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Question

Difficulty: EasySecond Republic and the 1979 Presidential Constitution

The 1979 Constitution of Nigeria introduced a fundamental structural change in the leadership of the executive organ. Which of the following best describes the executive system established during the Second Republic?

  1. An Executive President who combines the roles of Head of State and Head of GovernmentAnswer
  2. B
    A Prime Minister acting as Head of Government alongside a ceremonial President
  3. C
    A parliamentary cabinet system where all federal ministers must be elected members of the Legislature
  4. D
    A military council exercising unified legislative and executive powers

Answer

An Executive President who combines the roles of Head of State and Head of Government
The correct answer highlights the central feature of the 1979 Constitution of Nigeria, which adopted an executive presidential system where one individual serves as both the ceremonial Head of State and the chief executive Head of Government.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the key political transition established by the 1979 Constitution of Nigeria.
The 1979 Constitution transitioned Nigeria from a parliamentary system (First Republic) to an American-style executive presidential system (Second Republic).
Understanding this structural shift is essential for analyzing executive leadership in the Second Republic.
2
Analyze the role of the President under the 1979 presidential constitution.
The dual roles of Head of State (ceremonial leadership) and Head of Government (chief administrator) were fused into a single office of the Executive President.
This eliminated the previous conflicts experienced between the ceremonial President and the executive Prime Minister during the First Republic.

Key Concept

Executive Presidency in the 1979 Constitution
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Topics

Second Republic and the 1979 Presidential Constitution