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Nigeria GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Government: Federal republic under strong
presidential
administration. Became parliamentary democracy at
independence;
under military rule 1966 to 1979, 1983- . Constitution of
1979
amended February 1984. New constitution promulgated 1989
and
scheduled to take effect January 1993; provides for three
independent branches of government: executive,
legislative,
judicial. National Assembly dissolved in 1983, had not
been
reinstated as of mid-1991. Transition to civilian rule
scheduled
to be completed January 1993.
Administrative Divisions: Thirty states divided
into
local councils; Federal Capital Territory of Abuja
projected to
become partially operational as national capital in 1991
as
federal departments transfer from Lagos.
Judicial System: Legal system based on English
common
law modified by Nigerian rulings, constitution of 1979,
legislative enactments, and decrees of military government
in
effect. Draft constitution of 1989 to take effect at start
of
Third Republic. Customary and Muslim sharia law recognized
in
personal status matters. Federal system included Supreme
Court,
federal courts of appeal, and federal high courts. Supreme
Court
had original jurisdiction in constitutional disputes.
Politics: In 1989 two political parties
established by
government: National Republican Convention, slightly right
of
center, and Social Democratic Party, slightly left of
center.
Presidential elections scheduled for December 1992.
Foreign Relations: Nonaligned; active member of
United
Nations, Organization of African Unity, Commonwealth of
Nations,
and Economic Community of West African States. Main
principles of
foreign policy: noninterference in internal affairs and
inviolability of national borders in Africa.
Data as of June 1991
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