The Nigerian Council of State is an organ of the Nigerian Government. Its functions include advising the executive on policy making.

Composition

The Council of State consists of the following persons:

• President
  President of Nigeria
  The President of Nigeria is the Head of State and head of the national executive. Officially styled President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The current President of Nigeria is Goodluck Jonathan.-History:On October 1, 1960, Nigeria gained...
  
  , who is the Chairman;
• Vice-President
  Vice President of Nigeria
  The Vice President of Nigeria is the second-in-command to the President of Nigeria in the Government of Nigeria. Officially styled Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.The Vice President is elected alongside the President in national elections...
  
  , who is the Deputy Chairman;
• All former Presidents of the Federation and all former Heads of the Government of the Federation;
• All former Chief Justices
  Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria
  The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the head of the judicial branch of the government of Nigeria, and presides over the country's Supreme Court...
  
   of Nigeria;
• President of the Senate;
• Speaker of the House of Representatives
  Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives
  The Speaker of the House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the Federal House of Representatives of Nigeria. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the current speaker, was elected on June 6, 2011.-History:...
  
  ;
• All the Governors of the states of the Federation; and
• Attorney-General of the Federation.

Duties

The council has the following responsibilities:

1. Advise the President in the exercise of his powers with respect to the:-

• National population census and compilation, publication and keeping of records and other information concerning the same;
• Prerogative of mercy;
• Award of national honours;
• The Independent National Electoral Commission
  Independent National Electoral Commission
  The Independent National Electoral Commission , set up in 1998, is the electoral body which was set up to oversee elections in Nigeria.The INEC has encountered several controversies in the run-up to the April 2007 general elections, including criticism about its preparedness from Sada Abubakar,...
  
  (including the appointment of members of that Commission);
• The National Judicial Council (including the appointment of the members, other than ex-officio members of that Council);
• The National Population Commission (including the appointment of members of that Commission); and

2. Advise the President whenever requested to do so on the maintenance of public order within the Federation or any part thereof and on such other matters as the President may direct.