make them available for inspection by any citizen of Nigeria on such
terms and conditions as the National Assembly may prescribe;
(d) ensure compliance with and, where appropriate, enforce the provisions of the Code of Conduct of any law
relating thereto;
(e) receive complaints about non-compliance with or breach of the provisions of the Code of Conduct or any law in
relation thereto, investigate the complaint and, where appropriate, refer such matters to the Code of Conduct
Tribunal;
(f) appoint, promote, dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over the staff of the Codes of Conduct Bureau in
accordance with the provisions of an Act of the National Assembly enacted in that behalf; and
(g) carry out such other functions as may be conferred upon it by the National Assembly. - The terms and conditions of service of the staff of the Code of Conduct Bureau shall be the same as those
provided for public officers in the civil service of the Federation.
B – Council of State
- The Council of State shall comprise the following persons:
(a) the President, who shall be the Chairman;
(b) the Vice-President, who shall be the Deputy Chairman;
(c) all former Presidents of the Federation and all former Heads of the
Government of the Federation;
(d) all former Chief Justices of Nigeria;
(e) the President of the Senate;
(f) the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
(g) all the Governors of the states of the Federation; and
(h) the Attorney-General of the Federation.
(6.) The Council shall have power to:
(a) advise the President in the exercise of his powers with respect to the:-
(i) national population census and compilation, publication and keeping
of records and other information concerning the same;
(ii) prerogative of mercy;
(iii) award of national honours;
(iv) the Independent National Electoral Commission (including the
appointment of members of that Commission);
(v) the National Judicial Council (including the appointment of the
members, other than ex-officio members of that Council); and
(vi) the National Population Commission (including the appointment of
members of that Commission); and
(b) advise the President whenever requested to do so on the maintenance of public
order within the Federation or any part thereof and on such other matters as the
President may direct.
C – Federal Character Commission
- (1) The Federal Character Commission shall comprise the following members:
(a) a Chairman; and
(b) one person to represent each of the states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
(2) The Chairman and members shall be appointed by the President, subject to confirmation by the Senate. - (1) In giving effect to the provisions of section 14(3) and (4) of this Constitution, the Commission shall have the
power to:
(a) work out an equitable formula subject to the approval of the National
Assembly for the distribution of all cadres of posts in the public service of the
Federation and of the States, the armed forces of the Federation, the Nigeria
Police Force and other government security agencies, government owned
companies and parastatals of the states;
(b) promote, monitor and enforce compliance with the principles of proportional
sharing of all bureaucratic, economic, media and political posts at all levels of
government;
(c) take such legal measures, including the prosecution of the head or staff of any
Ministry or government body or agency which fails to comply with any federal
character principle or formula prescribed or adopted by the Commission; and
(d) carry out such other functions as may be conferred upon it by an Act of the
National Assembly.
(2) The posts mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(a) and (b) of this paragraph shall include those of the Permanent
Secretaries, Directors-General in Extra-Ministerial Departments and parastatals, Directors in Ministries and ExtraMinisterial Departments, senior military officers, senior diplomatic posts and managerial cadres in the Federal and
State parastatals, bodies, agencies and institutions.
(3) Notwithstanding any provision in any other law or enactment, the Commission shall ensure that every public
company or corporation reflects the federal character in the appointments of its directors and senior management
staff. - It shall be the duty of the Board of Directors of every state-owned enterprise to recognise and promote the
principle of federal character in the ownership and management structure of the company.
D – Federal Civil Service Commission
- The Federal Civil Service Commission shall comprise the following members –
(a) a Chairman; and
(b) not more than fifteen other members, who shall, in the opinion of the President, be persons of unquestionable
integrity and sound political judgment. - (1) The Commission shall without prejudice to the powers vested in the President, the National Judicial Council,
the Federal Judicial Service Commission, the National Population Commission and the Police Service Commission,
have power –
(a) to appoint persons to offices in the Federal Civil Service; and
(b) to dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over persons holding such offices.
(2) The Commission shall not exercise any of its powers under sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph in respect of such
offices of heads of divisions of Ministries or of departments of the government of the Federation as may, from time
to time, be designated by an order made by the President except after consultation with the Head of the Civil Service
of the Federation.
