The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the head of state and head of
the national executive of Nigeria. The President of Nigeria is also the
commander-in-chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The current President of Nigeria
is Muhammadu Buhari. History
On October 1, 1960, Nigeria gained independence from Britain. An
all-Nigerian Executive Council was headed by a Prime Minister, Alhaji Sir
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. On November 16, 1960, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, became the
first Governor-General of a Federation of three Regions of the North, East and
West, with Lagos as the Federal Capital. Each of the Regions was headed by a
Premier with a Governor as Ceremonial Head. On October 1, 1963, Nigeria became
a Federal Republic and severed whatever ties were left with Britain. Nigeria
decided, however, to remain in the British Commonwealth of Nations. The
Governor-General's position was, therefore, re-designated as President.
In January 1966, a group of army officers, led by Major Chukwuma Nzeogwu,
overthrew the central and regional governments, killed the prime minister,
and tried to take control of the government in a failed coup d'état.
Nzeogwu was countered, captured and imprisoned by General Johnson
Aguiyi-Ironsi. General Aguiyi-Ironsi was named Military Head of State.
In July 1966, a group of northern army officers revolted against the
government, killed General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, and appointed the army
chief of staff, General Yakubu Gowon as the head of the new military government.
In 1975, General Yakubu Gowon was deposed and General Murtala Mohammed was
the Head of the Federal Military Government of Nigeria until his
assassination in 1976. In 1976, General Olusegun Obasanjo was
made head of state in a meeting of the Supreme Military Council. Keeping the
chain of command established by Murtala Muhammed in place.
In 1979, Nigeria adopted a constitution that was modelled on the Constitution of
the United States, with provision for a President, Senate, and House of
Representatives. In October 1979, after more than 13
years of military rule, Nigeria returned to democratic rule. The National Party
of Nigeria emerged victorious in the presidential election and Alhaji Shehu
Shagari was elected President. On December 31, 1983, the military
overthrew the Second Republic. Major General Muhammadu Buhari emerged as the
Chairman of the Supreme Military Council, the new Head of State.
In August 1985, General Buhari's government was peacefully overthrown by
Army Chief of Staff, Major General Ibrahim Babangida. Babangida became the
President and Chairman of the Armed Forces Ruling Council.
In August 1993, General Babangida stepped down and chose an interim
government to replace him. Ernest Shonekan was named as interim president.
General Sani Abacha seized power from Shonekan in November 1993 and became the
President and Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council.
On 8 June 1998, General Abacha died at the presidential villa in the Nigerian
capital, Abuja. Major General Abdulsalami Abubakar became the new
President and Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council.
In May 1999, Major General Abdulsalami Abubakar stepped down, and the former
military head of state, Olusegun Obasanjo, became the newly elected
civilian president. Obasanjo served two terms in office.
In May 2007, Alhaji Umaru Yar'Adua was sworn in as President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, the 13th head of state of Nigeria. Yar'Adua died on 5 May
2010 in the Presidential villa, in Abuja, Nigeria.
On 6 May 2010, the Vice President Goodluck Jonathan was sworn in as
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the 14th head of state.
On 29 May 2015, Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in as President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria and the 15th head of state after winning the general
election. Functions of the President of Nigeria
The President has the powers entrusted by the Constitution and legislation,
including those necessary to perform the functions of Head of State and head of
the national executive. The President is responsible for:
Assenting to and signing Bills Referring a Bill back to the National
Assembly for reconsideration of the Bill's constitutionality
Referring a Bill to the Constitutional Court for a decision on the Bill's
constitutionality Summoning the National Assembly, or
Parliament to an extraordinary sitting to conduct special business
Making any appointments that the Constitution or legislation requires the
President to make, other than as head of the national executive
Appointing commissions of inquiry Calling a national referendum in terms
of an Act of Parliament Receiving and recognising foreign
diplomatic and consular representatives Appointing ambassadors,
plenipotentiaries, and diplomatic and consular representatives
Pardoning or reprieving offenders and remitting any fines, penalties or
forfeitures Conferring honours
Eligibility A person shall be eligible for the
office of President if he or she is a citizen of Nigeria, at least 40 years of
age, is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political
party. The constitution limits the President to only two terms of four
years each in office. Oath of office
The Constitution of Nigeria specifies an oath of office for the President of the
federation. The oath is administered by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
of Nigeria or the person for the time being appointed to exercise the
functions of that office: See also
List of Governors-General of Nigeria List of heads of state of Nigeria
List of heads of government of Nigeria References