governor of Lagos State
{{For|a list|List of governors of Lagos State}}
{{Short description|Head of government of Lagos State in Nigeria}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Use Nigerian English|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Governor
| body = Lagos State
| insignia =
| insigniasize =
| insigniacaption =
| flag = Flag of the Federal District of Lagos (1960-1964).gif
| flagsize = 125
| flagborder = yes
| flagcaption = Flag of Lagos State
| image = Babajide Sanwaolu 2019 00 26 20 984000.jpeg
| imagesize =
| incumbent = Babajide Sanwo-Olu
| incumbentsince = {{start date|df=yes|2019|05|29}}
| department = Executive Branch of the Lagos State Government
| style = His Excellency
| type = {{plainlist|
}}
| member_of = Lagos State Executive Council
| residence = Lagos House
| seat = Ikeja
| appointer = Direct popular election or via succession from deputy governorship
| termlength = Four years
| termlength_qualified = renewable once
| constituting_instrument = Constitution of Nigeria
| formation = {{date and age|1967|5|27|df=y|p=1|br=1}}
| first = Mobolaji Johnson
| salary =
| website =
| deputy = Deputy Governor of Lagos State
}}
The governor of Lagos State is the head of government of Lagos State in Nigeria.{{cite web|url=http://www.africa-confidential.com/whos-who-profile/id/2727/Babatunde_Fashola|title=Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola|work=africa-confidential.com|accessdate=17 April 2015}}
The governor leads the executive branch of the Lagos State Government.
This position places its holder in leadership of the state with command authority over the state affairs. The Governor is frequently described to be the number one citizen of the state.{{cite web|url=http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/again-cacol-petitions-efcc-to-investigate-lagos-state-government/204598/|title=Again, CACOL Petitions EFCC to Investigate Lagos State Government, Articles - THISDAY LIVE|work=thisdaylive.com|accessdate=17 April 2015|archive-date=18 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418015121/http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/again-cacol-petitions-efcc-to-investigate-lagos-state-government/204598/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://dailypost.ng/2015/01/22/lagos-state-government-orders-jonathans-campaign-posters-removed/|title=Lagos State Government orders Jonathan's campaign posters removed - DailyPost Nigeria|work=DailyPost Nigeria|accessdate=17 April 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://saharareporters.com/2014/09/29/lagos-state-government-seizes-september-salaries-doctors-second-month-row|title=Lagos State Government Seizes September Salaries Of Doctors For The Second Month In A Row|work=Sahara Reporters|accessdate=17 April 2015}}
Article II of the Constitution of Nigeria vests the executive power of the state in the governor and charges him with the execution of state law, alongside the responsibility of appointing state executive, diplomatic, regulatory, and judicial officers subject to the approval of the Assembly members.{{cite web|url=http://www.mynewswatchtimesng.com/lg-election-and-governors-veto-power/|title=LG election and governors' veto power|work=Newswatch Times|accessdate=17 April 2015|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150417225430/http://www.mynewswatchtimesng.com/lg-election-and-governors-veto-power/|archive-date=17 April 2015|url-status=dead}}
Powers and duties
=Legislative role=
The first power the Constitution confers upon the governor is the veto.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B6jrE5CBhl0C&q=Governor+of+Lagos+with+Veto+power&pg=PA40|title=A Constitutional History of Nigeria|isbn=9780905838793|accessdate=17 April 2015|last1=Nwabueze|first1=Benjamin Obi|year=1982}} The Presentment Clause requires any bill passed by the Lagos State House of Assembly to be presented to the governor before it can become law.{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X6vL5HfHto8C&q=Governor+of+Lagos+with+Veto+power&pg=PA280|title=Nigeria|work=google.co.uk|year=1982|accessdate=17 April 2015}} Once the legislation has been presented, the governor has three options:
- Sign the legislation; the bill then becomes law.
- Veto the legislation and return it to the state house of assembly expressing any objections; the bill does not become law, unless the member of the house votes to override the veto by a two-thirds vote.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZOgdDZlJqG8C&q=Governor+of+Lagos+with+Veto+power&pg=PA280|title=Nigeria|isbn=9780520020702|accessdate=17 April 2015|last1=Coleman|first1=James Smoot|last2=Coleman|first2=James Samuel|date=January 1958}}
=Administrative powers=
The Governor is made the sole repository of the executive powers of Lagos State, and the powers entrusted to him as well as the duties imposed upon him are awesome indeed.{{cite web|url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/06/lagos-cabinet-fashola’s-list-tears-acn-apart/|title=Lagos cabinet-Fashola's list tears ACN apart|work=Vanguard News|accessdate=18 April 2015}}
The governor is the head of the executive branch of the state government and is constitutionally obligated to "take care that the laws be faithfully executed."
The governor makes numerous executive branch appointments: commissioners and other state officers, are all appointed by the governor with subject to the approval of the state assembly.{{cite web|url=http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/lagos-cabinet-fashola-submits-37-names-to-assembly/93964/|title=Lagos Cabinet: Fashola Submits 37 Names to Assembly , Articles - THISDAY LIVE|work=thisdaylive.com|accessdate=17 April 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416183314/http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/lagos-cabinet-fashola-submits-37-names-to-assembly/93964/|archivedate=16 April 2015|df=dmy-all}}
The power of the governor to sack executive officials has long been a contentious political issue. Generally, the governor may remove purely executive officials at his discretion. However, the assembly can curtail and constrain a governor's authority to sack commissioners of independent regulatory agencies and certain inferior executive officers by statute.
