Nigeria is a federation of 36 states and 1 federal capital territory. Each of the 36 states is a semi-autonomous political unit that shares powers with the federal government as enumerated under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is the capital territory of Nigeria, and it is in this territory that the capital city of Abuja is located. The FCT is not a state but is administered by elected officials who are supervised by the federal government. Each state is subdivided into local government areas (LGAs). There are 774 local governments in Nigeria.[1] Under the constitution, the 36 states are co-equal but not supreme because sovereignty resides with the federal government. The constitution can be amended by the National Assembly, but each amendment must be ratified by two-thirds of the 36 states of the federation.
In 1963, a new region, the Mid-Western Region, was created from the Western Region.
1967–1976
In 1967, the regions were replaced by 12 states by military decree. From 1967 to 1970 the Eastern Region attempted to secede, as a nation called Biafra during the Nigerian civil war.
1976–1987
In 1976, seven new states were created, making 19 altogether.[2]
During this period, there were 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The Federal Capital Territory was established in 1991. In 1987 two new states were established, followed by another nine in 1991, bringing the total to 30. The latest change, in 1996, resulted in the present number of 36 states.
Government
States of Nigeria have the right to organize and structure their individual governments in any way within the parameters set by the Constitution of Nigeria.
Legislature
At the state level, the legislature is unicameral, with the number of its members equal to three times the number of legislators it has in the Federal House of Representatives. It has the power to legislate on matters on the concurrent list.
Executive
At the state level, the head of the executive is the governor, who has the power to appoint people to the state executive council, subject to the advice and consent of the state house of assembly (legislature). The head of a ministry at the state level is the commissioner, who is assisted by a permanent secretary, who is also a senior civil servant of the state.
Judiciary
The Judiciary is one of the co-equal arms of the state government concerned with the interpretation of the laws of the state government. The judiciary is headed by the chief justice of the state appointed by the governor subject to the approval of the state house of assembly.[3]
^"USAID Nigeria mission: Nigeria administrative divisions" 2007-01-13 at the Wayback Machine United States Agency for International Development, October 2004, last accessed 21 April 2010
^Kraxberger, Brennan (2005) "Strangers, Indigenes and Settlers: Contested Geographies of Citizenship in Nigeria" Space and Polity 9(1): pp. 9–27, pages 10, 11, & 15
^Shetreet, Shimon; Deschênes, Jules (1985-01-01). Judicial Independence: The Contemporary Debate. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. ISBN978-90-247-3182-4.
Sources
Gboyega Ajayi (2007). The military and the Nigerian state, 1966–1993: a study of the strategies of political power control. Trenton, New Jersey: Africa World Press. ISBN978-1-59221-568-3.
Solomon Akhere Benjamin (1999). The 1996 state and local government reorganizations in Nigeria. Ibadan: Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research. ISBN978-181-238-9.
Rotimi T. Suberu (1994). 1991 state and local government reorganizations in Nigeria. Ibadan: Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan. ISBN978-2015-28-8.
External links
"New States of Nigeria". Statoids.
Headline News in Nigeria 2018-08-20 at the Wayback Machine States
States And Capital In Nigeria, Their Slogans & Current Governors A comprehensive list of all states in Nigeria and their current governors.