E – Federal Judicial Service Commission
- The Federal Judicial Service Commission shall comprise the following members –
(a) the Chief Justice of Nigeria, who shall be the Chairman;
(b) the President of the Court of Appeal;
(c) the Attorney-General of the Federation;
(d) the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court;
(e) two persons, each of whom has been qualified to practice as a legal
practitioner in Nigeria for a period of not less than fifteen years, from a list of not
less than four persons so qualified and recommended by the Nigerian Bar
Association; and
(f) two other persons, not being legal practitioners, who in the opinion of the
President are of unquestionable integrity. - The Commission shall have power to –
(a) advise the National Judicial Council in nominating persons for appointment, as respects appointments to the
office of –
(i) the Chief Justice of Nigeria;
(ii) a Justice of the Supreme Court;
(iii) the President of the Court of Appeal;
(iv) a Justice of the Court of Appeal;
(v) the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court;
(vi) a Judge of the Federal High Court; and
(iv) the Chairman and members of the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
(b) recommend to the National Judicial Council, the removal from office of the judicial officers specified in subparagraph (a) of this paragraph; and
(c) appoint, dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over the Chief Registrars and Deputy Chief Registrars of the
Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, the Federal High Court and all other members of the staff of the judicial
service of the Federation not otherwise specified in this Constitution and of the Federal Judicial Service
Commission.
F – Independent National Electoral Commission
- (1) The Independent National Electoral Commission shall comprise the following members –
(a) a Chairman, who shall be the Chief Electoral Commissioner; and
(b) twelve other members to be known as National Electoral Commissioners, who shall be persons of
unquestionably integrity and not less than fifty years and forty years of age, respectively.
(2) There shall be for each State of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, a Resident Electoral
Commissioner who shall –
(a) be appointed by the President;
(b) be persons of unquestionable integrity;
(c) not be less than forty years of age. - The Commission shall have power to –
(a) organise, undertake and supervise all elections to the offices of the President and Vice-President, the Governor
and Deputy Governor of a State, and to the membership of the Senate, the House of Representatives and the House
of Assembly of each State of the Federation;
(b) register political parties in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution and an Act of the National
Assembly;
(c) monitor the organisation and operation of the political parties, including their finances;
(d) arrange for the annual examination and auditing of the funds and accounts of political parties, and publish a
report on such examination and audit for public information;
(e) arrange and conduct the registration of persons qualified to vote and prepare, maintain and revise the register of
voters for the purpose of any election under this Constitution;
(f) monitor political campaigns and provide rules and regulations which shall govern the political parties;
(g) ensure that all Electoral Commissioners, Electoral and Returning Officers take and subscribe the Oath of Office
prescribed by law;
(h) delegate any of its powers to any Resident Electoral Commissioner; and
(i) carry out such other functions as may be conferred upon it by an Act of the National Assembly.
G – National Defence Council
- The National Defence Council shall comprise the following members –
(a) the President who shall be the Chairman;
(b) the Vice-President who shall be the Deputy Chairman;
(c) the Minister of the Government of the Federation responsible for defence;
(d) the Chief of Defence Staff;
(e) the Chief of Army Staff;
(f) the Chief of Naval Staff;
(g) the Chief of Air Staff; and
(h) such other members as the President may appoint. - The Council shall have power to advise the President on matters relating to the defence of the sovereignty and
territorial integrity of Nigeria.
H – National Economic Council
- The National Economic Council shall comprise the following members –
(a) the Vice-President who shall be the Chairman;
(b) the Governor of each State of the Federation; and
(c) the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria established under the Central Bank of Nigeria Decree 1991 or any
enactment replacing that Decree. - The National Economic Council shall have power to advise the President concerning the economic affairs of the
Federation, and in particular on measures necessary for the co-ordination of the economic planning efforts or
economic programmes of the various Governments of the Federation.
I – National Judicial Council
- The National Judicial Council shall comprise the following members –
(a) the Chief Justice of Nigeria who shall be the Chairman
(b) the next most senior Justice of the Supreme Court who shall be the Deputy Chairman;
(c) the President of the Court of Appeal;
(d) five retired Justices selected by the Chief Justice of Nigeria from the Supreme Court or Court of Appeal;
(e) the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court;
(f) five Chief Judges of States to be appointed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria from among the Chief Judges of the
States and of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in rotation to serve for two years;
(g) one Grand Kadi to be appointed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria from among Grand Kadis of the Sharia Courts of
Appeal to serve in rotation for two years;
(h) one President of the Customary Court of Appeal to be appointed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria from among the
Presidents of the Customary Courts of Appeal to serve in rotation for two years;
(i) five members of the Nigerian Bar Association who have been qualified to practice for a period of not less than
fifteen years, at least one of whom shall be a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, appointed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria
on the recommendation of the National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association to serve for two years
and subject to re-appointment.
