Understanding roles and responsibilities of elected officials
Discover the distinct roles of the Federal, State, and Local Governments in Nigeria as outlined by the Constitution.
Federal Government
The Nigerian Constitution establishes the federal government as the governing body of the country and gives it several responsibilities, including:
The National Assembly, made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives, is the law-making body of Nigeria. The National Assembly’s power to make laws is outlined in Chapter 1, Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution.
The federal government is responsible for national defense and security, which includes maintaining the Nigerian Armed Forces (Army, Navy, and Air Force) to protect the country’s sovereignty and territory.
The federal government manages international relations and foreign policy, representing Nigeria in global affairs and overseeing embassies, consulates, and other diplomatic missions.
While states manage primary and secondary education, the federal government sets educational standards, policies, and manages federal universities and institutions.
The federal government, through agencies like the Nigeria Customs Service and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), oversees the collection of taxes, duties, and tariffs on imports, exports, and other revenue sources.
The federal government controls immigration policy, border security, and naturalization procedures. It also establishes laws on citizenship.
Through institutions like the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the federal government manages monetary policy, currency regulation, and national financial stability.
The federal government is responsible for creating and implementing national economic policies, plans, and programs, including budget preparation and economic management.
The federal government regulates national health standards, oversees agencies like the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and supports the healthcare system, especially in managing diseases of national concern.
The federal government regulates telecommunications and manages key infrastructure, including national highways, railways, and air transport facilities, ensuring nationwide connectivity.
The federal government oversees the federal judiciary, including the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, and other federal courts, ensuring the fair administration of justice across the country.
The federal government regulates and manages natural resources, including the oil and gas sector, through agencies like the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
State Government
State governments are responsible for ensuring that local governments exist under the law, and for establishing their structure, composition, finance, and functions. State governments also allocate public revenue to local government councils.
Economic planning: State governments are responsible for economic planning and development of their area.
National prosperity: State governments are responsible for promoting national prosperity and an efficient, dynamic, and self-reliant economy.
Voting rights: State governments are responsible for ensuring that everyone who is entitled to vote in a House of Assembly election is also entitled to vote in a local election
Local Government
The Nigerian constitution details the responsibilities of local governments, including:
- Economic development: Local governments make recommendations to the state commission on economic planning.
- Collection of taxes and fees: Local governments collect taxes, rates, and radio and television licenses.
- Public amenities: Local governments establish, maintain, and regulate markets, motor parks, public conveniences, slaughterhouses, and slaughter slabs.
- Public works: Local governments construct and maintain roads, streets, drains, parks, open spaces, and public highways.
- Public services: Local governments provide and maintain public transportation, refuse disposal systems, and health services.
- Education: Local governments provide and maintain primary, adult, and vocational education.
- Registration: Local governments register births, deaths, and marriages.
- Licensing: Local governments license bicycles, trucks, canoes, wheelbarrows, and carts.
- Regulation: Local governments regulate outdoor advertising, the movement of pets, shops, kiosks, restaurants, and laundries.
- Naming and numbering: Local government are responsible for the naming of roads and streets and the numbering of houses.