THE ABCS OF THE NIGERIAN CONSTITUTION: CHAPTER & SCHEDULE 2

Schedule Two: Legislative Powers

Now this schedule took me a while to understand but thank God for online resources, amiright? Essentially, Part I otherwise known as the ‘Exclusive Legislative List’ denotes the areas that only the federal government can form laws about. Hence, any interference by a state government would be considered null, void and unconstitutional.

 Part II on the other hand is referred to as the ‘Concurrent Legislative List Extent of Federal and State Legislative Powers’ and as the title suggests, focuses on areas where both the federal and state governments can make laws about. However, the federal government will always be supreme and so if it comes down to it, their law will trump that of the state government. 

Part III, ‘Supplemental and Interpretation’ offers further context of the supplementary matters that might be considered at either federal or state level. 

Part I | Exclusive Legislative List

This list is made up of 68 items, 68!

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Part II | Concurrent Legislative List Extent of Federal and State Legislative Powers

Now this part was quite repetitive because it included the powers of both the National Assembly and House Assembly. However, as we do on Let’s Be Patriotic, we’ve broken it down for you via an infographic:

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Part III | Supplemental and Interpretation

This part in a nutshell:

The National Assembly can make a declaration either by 

1. Act of the National Assembly 
2. Resolution passed by both House and National Assembly

‘Incidental and Supplementary Matters’ may include: 

• Offences
• Jurisdiction, powers, practice and procedure of the courts 
• Acquisition and tenure of land 

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Glossary:

‘State’:

the geographic entity that has a distinct fiscal (i.e. financial) system, constitution, and is sovereign and independent from other states as recognised by them. It is where a government can exercise its powers.

‘Government’:

the political administration of a country or state

‘A government cannot exist without a state, and a state cannot run without a government. A state is like a ship, and a government is like the crew who runs the ship.’ 

Emelda M, Difference Between