Which office handles what? A citizen's guide to Nigerian government

This is a general guide based on the 1999 Constitution (as amended). Some services are shared between levels, and arrangements differ from state to state. When in doubt, ask the office directly. It is their job to tell you who is responsible.

Local government council

Closest to you. 774 councils across the country.

Refuse collection, sewage, and public toilets
Markets and motor parks
Local roads, streets, street lights, and drains
Naming of streets and numbering of houses
Primary health care centres (shared with the state)
Primary schools (shared with the state)
Shops, kiosks, and some local rates and permits

Find my council chairman

State government

Led by the governor, with commissioners for each ministry.

Public water supply (usually the state water board or corporation)
State roads and bridges
Secondary schools and state universities
General and specialist state hospitals
Land, building approvals, and certificates of occupancy
State environment agencies and waste management authorities
Electricity, in states that have set up their own market since the 2023 amendment

Pick my state

Federal government

The President, federal ministers, and national agencies.

The Nigeria Police Force, the military, and national security
Passports, immigration, and customs
Federal highways and trunk roads
Aviation and airports, ports, and the national railway
Federal universities, unity colleges, and federal medical centres
Currency, banking, and the national budget
Foreign affairs and embassies

See federal offices

What your lawmakers do

Lawmakers do not run services, but they make laws, approve budgets, and question the people who spend public money. They are elected to speak for you.

Senator

One of three for your state (one for the FCT). Makes federal laws, approves the federal budget, and confirms ministers and ambassadors.

House of Representatives member

Speaks for your federal constituency in Abuja. Makes federal laws and approves the federal budget with the Senate.

State House of Assembly member

Makes state laws, approves the state budget, and questions the governor's commissioners about how it is spent.

Find all five of your leaders by local government.

How to raise an issue so it gets handled

Polite, specific, and written down works best. Each step builds a record you can point to later.

Find the right office. Use the lists above, then look the office up on this site for its phone, email, and address.
Write it down. Say what happened, where, since when, and who is affected. Ask for one clear thing. Photos help.
Keep a reference. Note the date you sent it, the name of anyone you spoke to, and any file or ticket number.
Follow up after two weeks. Reply to your own message so the history stays together.
Ask your representative. If the office does not respond, your lawmaker or council chairman can ask on your behalf.
Use the ombudsman. The Public Complaints Commission takes complaints about public offices that treat people unfairly or do not act.

Ask any public office for information

The Freedom of Information Act 2011 gives every person the right to ask a public institution for its records. You do not have to say why you want them.

What the Act says

Any person can apply, in writing.
The institution should give you the information within 7 days. It may extend this once, by up to 7 more days, and must tell you why.
If it refuses, it must tell you in writing, and say which part of the Act it relies on.
If you are refused, you can go to court within 30 days of the refusal.
Fees should be limited to the cost of copying the documents.

Read the Act itself before going to court, or get advice from a lawyer or a civil society group that works on FOI.

A letter you can copy

[Your name]
[Your address]
[Your phone and email]
[Date]

The Head / FOI Desk Officer
[Name of ministry, agency, or council]
[Its address]

Dear Sir/Madam,

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION UNDER THE
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2011

I write under section 1 of the Freedom of
Information Act 2011 to request the following:

1. [The record you want, e.g. the 2025
   budget and spending for the renovation
   of X Primary School, Y Local Government]
2. [Any other record]

I would like to receive it by [email /
printed copies collected at your office].

I look forward to your response within the
7 days set out in section 4 of the Act.

Yours faithfully,
[Signature]
[Your name]

In an emergency, call 112

112 is Nigeria's free national emergency number for police, fire, and ambulance. Calls are free on every network. This directory is not an emergency service.