The governor additionally possesses the ability to direct much of the executive branch through executive orders that are grounded in Law of the Lagos State or constitutionally granted executive power.{{cite web|url=http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/lagos-assembly-approves-499-105bn-as-2013-budget/134791/|title=Lagos Assembly Approves 499.105bn as 2013 Budget, Articles - THISDAY LIVE|work=thisdaylive.com|accessdate=17 April 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418014145/http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/lagos-assembly-approves-499-105bn-as-2013-budget/134791/|archivedate=18 April 2015|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://m.thenigerianvoice.com/news/49542/1/lagos-sms-war-fashola-sacks-commissioner.html|title=Lagos SMS War: Fashola Sacks Commissioner|work=TheNigerianVoice|accessdate=17 April 2015}}
=Juridical powers=
The governor also has the power to nominate the chief judge of the state. However, these nominations do require the house of assembly confirmation.{{cite web|url=http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/fashola-swears-in-four-judges-charges-them-to-better-the-judiciary/194727/|title=Fashola Swears in Four Judges, Charges them to Better the Judiciary, Articles - THISDAY LIVE|work=thisdaylive.com|accessdate=17 April 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418014139/http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/fashola-swears-in-four-judges-charges-them-to-better-the-judiciary/194727/|archivedate=18 April 2015|df=dmy-all}} Securing house approval can provide a major obstacle for governors who wish to orient the state judiciary toward a particular ideological stance.{{cite web|url=http://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-west/135096-fashola-approves-appointment-of-six-new-judges-for-lagos-high-court.html|title=Fashola approves appointment of six new judges for lagos high court|work=The premiumtimes|accessdate=18 April 2015}}
Governors may also grant pardons and reprieves, as is often done just before the end of a governorship term, not without controversy.{{cite web|url=http://www.worldcoalition.org/Pardons-and-commutations-in-Nigeria.html|title=Pardons and commutations in Nigeria|work=World Coalition Against the Death Penalty|accessdate=17 April 2015}}
=Legislative facilitator=
The Constitution's Ineligibility Clause prevents the governor (and all other executive officers) from simultaneously being a member of the state house of assembly. Therefore, the governor cannot directly introduce legislative proposals for consideration in the house. However, the governor can take an indirect role in shaping legislation, especially if the governor's political party has a majority in the house (house of representative).{{cite web|url=http://www.nigeria-law.org/Attorney-General%20of%20Lagos%20State%20V%20Attorney-General%20of%20the%20Federation.htm|title=Attorney-General of Lagos State V Attorney-General of the Federation|work=nigeria-law.org|accessdate=17 April 2015|archive-date=19 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140719022416/http://www.nigeria-law.org/Attorney-General%20of%20Lagos%20State%20V%20Attorney-General%20of%20the%20Federation.htm|url-status=dead}} For example, the governor or other officials of the executive branch may draft legislation and then ask representatives to introduce these drafts into the house. The governor can further influence the legislative branch through constitutionally mandated, periodic reports to the house.{{cite web|url=http://m.thenigerianvoice.com/news/12192/1/lagos-governor-signs-2010-budget.html|title=LAGOS GOVERNOR SIGNS 2010 BUDGET|work=TheNigerianVoice|accessdate=17 April 2015}} Additionally, the governor may attempt to have the house alter proposed legislation by threatening to veto that legislation if the changes he requests are not made.{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2MTI-Y3tzkAC&q=Governor+of+Lagos+with+Veto+power&pg=PA166|title=Nigeria|work=google.co.uk|accessdate=17 April 2015|last1=Coleman|first1=James S.}}
Selection process
=Eligibility=
The Governor is directly elected by the people through a registered political party to a four-year term, and is one of only two elected state officers, the other being the Deputy Governor.{{cite web|url=http://www.channelstv.com/2015/04/13/lagos-state-governor-elect-ambode-gives-acceptance-speech/|title=Lagos State Governor-elect Thanks Residents, Party For Victory - Channels Television|work=Channels Television|accessdate=17 April 2015}}
Chapter six of the 1999 constitution Nigeria as amended sets the requirements to hold the office.{{cite web|url=http://www.waado.org/nigerdelta/documents/ConstitutionalMatters/1999Constitution/ChapterSix.html|title=Chapter Six of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria: The Executive|work=waado.org|accessdate=17 April 2015|archive-date=22 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150422060029/http://www.waado.org/nigerdelta/documents/ConstitutionalMatters/1999Constitution/ChapterSix.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://leadership.ng/news/425310/apcs-ambode-wins-lagos-state-governorship-election|title=APC's Ambode Wins Lagos State Governorship Election|author=Leadership Newspaper|date=12 April 2015|work=Nigerian News from Leadership News|accessdate=17 April 2015}}
A governor must:
- Be a natural-born citizen of Nigeria.
- Be at least thirty-five years old.
- Be a member of a registered political party and sponsored by that political party.
- Must possess at least the West Africa School Certificate or its equivalent.
Past and incumbent governors
{{Main|List of Governors of Lagos State}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
- {{cite web
|url=http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Nigeria_federal_states.htm
|title=Nigerian Federal States
|publisher=WorldStatesmen
|accessdate=2009-11-30}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20081222024842/http://www.lagosstate.gov.ng/c/portal/layout?p_l_id=PUB.1162.4 Lagos State Government of Nigeria]
{{Lagos|potal}}
{{LagosStatewideOfficials}}