Provided that the five members shall sit in the Council only for the purposes of considering the names of persons for
appointment to the superior courts of record; and
(j) two persons not being legal practitioners, who in the opinion of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, are of
unquestionable integrity. - The National Judicial Council shall have power to –
(a) recommend to the President from among the list of persons submitted to it by –
(i) the Federal Judicial Service Commission, persons for appointment to the offices of the Chief Justice of Nigeria,
the Justices of the Supreme Court, the President and Justices of the Court of Appeal, the Chief Judge and Judges of
the Federal High Court, and
(ii) the Judicial Service Committee of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, persons for appointment to the offices of
the Chief Judge and Judges of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the Grand Kadi and Kadis of
the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and the President and Judges of the Customary
Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja;
(b) recommend to the President the removal from office of the judicial officers specified in sub-paragraph (a) of this
paragraph and to exercise disciplinary control over such officers;
(c) recommend to the Governors from among the list of persons submitted to it by the State Judicial Service
Commissions persons for appointments to the offices of the Chief Judges of the States and Judges of the High
Courts of the States, the Grand Kadis and Kadis of the Sharia Courts of Appeal of the States and the Presidents and
Judges of the Customary Courts of Appeal of the States;
(d) recommend to the Governors the removal from the office of the judicial officers in sub-paragraph (c) of this
paragraph, and to exercise disciplinary control over such officers.
(e) collect, control and disburse all moneys, capital and recurrent, for the judiciary;
(f) advise the President and Governors or any matter pertaining to the judiciary as may be referred to the Council by
the President or the Governors;
(g) appoint, dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over members and staff of the Council;
(h) control and disburse all monies, capital and recurrent; for the services of the Council; and
(i) deal with all other matters relating to broad issues of policy and administration. - The Secretary of the Council shall be appointed by the National Judicial Council on the recommendation of the
Federal Judicial Service Commission and shall be a legal practitioner.
J – National Population Commission
- The National Population Commission shall comprise the following members –
(a) a Chairman; and
(b) one person from each State of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. - The Commission shall have power to –
(a) undertake periodical enumeration of population through sample surveys, censuses or otherwise;
(b) establish and maintain a machinery for continuous and universal registration of births and deaths throughout the
Federation;
(c) advise the President on population matters;
(d) publish and provide information and data on population for the purpose of facilitating economic and
development planning; and
(e) appoint and train or arrange for the appointment and training of enumerators or the staff of the Commission.
K – National Security Council
- The National Security Council shall comprise the following members –
(a) the President who shall be the Chairman;
(b) the Vice-President who shall be the Deputy Chairman;
(c) the Chief of Defence Staff;
(d) the Minister of the Government of the Federation charged with the responsibility for internal affairs.
(e) the Minister of the Government of the Federation charged responsibility for defence;
(f) the Minister of the Government of the Federation charged with the responsibility for foreign affairs;
(g) the National Security Adviser
(h) the Inspector-General of Police; and
(i) such other persons as the President may in his discretion appoint. - The Council shall have power to advise the President on matters relating to public security including matters
relating to any organisation or agency established by law for ensuring the security of the Federation.
L – Nigeria Police Council
- The Nigeria Police Council shall comprise the following members –
(a) the President who shall be the Chairman;
(b) the Governor of each State of the Federation;
(c) the Chairman of the Police Service Commission; and
(d) the Inspector-General of Police - The functions of the Nigeria Police Council shall include –
(a) the organisation and administration of the Nigeria Police Force and all other matters relating thereto (not being
matters relating to the use and operational control of the Force or the appointment, disciplinary control and dismissal
of members of the Force);
(b) the general supervision of the Nigeria Police Force; and
(c) advising the President on the appointment of the Inspector-General of Police.
M – Police Service Commission
- The Police Service Commission shall comprise the following members –
(a) a Chairman; and
(b) such number of other persons, not less than seven but not more than nine, as may be prescribed by an Act of the
National Assembly. - The Commission shall have power to –
(a) appoint persons to offices (other than office of the Inspector-General of Police) in the Nigeria Police Force; and
(b) dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over persons holding any office referred to in sub-paragraph (a) of this
paragraph.
N – Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission
- The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission shall comprise the following members –
(a) a Chairman; and
(b) one member from each State of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja who in the opinion of the
President are persons of unquestionable integrity with requisite qualifications and experience. - The Commission shall have power to –
(a) monitor the accruals to and disbursement of revenue from the Federation Account;
(b) review, from time to time, the revenue allocation formulae and principles in operation to ensure conformity with
changing realities.
