In this article, we’ll be discussing what the top 10 political offices are, and the duties expected of the holders of these offices. The political officers occupying these top 10 political offices at the time of the writing would also be mentioned in the article.
The top 10 political offices in Nigeria would be discussed below:
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President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
The office of the President of Nigeria is the highest political position in Nigeria. The President, by statute, is a member of the Federal Executive Council, National Security Council, and National Defence Council. As the highest officer in the executive arm of the federal government, the President is vested with the power to execute and enforce the federal laws of Nigeria and appoint federal executive, regulatory, judicial, and diplomatic officers, as well as bears the supreme responsibility of conducting foreign policy. Other duties of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are the power to sign or veto federal legislation and being in charge of federal legislation and domestic policymaking. The current President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces is Muhammadu Buhari, assuming office on May 29, 2015.
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Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
The office of the Vice President is the second-highest political position in the executive arm of the federal government of Nigeria. The Vice President is directly elected together with the president to a four-year tenure. If the President is unable to discharge the power of the duties of office, the Vice President is the first in the presidential line of succession.
The Vice President is a member of the Federal Executive Council, National Economic Council and National Security Council. By statute, the Vice President is the Chairman of the National Economic Council. Although the second-highest officer in the executive arm of the government, the relative power of the Nigerian Vice President relies on delegated duties of the President. Currently, Yemi Osibanjo is the Vice President of Nigeria, assuming office on May 29, 2015.
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President of the Senate of Nigeria
The Senate President is the presiding officer of the upper chamber of Nigeria’s bicameral legislature, that is, the Senate of Nigeria. The Senate President is chosen in an indirect election conducted by the 109 members of the upper chamber of the National Assembly. The Senate President is the second in succession to the Nigerian Presidency if the President and Vice President are not able to handle the office of the Presidency. Since June 11, 2019, Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan has held the office of the Speaker of the Senate of Nigeria.
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Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria
The Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria is the highest-ranking member of the lower chamber of Nigeria’s bicameral National Assembly. The Speaker of the House of Representatives is elected by a majority of the members of the House of Representatives. The Speaker of the House of Representatives is the third in the line of succession of the Presidency if the President, Vice President and Senate President are not capable of handling the office of the Presidency. Femi Gbajabiamila is the current Speaker of the House of Representatives, assuming the position on June 12, 2019.
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Minister for Justice and Attorney-General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
The Minister for Justice and Attorney-General of Nigeria heads the Ministry of Justice and is responsible for advising the federal government on legal matters, as well as representing Nigeria in legal proceedings. The Attorney-General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria also must protect the Nigerian citizenry against arbitrary executive acts. The Attorney-General is the fourth in the line of succession of the Nigerian Presidency. The current Minister for Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation is Abubakar Malami, assuming office on November 11, 2015.
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Deputy Senate President of Nigeria
The Deputy Senate President is the second-highest office of the Senate of Nigeria, elected in an indirect election conducted within the Senate. In the absence of the President of the Senate, the Deputy Senate President presides over the Senate. In the presidential line of succession, the Deputy Senate President ranks fifth. Currently, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege is the Deputy Senate President, assuming office on June 11, 2019.
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Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria is the second-highest member of the lower chamber of Nigeria’s bicameral National Assembly. Through an indirect house election, the Deputy Speaker is elected by a majority of the members of the House of Representatives of Nigeria. If the Speaker of the House of Representatives is absent, it is the responsibility of the Deputy Speaker to preside over the House. The Deputy Speaker is the sixth in the presidential line of succession. The current Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria is Ahmed Idris Wase, assuming office on June 12, 2019.
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Secretary to the Government of the Federation
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation is responsible for ensuring the monitoring and coordination of federal ministries, departments and agencies, as well as driving policy harmonization and implementation. The current Secretary to the Government of the Federation is Boss Gida Mustapha.
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Head of the Civil Service of the Federation
The Office of the Civil Service of the Federation is charged with the responsibility of managing and building the capacity of the Federal Civil Service to ensure the workforce is focused, disciplined and devoted to supporting the Federal Government in the implementation of government’s policies and programmes. The current Head of the Civil Service of the Federation is Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan.
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National Security Advisor
The National Security Advisor bears the responsibility of counselling the Presidency on issues of national security such as advising the Presidency on matters concerning intelligence activities of agencies and making recommendations in connection to activities of security agencies to the President. By this political office, the National Security Advisor is a member of the Presidency, National Security Council and Federal Executive Council. The current National Security Advisor is Babagana Monguno.