Describe the structure of military rule in Nigeria under the Babangida Administration up to 1990

Answer Details

General Ibrahim Babangida came to power on 27 August 1985 after overthrowing the Buhari regime, and styled himself President rather than Head of State. Up to 1990 his administration was organised through the following structure of military rule.

1. The President and Commander-in-Chief: Babangida stood at the apex as military President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, combining the roles of head of state, head of government and supreme commander. He concentrated wide personal powers in his office.
2. The Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC): This was the highest policy-making and law-making organ, replacing the former Supreme Military Council. Composed of senior military officers, it made decrees, formulated national policy and took major decisions of state. It combined executive and legislative authority.
3. The National Council of Ministers (Federal Executive Council): Headed by the President, it was made up of both military officers and civilian ministers who administered the various ministries and executed government policy at the federal level.
4. The Council of State: An advisory body that included former heads of state, service chiefs and other notable figures, which advised the President on major national issues.
5. Rule by decree: Government was conducted through decrees issued by the AFRC, which had the force of law and could not be challenged in the ordinary courts; the constitution remained largely suspended.
6. State and local administration: Each state was administered by a Military Governor appointed by and answerable to the President, assisted by a State Executive Council. Local governments were run by appointed sole administrators or committees, later moving toward elected councils under the transition programme.
7. Retention of the judiciary: The regular courts continued to function in ordinary matters, though their jurisdiction was ousted in respect of decrees, and special military tribunals handled certain offences.
8. Transition machinery: The administration created bodies such as the Political Bureau, the Directorate for Social Mobilisation (MAMSER), the National Electoral Commission and the Constituent Assembly to run its programme of transition to civil rule.

The structure therefore fused executive and legislative power in a military hierarchy topped by the President, exercised largely through decrees and appointed officials at every level.