March 15, 2023
states, nigeria, nigeria, federation, states, federal, capital, territory, each, states, semi, autonomous, political, unit, that, shares, powers, with, federal, government, enumerated, under, constitution, federal, republic, nigeria, federal, capital, territor. Nigeria is a federation of 36 states and 1 federal capital territory Each of the 36 states is a semi autonomous political unit that shares powers with the federal government as enumerated under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria The Federal Capital Territory FCT is the capital territory of Nigeria and it is in this territory that the capital city of Abuja is located The FCT is not a state but is administered by elected officials who are supervised by the federal government Each state is subdivided into local government areas LGAs There are 774 local governments in Nigeria 1 Under the constitution the 36 states are co equal but not supreme because sovereignty resides with the federal government The constitution can be amended by the National Assembly but each amendment must be ratified by two thirds of the 36 states of the federation NigeriaCategoryFederationLocationNigeriaNumber36Populations1 704 358 Bayelsa State 9 401 288 Lagos State Mean 5 300 000Areas3 580 km2 1 381 sq mi Lagos State 76 360 km2 29 484 sq mi Niger State Mean 25 660 km2 9 907 sq mi GovernmentState governmentSubdivisionsLocal Government Area LGA Contents 1 Current states and the Federal Capital Territory 2 Evolution of Nigerian states 3 Government 3 1 Legislature 3 2 Executive 3 3 Judiciary 4 Chronology 5 See also 6 Notes 7 Sources 8 External linksCurrent states and the Federal Capital Territory EditA clickable map of Nigeria showing its 36 states and the federal capital territory StatesAbia Adamawa Akwa Ibom Anambra Bauchi Bayelsa Benue Borno Cross River Delta Ebonyi Edo Ekiti Enugu Gombe Imo Jigawa Kaduna Kano Katsina Kebbi Kogi Kwara Lagos Nasarawa Niger Ogun Ondo Osun Oyo Plateau Rivers Sokoto Taraba Yobe ZamfaraTerritoryFederal Capital TerritoryEvolution of Nigerian states EditDate Events Map1960 1963 At the time of independence in 1960 Nigeria was a federal state of three regions Northern Western and Eastern Additionally provinces which were a legacy of colonial and protectorate times remained extant until they were abolished in 1976 1963 1967 In 1963 a new region the Mid Western Region was created from the Western Region 1967 1976 In 1967 the regions were replaced by 12 states by military decree From 1967 to 1970 the Eastern Region attempted to secede as a nation called Biafra during the Nigerian civil war 1976 1987 In 1976 seven new states were created making 19 altogether 2 1987 1991 During this period there were 21 states and the Federal Capital Territory 1991 1996 During this period there were 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory The Federal Capital Territory was established in 1991 In 1987 two new states were established followed by another nine in 1991 bringing the total to 30 The latest change in 1996 resulted in the present number of 36 states Government EditStates of Nigeria have the right to organize and structure their individual governments in any way within the parameters set by the Constitution of Nigeria Legislature Edit At the state level the legislature is unicameral with the number of its members equal to three times the number of legislators it has in the Federal House of Representatives It has the power to legislate on matters on the concurrent list Executive Edit At the state level the head of the executive is the governor who has the power to appoint people to the state executive council subject to the advice and consent of the state house of assembly legislature The head of a ministry at the state level is the commissioner who is assisted by a permanent secretary who is also a senior civil servant of the state Judiciary Edit The Judiciary is one of the co equal arms of the state government concerned with the interpretation of the laws of the state government The judiciary is headed by the chief justice of the state appointed by the governor subject to the approval of the state house of assembly 3 Chronology EditRegions States1960 1963 1967 1976 1987 1991 1996Eastern South Eastern Cross River Akwa IbomCross RiverEast Central Imo ImoAbia AbiaEbonyiAnambra EnuguEnuguAnambraRivers BayelsaRiversWestern Mid Western Bendel DeltaEdoWestern LagosWestern OgunOndo EkitiOndoOyo OsunOyoNorthern Benue Plateau Plateau NasarawaPlateauBenue BenueKogiKwaraKwaraKano JigawaKanoNorth Central Kaduna KadunaKatsinaNorth Western NigerSokoto KebbiSokoto SokotoZamfaraNorth Eastern Bauchi BauchiGombeBorno BornoYobeGongola AdamawaTarabaSee also Edit Nigeria portalList of Nigerian states by population ISO 3166 2 NG List of state governors of NigeriaNotes Edit USAID Nigeria mission Nigeria administrative divisions Archived 2007 01 13 at the Wayback Machine United States Agency for International Development October 2004 last accessed 21 April 2010 Kraxberger Brennan 2005 Strangers Indigenes and Settlers Contested Geographies of Citizenship in Nigeria Space and Polity 9 1 pp 9 27 pages 10 11 amp 15 Shetreet Shimon Deschenes Jules 1985 01 01 Judicial Independence The Contemporary Debate Martinus Nijhoff Publishers ISBN 978 90 247 3182 4 Sources EditGboyega Ajayi 2007 The military and the Nigerian state 1966 1993 a study of the strategies of political power control Trenton New Jersey Africa World Press ISBN 978 1 59221 568 3 Solomon Akhere Benjamin 1999 The 1996 state and local government reorganizations in Nigeria Ibadan Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research ISBN 978 181 238 9 Rotimi T Suberu 1994 1991 state and local government reorganizations in Nigeria Ibadan Institute of African Studies University of Ibadan ISBN 978 2015 28 8 External links Edit New States of Nigeria Statoids Headline News in Nigeria Archived 2018 08 20 at the Wayback Machine StatesStates And Capital In Nigeria Their Slogans amp Current Governors A comprehensive list of all states in Nigeria and their current governors Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title States of Nigeria amp oldid 1139927120, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
