"Governor"
or Deputy Governor" means the Governor of a State or a Deputy
Governor of a State;
"House of
Assembly" means the House of Assembly of a State;
"Judicial
office" means the office of Chief Justice of Nigeria or a Justice
of the Supreme Court, the President or Justice of the Court
of Appeal, the office of the Chief Judge or a Judge of the Federal
High Court, the office of the Chief Judge or Judge of the High
Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the office of
the Chief Judge of a State and Judge of the High Court of a
State, a Grand Kadi or Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of
the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, a President or Judge of
the Customary Court of Appeal; of the Federal Capital Territory,
Abuja, a Grand Kadi or Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of
a State; and a reference to a "judicial officer" is a reference
to the holder of any such office;
"law" means
a law enacted by the House of Assembly of a State;
"Legislative
house" means the Senate, House of Representatives or a House
of Assembly.
"Local government
area" or "local government council" includes an area council;
"public service of a State' means the service of the State in
any capacity in respect of the Government of the State and includes
service as:
(a)
Clerk or other staff of the House of Assembly;
(b) member of staff of the High Court, the
Sharia court of Appeal, the Customary Court of Appeal; or
other courts established for a State by this Constitution
or by a Law of a House of Assembly;
(c) member or staff of any commission or authority
established for the State by this Constitution or by a Law
of a House of Assembly;
(d) staff of any local government council;
(e) staff of any statutory corporation established
by a Law of a House of Assembly; (f) staff of any educational
institution established or financed principally by a government
of a State; and
(g) staff of any company or enterprise in
which the government of a State or its agency holds controlling
shares or interest;
"School Certificate
or its equivalent" means
(a)
a Secondary School Certificate or its equivalent, or Grade II
Teacher's Certificate, the City and Guilds Certificate; or
(b) education up to Secondary School Certificate
level; or
(c) Primary Six School Leaving Certificate
or its equivalent and -
(i)
service in the public or private sector in the Federation
in any capacity acceptable to
the Independent National Electoral Commission
for a minimum of ten years, and
(ii) attendance at courses and training
in such institutions as may be acceptable to the Independent
National Electoral Commission for periods totalling up to
a minimum of one year, and
(iii) the ability to read, write, understand
and communicate in the English language to the satisfaction
of the Independent National Electoral Commission, and
(d) any
other qualification acceptable by the Independent National
Electoral Commission;
"Secret
society" includes any society, association, group or body of
persons (whether registered or not)
(a)
that uses secret signs, oaths, rites or symbols and which is
formed to promote a cause, the purpose or part of the purpose
of which is to foster the interest of its members and to aid
one another under any circumstances without due regard to merit,
fair play or justice to the detriment of the legitimate interest
of those who are not members;
(b) the membership of which is incompatible
with the function or dignity of any public office under this
Constitution and whose members are sworn to observe oaths
of secrecy; or
(c) the activities of which are not known
to the public at large, the names of whose members are kept
secret and whose meetings and other activities are held in
secret;
"State" when
used otherwise than in relation to one of the component parts
of the Federation, includes government.
(2)
Wherever it is provided that any authority or person has power
to make, recommend or approve an appointment to an office, such
power shall be construed as including the power to make, recommend
or approve a person for such appointment, whether on promotion
or otherwise, or to act in any such office.
(3) In this Constitution, references to a
person holding an office shall include reference to a person
acting in such office.
(4) The Interpretation Act shall apply for
the purpose of interpreting the provision of this Constitution.