Provided that any revenue formula which has been accepted by an Act of the National Assembly shall remain in
force for a period of not less than five years from the date of commencement of the Act;
(c) advise the Federal and State Governments on fiscal efficiency and methods by which their revenue can be
increased;
(d) determine the remuneration appropriate for political office holders, including the President, Vice-President,
Governors, Deputy Governors, Ministers, Commissioners, Special Advisers, Legislators and the holders of the
offices mentioned in sections 84 and 124 of this Constitution; and
(e) discharge such other functions as are conferred on the Commission by this Constitution or any Act of the
National Assembly.
Part II
State’s Executive Bodies
(Established by section 197)
A – State Civil Service Commission
- A State Civil Service Commission shall comprise the following members –
(a) a Chairman; and
(b) not less than two and not more than four other persons, who shall, in the opinion of the Governor, be persons of
unquestionable integrity and sound political judgment. - (1) The Commission shall have power without prejudice to the powers vested in the Governor and the State
Judicial Service Commission to –
(a) appoint persons to offices in the State civil service; and
(b) dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over persons holding such offices. - The Commission shall not exercise any of its powers under sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph in respect of such
offices of heads of divisions of Ministries or of departments of the Government of the State as may from time to
time be designated by an order made by the Governor except after consultation with the Head of the Civil Service of
the State.
B – State Independent Electoral Commission
- A State Independent Electoral Commission shall comprise the following members –
(a) a Chairman; and
(b) not less than five but not more than seven other persons. - The Commission shall have power-
(a) to organise, undertake and supervise all elections to local government councils within the State.
(b) to render such advice as it may consider necessary to the Independent National Electoral Commission on the
compilation of and the register of voters in so far as that register is applicable to local government elections in the
State.
C – State Judicial Service Commission - A State Judicial Service Commission shall comprise the following members –
(a) the Chief Judge of the State, who shall be the Chairman;
(b) the Attorney General of the State;
(c) the Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the State, if any;
(d) the President of the Customary Court of Appeal of the State, if any;
(e) two members, who are legal practitioners, and who have been qualified to practice as legal practitioners in
Nigeria for not less than ten years; and
(f) two other persons, not being legal practitioners, who in the opinion of the Governor are of unquestionable
integrity. - The Commission shall have power to –
(a) advise the National Judicial Council on suitable persons for nomination to the office of –
(i) the Chief Judge of the State
(ii) the Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the State, if any,
(iii) the President of the Customary Court of Appeal of the State, if any,
(iii) the President of the Customary Court of Appeal of the State, if any,
(iv) Judges of the High Court of the State,
(v) Kadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the State, if any, and
(vi) Judges of the Customary Court of Appeal of the State, if any;
(b) subject to the provisions of this Constitution, to recommend to the National Judicial Council the removal from
the office of the judicial officers specified in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph; and
(c) to appoint, dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over the Chief Registrar and Deputy Chief Registrar of the
High Court, the Chief Registrars of the Sharia Court of Appeal and Customary Court of Appeal, Magistrates, Judges
and members of Area Courts and Customary Courts and all other members of the staff of the judicial service of the
State not otherwise specified in this Constitution.
Part III
Federal Capital Territory, Abuja Executive Body
(Established under Section 304)
Judicial Service Committee of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja
- The Judicial Service Committee of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja shall comprise the following members –
(a) the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja who shall be the Chairman.
(b) the Attorney-General of the Federation;
(c) the Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja;
(d) the President of the Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja;
(e) one person who is a legal practitioner and who has been qualified to practice as a legal practitioner in Nigeria for
a period of not less than twelve years; and
(f) one other person, not being practitioner, who in the opinion of the President is of unquestionable integrity. - The Committee shall have power –
(a) to recommend to the National Judicial Council suitable persons for nomination for appointment to the office of –
(i) the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,
(ii) a Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,
(iii) the Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja
(iv) the President of the Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,
(v) a Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,
(vi) a Judge of the Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
(b) subject to the provisions of this Constitution, to recommend to the National Judicial Council the removal from
office of the Judicial officers specified in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph;
(c) to appoint, promote and exercise disciplinary control over the Chief Registrar and Deputy Chief Registrars of the
High Court, the Sharia Court of Appeal and the Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,
magistrates, the judges and members of the District and Area Courts of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, if any,
and all other members of the staff of the judicial service of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja not otherwise
specified in this Constitution and of the Judicial Service Committee of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
