The National Council of States is an organ of the Nigerian Government. Its functions include advising the executive on policy making. The Council has no executive power, however plays an important

advice and consent Advice and consent is an English phrase frequently used in enacting formulae of bills and in other legal or constitutional contexts. It describes either of two situations: where a weak executive branch of a government enacts something previ ...

role in government operations.

History

In the

First Nigerian Republic The First Republic was the republican government of Nigeria between 1963 and 1966 governed by the first republican constitution. The country's government was based on a federal form of the Westminster system. The period between 1 October 196 ...

t, here was no National Council of State as the Premiers occasionally they met with the

Prime Minister of Nigeria The Prime Minister of Nigeria was a political office in Nigeria. The Prime minister was the head of government in the country from 1960 to 1966, when the office was replaced by the president of Nigeria holding this role. History of the office When ...

, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. The idea of the National Council of State was first introduced by General

Murtala Muhammed Murtala Ramat Muhammad (8 November 1938 – 13 February 1976) was a Nigerian general who led the 1966 Nigerian counter-coup in overthrowing the Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi military regime and featured prominently during the Nigerian Civil War ...

on 30 July 1975 in a broadcast to the nation after deposing General

Yakubu Gowon Yakubu Dan-Yumma 'Jack' Gowon (born 19 October 1934) is a retired Nigerian Army general and military leader. As Head of State of Nigeria, Gowon presided over a controversial Nigerian Civil War and delivered the famous "no victor, no vanquishe ...

: He then appointed the following governors as members of the council of state: * Muhammed Buhari (North-East) * George Innih (Mid-West) * Sani Bello (Kano) * Adekunle Lawal *

Paul Omu Paul Ufuoma Omu (born July 1940) was Military Governor of South-Eastern State, Nigeria (renamed Cross River State in February 1976) between July 1975 and July 1978 during the military regimes of Generals Murtala Muhammed and Olusegun Obasanjo. M ...

(South-East) *

Ibrahim Taiwo Ibrahim Taiwo (died 13 February 1976) was a Military Governor of Kwara State from July 1975 to February 1976 during the military regime of General Murtala Mohammed. He assisted in establishment of the University of Ilorin, which was founded by dec ...

(Kwara) * Akintunde Aduwo (West) *

Anthony Ochefu Colonel Anthony Aboki Ochefu was a Military Governor of East Central State from July 1975 to February 1976 during the military regime of General Murtala Mohammed. Military background During the Nigerian Civil War of 1967–70, Ochefu commanded ...

(East-Central) * Usman Jubrin (North-Central) *

Abdullahi Mohammed Abdullahi Mohammed is a retired Nigerian Army major general, who served as chief of staff to presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Umaru Musa Yar'Adua from 1999 to 2008; National Security Adviser to General Abdusalami Abubakar from 1998 to 1999; Dire ...

(Benue-Plateau) * Umaru Mohammed (North-West) * Zamani Lekewot (Rivers). The 1979 constitution enlarged the composition of the Council of State to its current size.

Composition of the Council of State

The Council of State consists of the following persons: *

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...

, who is the Chairman *

Vice-President A vice president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vice president is on ...

, who is the Deputy Chairman *All former Presidents of the Federation and all former Heads of the Government of the Federation *All former Chief Justices of Nigeria *

President of the Senate President of the Senate is a title often given to the presiding officer of a senate. It corresponds to the speaker in some other assemblies. The senate president often ranks high in a jurisdiction's succession for its top executive office: for ex ...

* Speaker of the House of Representatives *All the Governors of the states of the Federation * Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation

Duties

The council has responsibilities in advising the President in the exercise of his/her powers with respect to the following: national population census and compilation, publication and keeping of records, prerogative of mercy, awarding of national honours, the appointment of members of the

Independent National Electoral Commission The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was established in 1998 and is the electoral body which oversees elections in Nigeria. History Regulation and administration of elections The administration of democratic elections in Nige ...

, the appointment of members of the National Judicial Council (other than ex-officio members of that Council), and the appointment of members of the National Population Commission. It also advises 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. It has acted during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria as well as during times of economic crisis.

References

1999 Constitution of Nigeria
Government of Nigeria Politics of Nigeria {{Nigeria-gov-stub

History

Composition of the Council of State

Duties

See also

References