Meaning of section 4 (6) of 1999 constitution

What is the Meaning of section 4 subsection six of Nigeria 1999 constitution. In this article I will like to explain the Meaning of section 4 (6) of 1999 constitution

Table of Contents

Meaning of section 4 (6) of 1999 constitution

The section 4 subsection 6 of Nigeria 1999 constitution stated that

The legislative powers of a State of the Federation shall be vested in the House of Assembly of the State

Which means

1 Each state in Nigeria has its own lawmaking body called the House of Assembly.

2 The House of Assembly has the power to make laws for the state.

3 This means that the state government has the authority to create laws that apply only within that state.

Think of it like a local government having the power to make decisions for their community:

4 Just like a city council or town hall can make rules for their town, a state’s House of Assembly can make laws for their state.

5 These laws only apply within the state and not at the national level.

This clause gives states a level of autonomy to govern themselves and make decisions that are best for their own citizens, while still being part of the larger federal system.

Each state in Nigeria has its own law-making body called the House of Assembly. This Assembly is responsible for creating laws that apply specifically to that state.

In essence, this law creates a system of federalism where power is distributed between the national government and the state governments. The national government handles issues that affect the entire country, while the state governments handle issues that are specific to their states. This division of power helps to ensure that both national and local needs are met.

Function

Legislative Powers of the State:

1 The statement clearly says that the “legislative powers of a State of the Federation shall be vested in the House of Assembly of the State.”

2 This means the state-level legislature, known as the House of Assembly, is the body that has been granted the legislative powers for that particular state.

Vesting of Legislative Authority:

1 The use of the term “vested in” indicates that the legislative powers of the state are formally and legally conferred upon or entrusted to the House of Assembly.

2 This makes the House of Assembly the primary law-making institution at the state level.

Exclusive State Legislative Powers:

1 By specifying the legislative powers are vested in the state House of Assembly, this statement implies these powers are exclusive to the state legislature.

2 It suggests the state House of Assembly has the sole authority to enact laws for that particular state, without interference from other legislative bodies.

In simpler terms, this statement is establishing that the law-making or legislative authority for each state in the Nigerian Federation lies solely with the state’s own House of Assembly.

The House of Assembly is the designated institution that has been legally empowered and granted the exclusive right to make laws for the state. This affirms the role of the state legislatures as the primary source of legislative power at the sub-national level, separate from the federal National Assembly.

This helps define the division of legislative responsibilities between the federal and state governments in Nigeria’s system of government and federalism.