Vice President of Nigeria

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Vice President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria
The Vice President of the Federal Republic
Incumbent
Kashim Shettima
since 29 May 2023
Style
StatusSecond highest executive branch officer
AbbreviationV-POFRON
Member ofFederal Executive Council
National Economic Council
National Security Council
ResidenceAkinola Aguda House
SeatAbuja, F.C.T.
NominatorPresidential candidate
AppointerDirect popular election or, if vacant, President via National Assembly confirmation
Term lengthFour years, renewable once
Constituting instrumentConstitution of Nigeria
Inaugural holderBabafemi Ogundipe (Military)
Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme (Elected)
Formation16 January 1966
(58 years ago)
 (1966-01-16)
SuccessionFirst
Unofficial namesTHE VP
Salary12,126,000 annually[1]
Websitestatehouse.gov.ng

The vice president of Nigeria is the second-highest official in the executive branch of the federal government of Nigeria, after the president of Nigeria, and ranks first in the presidential line of succession. Officially styled vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the vice president is directly elected together with the president to a four-year term of office.


Kashim Shettima is the 15th and current vice president of Nigeria, he assumed office on 29 May 2023.[2]

Eligibility

Candidates eligible for the office of vice president must be a citizen of Nigeria by birth, at least 40 years of age, a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political party.[3]

Oath of office

The Constitution of Nigeria specifies an oath of office for the vice president of the federation. The oath is administered by the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria or the person for the time being appointed to exercise the functions of that office. It is the same oath recited by deputy state governors, ministers, commissioners and special advisers to the president.

I, do solemnly swear/affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria; that as Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I will discharge my duties to the best of my ability, faithfully and in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the law, and always in the interest of the sovereignty, integrity, solidarity, well-being and prosperity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; that I will strive to preserve the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy contained in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; that I will not allow my personal interest to influence my official conduct or my official decisions, that I will to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; that I will abide by the Code of Conduct contained in the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; that in all circumstances, I will do right to all manner of people, according to law, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will; that I will not directly or indirectly communicate or reveal to any person any matter which shall be brought under my consideration or shall become known to me as Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. So help me God.

Functions of the vice president of Nigeria

The executive functions of the Nigerian vice president includes participation in all cabinet meetings by statute and membership in the National Security Council, Federal Executive Council, and a constitutional role of being the chairman of the National Economic Council. Although the vice president may take an active role in establishing policy in the executive branch by serving on such committees and councils, the relative power of the Nigerian vice president depends upon the duties delegated by the president. The vice president cannot make executive orders or decisions without the assent of the president because the president holds full executive and presidential powers. The vice president by a matter of law is not a constitutional deputy to the president, the office is fully and independently presidential but the executive powers are hibernated until the president is unable to function by any means, in which case he or she becomes the acting president. In the instance of resignation, impeachment or death of the president, the vice president being the first in line of succession becomes the president of Nigeria. [4]

List of vice presidents

Military Government (1966–1979)

Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu orchestrated the bloody military coup d'état of 1966 which overthrew the First Republic, parliamentary system of government was abolished and the office of the Vice President was established with Babafemi Ogundipe becoming the first Vice President as Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters.

Chief of Staff Term of office Military Head of State
No. Portrait Name
(birth–death)
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Brigadier
Babafemi Ogundipe
(1924–1971)
16 January 1966 29 July 1966
(deposed.)
194 days Central Military Government Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi
2 Vice Admiral
Joseph Edet Akinwale Wey
(1918–1991)
1 August 1966 29 July 1975
(deposed.)
8 years, 362 days Federal Military Government General Yakubu Gowon
3 Lieutenant General
Olusegun Obasanjo
(born 1937)
29 July 1975 13 February 1976
(Became Head of State after the assassination of Murtala)
199 days General Murtala Muhammed
4 Major General
Shehu Musa Yar'Adua
(1943–1997)
13 February 1976 30 September 1979
(Handed over to civilian government)
3 years, 229 days General Olusegun Obasanjo

Second Republic (1979–1983)

Under the 1979 Constitution, the second constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the president was both head of state and government. The president along with the vice president were elected for a four-year term. In the event of a vacancy, the vice president would have served as acting president.

Vice President Term of office Political party Elected President
No. Portrait Name
(birth–death)
Took office Left office Time in office
5 Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme
(1932–2017)
1 October 1979 31 December 1983
(deposed.)
4 years, 91 days National Party of Nigeria 1979
1983
Alhaji Shehu Shagari

Military Government (1983–1993)

Major-General Muhammadu Buhari was made military head of state following the coup d'ètat of 1983, which overthrew the Second Republic, Major General Tunde Idiagbon became the Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters.

