The ....... is responsible for advising the president of Nigeria on the sovereignty and territorial Integrity of the country.

Analyze the question: The question asks which body advises the President on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Nigeria.

Explain the concept: The 1999 Constitution (as amended) sets up several bodies, each with its own role:

• National Defence Council (Section 217-218 and the Third Schedule, Part I): Made up of the President (chairman), the Vice-President, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Ministers of Defence, and others. It advises the President on matters relating to the defence of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Nigeria.
• Council of State (Third Schedule, Part II): Advises the President on matters such as the prerogative of mercy, the National Population Commission, the Independent National Electoral Commission, and the maintenance of public order. It is not primarily responsible for territorial integrity.
• National Security Council: Provides advice on national security, and its role is broader. It is not the body the constitution names for this specific wording.
• Federal Executive Council: This is the cabinet. It helps the President with the general direction of government policy, not specifically sovereignty.

Step-by-step solution:

1. Notice the key phrase "sovereignty and territorial integrity."
2. Recall the functions of the National Defence Council: it advises the President on the defence of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, which includes the powers and duties of the armed forces.
3. The Council of State and the Federal Executive Council have different functions.
4. The National Security Council is a plausible distractor, but the constitutional wording points to the National Defence Council.

National Defence Council**.

Exam tip: Link keywords to institutions:

• "Sovereignty / territorial integrity / defence" → National Defence Council
• "Prerogative of mercy / electoral and census bodies" → Council of State
• "Cabinet / policy implementation" → Federal Executive Council

Well done for tackling this one. Questions on the 1999 Constitution often turn on the exact wording, so read carefully.