Commonwealth Governance Handbook 2013/14 225 KEY FACTS Joined Commonwealth: 1960 (suspended 1995–99) Population: 162,471,000 (2011) GNI p.c.: US$1,280 (2011) UN HDI 2011: world ranking 156 Geography Area: 923,768 sq km Coastline: 853 km Capital: Abuja The Federal Republic of Nigeria lies on the Gulf of Guinea and has borders with Benin (west), Niger (north), Chad (north-east across Lake Chad) and Cameroon (east). It comprises the Abuja Federal Capital Territory and 36 states. Constitution Status: Republic with executive President Legislature: Nigeria National Assembly Independence: 1 October 1960 The May 1999 constitution, like those of 1979 and 1989, and the draft constitution of 1995, provided for a federal republic with an executive President on the US model. Six new states were created in October 1996, bringing the total to 36. The President is elected every four years by universal adult suffrage, with candidates required to include at least one representative of each of the 36 states in the cabinet. There is a bicameral National Assembly made up of a House of Representatives (with 360 seats) and a Senate (with 109 seats), each elected for four-year terms. The state governors and assemblies are also elected every four years. The constitution also guarantees personal freedom and permits the exercise of sharia law for consenting Muslims. Judicial system Supreme court: Supreme Court of Nigeria Ministry: Justice The constitution guarantees the independence of the judiciary and permits the exercise of sharia law for consenting Muslims. The Supreme Court is presided over by the chief justice and has up to 15 justices. It is the final court of appeal; and it has jurisdiction over disputes between the states, or between the federal government and any state, particularly in relation to the allocation of funds or resources; and over disputes arising from elections. The Federal Court of Appeal is headed by a President and has at least 35 justices, with a minimum of three with expertise in sharia law, and three in customary law. There is the Federal High Court and a high court in each of the 36 states. States are entitled to have a sharia court of appeal and a customary court of appeal. Judges in the federal courts are appointed by the President of the republic on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council and approved by the Senate. Judges in the state high courts are appointed by the state governors, also on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, and approved by the state assembly. Government and politics Last elections: April 2011 (legislative and presidential) Next elections: April 2015 Head of State: President Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Head of Government: the President Ruling party: People’s Democratic Party Nigeria
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