Chief of Staff/
Vice President
Term of office Military Head of State/
President
No. Portrait Name
(birth–death)
Took office Left office Time in office
6 Major General
Tunde Idiagbon
(1943–1999)
31 December 1983 27 August 1985
(deposed.)
1 year, 239 days Supreme Military Council Major General Muhammadu Buhari
7 Commodore
Ebitu Ukiwe
(born 1940)
27 August 1985 October 1986
(resigned.)
1 year, 35 days Armed Forces Ruling Council General Ibrahim Babangida
8 Admiral
Augustus Aikhomu
(1939–2011)
October 1986 26 August 1993
(Handed over to interim government)
6 years, 329 days

Interim National Government (1993)

Chief Ernest Shonekan was made interim head of state of Nigeria following the crisis of the Third Republic. He initially announced his vice president to be Moshood Abiola the supposed winner of the 12 June 1993 elections, which the latter rejected stating he was the rightful successor to the presidency.

Vice President Period Head of State
Vacant 26 August 1993 17 November 1993 83 days Chief Ernest Shonekan

Military Government (1993–1999)

General Sani Abacha led the palace coup d'ètat of 1993 which overthrew the Interim National Government, Lieutenant general Oladipo Diya became the Chief of General Staff.

Chief of General Staff Term of office Military Head of State
No. Portrait Name
(birth–death)
Took office Left office Time in office
9 Lieutenant General
Donaldson Oladipo Diya
(1944–2023)
17 November 1993 21 December 1997
(Deposed and arrested for attempted coup)
4 years, 34 days Provisional Ruling Council General Sani Abacha
Vacant
(170 days)
10 Vice Admiral
Michael Akhigbe
(1946–2013)
9 June 1998 29 May 1999
(Handed over to civilian government)
354 days Provisional Ruling Council General Abdulsalami Abubakar

Fourth Republic (1999–present)

Under the fourth Constitution of the Republic of Nigeria, the president is head of both state and government. The president along with the vice president are elected for a four-year renewable term. In the event of a vacancy, the Vice President serves as acting president.

Vice President Term of office Political party Elected President
No. Portrait Name Took office Left office Time in office
11 Atiku Abubakar
(born 1946)
29 May 1999 29 May 2007 8 years, 0 days People's Democratic Party 1999
2003
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo
12 Goodluck Ebele Jonathan
(born 1957)
29 May 2007 6 May 2010
(Became President after the death of Yar'Adua)
2 years, 342 days People's Democratic Party 2007 Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua
Vacant
(13 days)
Goodluck Jonathan
13 Namadi Sambo
(born 1954)
19 May 2010 29 May 2015 5 years, 10 days People's Democratic Party 2011
14 Yemi Osinbajo
(born 1957)
29 May 2015 29 May 2023 8 years, 0 days All Progressives Congress 2015
2019
Muhammadu Buhari
15 Kashim Shettima
(born 1966)
29 May 2023 Incumbent 304 days All Progressives Congress 2023 Bola Tinubu

Vice presidents by time in office

Rank Vice president Political party Total time in office Cause of end of term
1 Joseph Edet Akinwale Wey Military 8 years, 362 days Deposed
2 Atiku Abubakar People's Democratic Party 8 years, 0 days Natural expiration
3 Yemi Osinbajo All Progressives Congress 8 years, 0 days Natural expiration
4 Augustus Aikhomu Military 6 years, 329 days Resignation
5 Namadi Sambo People's Democratic Party 5 years, 10 days Natural expiration
6 Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme National Party of Nigeria 4 years, 91 days Deposed
7 Donaldson Oladipo Diya Military 4 years, 34 days Deposed and arrested for treason
8 Shehu Musa Yar'Adua Military 3 years, 229 days Resignation
9 Goodluck Ebele Jonathan People's Democratic Party 2 years, 342 days Death of Yar'Adua
10 Tunde Idiagbon Military 1 year, 239 days Deposed
11 Ebitu Ukiwe Military 1 year, 35 days Resignation
12 Michael Akhigbe Military 354 days Resignation
13 Kashim Shettima All Progressives Congress 304 days In office
14 Olusegun Obasanjo Military 199 days Assassination of Murtala Muhammed
15 Babafemi Ogundipe Military 194 days Deposed

Residence

The vice president of Nigeria resides at Akinola Aguda House.

See also

References

  1. ^ Ibeh, Nnenna (30 May 2015). "Buhari to earn N14 million as annual salary, allowances". Premium Times. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  2. ^ Anuku, Williams (25 May 2023). "Osinbajo takes Shettima on tour of VP wings ahead of inauguration". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  3. ^ "BASIC QUALIFICATIONS FOR ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA". Resolution law firm. 4 September 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  4. ^ "Six things Osinbajo can't do in Buhari's absence". Punch Newspapers. 1 May 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2022.