Governor of Lagos State facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Governor of Lagos State |
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Flag of Lagos State
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| Executive Branch of the Lagos State Government | |
| Style | His Excellency |
| Member of | Lagos State Executive Council |
| Residence | Lagos House |
| Seat | Ikeja |
| Appointer | Direct popular election or via succession from deputy governorship |
| Term length | Four years
renewable once
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| Constituting instrument | Constitution of Nigeria |
| Formation | 27 May 1967 |
| First holder | Mobolaji Johnson |
| Deputy | Deputy Governor of Lagos State |
The Governor of Lagos State is like the chief leader of Lagos State in Nigeria. This person is in charge of the state's government, making sure things run smoothly. They are often called the "number one citizen" of the state.
The Constitution of Nigeria gives the governor the power to lead the state. They make sure state laws are followed. The governor also chooses many important officials for the state, but these choices must be approved by the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Contents
What Does the Governor Do?
Making Laws Happen
One of the governor's main jobs is related to laws. When the Lagos State House of Assembly passes a new bill, it goes to the governor. The governor has two choices:
- They can sign the bill. If they sign it, the bill becomes a law.
- They can veto the bill. This means they say "no" to the bill and send it back to the Assembly with their reasons. The bill won't become a law unless the Assembly votes again and gets a two-thirds majority to override the governor's veto.
Leading the State Government
The governor is the head of the state's executive branch. This means they are responsible for making sure all state laws are carried out.
The governor appoints many people to help run the state. These include commissioners and other state officers. The Lagos State House of Assembly must approve these appointments. The governor can usually remove these officials if needed.
The governor can also issue executive orders. These are special instructions that help direct how the state government operates, based on existing laws or the Constitution.
Working with Courts
The governor also has a role in the state's justice system. They can nominate the chief judge for the state. However, the Lagos State House of Assembly must confirm this choice. This means the governor and the Assembly need to agree on who leads the state's courts.
Governors can also grant pardons to people. A pardon means someone is officially forgiven for a crime. This is often done near the end of a governor's term.
Helping with New Laws
The governor cannot be a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly at the same time. So, they can't directly introduce new laws. However, they can still influence new laws, especially if their political party has many members in the Assembly.
For example, the governor or their team can write ideas for new laws. Then, they can ask Assembly members to introduce these ideas as bills. The governor can also try to get the Assembly to change a bill by saying they will veto it if the changes aren't made.
How is the Governor Chosen?
Who Can Be Governor?
The Governor of Lagos State is chosen by the people in an election. They serve for four years and can be re-elected once. The Deputy Governor is the only other elected state officer.
To become governor, a person must meet certain requirements from the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria:
- They must be a natural-born citizen of Nigeria.
- They must be at least 35 years old.
- They must belong to a registered political party, and that party must support them.
- They must have at least the West Africa School Certificate or an equivalent qualification.
Past and Current Governors
To see a full list of all the people who have been Governor of Lagos State, you can visit the main article:
See also
- List of state governors of Nigeria
