How law works Guide 6 of 6

Words you will meet.

Plain meanings for the terms that come up again and again in Acts and in the news about them.

Act: A bill that has been passed by the National Assembly and signed by the President, or passed over the President’s refusal. It is binding law.
Assent: The President’s signature on a bill, which turns it into an Act. At state level, the Governor’s.
Bill: A proposed law that has not yet completed the constitutional process for becoming law.
Commencement: The date an Act starts to have effect. It is often printed under the long title; an Act may instead specify a later date, stages, or an appointed commencement.
Concurrent List: The subjects both the National Assembly and the State Houses of Assembly can make laws on.
Constituency: The area a member of a legislature is elected by. The House of Representatives has 360 federal constituencies.
Exclusive List: The subjects only the National Assembly can make laws on, such as defence and currency.
Gazette: The Official Gazette, where the government publishes Acts and official notices. The official source of an Act’s text.
INEC: The Independent National Electoral Commission, which runs federal and state elections.
Long title: The Act’s own statement of what it does, starting “An Act to…”.
May: Usually indicates a power or discretion; its legal effect depends on the provision and context.
National Assembly: Nigeria’s federal legislature: the Senate and the House of Representatives together.
Notwithstanding: Introduces an overriding rule within its lawful scope. Read the exact words and context; it does not override the Constitution.
Provided that: Introduces an exception or a condition to what came just before.
Regulations: Detailed rules a minister or agency makes using a power an Act gives them. Binding, but only within what the Act allows. Also called subsidiary legislation.
Repeal: To cancel a law. Its continuing effect depends on savings and transitional provisions, including treatment of earlier rights, duties and proceedings.
Schedule: A part at the end of an Act holding detail, such as forms, lists or rules for how a council meets.
Section: The numbered building block of an Act. Sections split into subsections (1), paragraphs (a) and sub-paragraphs (i).
Senate President: The senator elected by the Senate to lead it. Also chairs joint sittings of both chambers.
Senatorial district: One of the three areas each state is divided into, each electing one senator.
Shall: Usually indicates a duty. Read the provision in context when deciding its legal effect.
Speaker: The member elected to lead the House of Representatives, or a State House of Assembly.

This guide explains how Nigerian law works in general terms. It is not legal advice.