The head of the legislative arm at the third tier of government in Nigeria is the

Analyze the question Nigeria has three tiers of government: Federal, State, and Local. The question asks about the legislative arm at the third tier, which is the Local Government.

Explain the concept At each tier, the legislature has a different presiding officer:

• Federal: National Assembly. The Senate is headed by the Senate President, and the House of Representatives by the Speaker.
• State: State House of Assembly, headed by the Speaker.
• Local Government: The Council, which is the legislative arm (the Councillors make bye-laws). It is headed by the Vice-Chairman or a Leader of the Council, depending on the arrangement. The Chairman is the head of the executive arm.

Under the 1999 Constitution and local government laws, the Local Government Council has:

• Executive: Chairman (head), Vice-Chairman, supervisory councillors
• Legislative: Councillors, led by the Leader of the Legislative Council (in many states, the council's legislative arm is presided over by a Leader/Speaker-type officer elected by councillors)

Eliminate the options

• A. Speaker: Heads State Assembly and the House of Representatives, not the local council. (Some states do use "Speaker" for the local legislative council, but the standard JAMB textbook answer is "Leader".)
• B. President: Head of the Federal Executive.
• C. Chairman: Head of the executive arm at the local level, so it does not fit.
• D. Leader: Heads the legislative council at the local government level.

Answer The correct option is D. Leader.

Tip: Remember the pattern: Federal and State legislatures have Presidents or Speakers; Local Government has a Chairman for the executive and a Leader for the legislature. Whenever you see "legislative" and "third tier", think Leader.