Constitution of Nigeria (1999)

The military decreed charter that handed over and stayed.

Overview

Promulgated by decree in May 1999 as the military transferred power, the Nigerian Constitution established a US style federal presidency with a bicameral National Assembly and 36 states. It follows the lineage of the 1979 constitution in adopting presidentialism rather than Westminster, designed to avoid the regional party fragmentation blamed for the first republics collapse. It entrenches federal character, requiring national spread in appointments, and sharia courts for states that adopt them in civil matters. Critics note its military origin, lack of constituent process, and amendment centralization, yet it has sustained the longest civilian rule in Nigerian history.