Nigeria’s political landscape was profoundly shaped by military intervention between 1966 and 1999. At the heart of military rule was the Supreme Military Council (SMC), the highest governing body during periods when civilian authority was suspended. The council concentrated power in the hands of senior military officers and determined the direction of national policy, governance, and security. Understanding the SMC reveals how command politics operated and how internal military dynamics influenced Nigeria’s history.
Origins of the Supreme Military Council
The SMC emerged after the January 1966 coup that ended Nigeria’s First Republic. Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi established the council to replace civilian structures and centralise power under military control. It became the supreme body of governance, issuing decrees in place of laws and controlling both executive and legislative functions.
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Following the July 1966 counter-coup, Lieutenant Colonel Yakubu Gowon became Head of State and continued the council as the highest authority. The SMC played a central role during the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970), overseeing military strategy and national policy while managing ethnic and regional tensions.
Structure and Membership
The SMC was a strictly military institution designed to reflect the hierarchical discipline of the armed forces. It was chaired by the Head of State, while senior officers, including the chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, served as key members alongside military governors or administrators of the states. In the 1983 to 1985 period under Major General Muhammadu Buhari, officers such as Major General Tunde Idiagbon, as Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, carried out policy decisions on behalf of the council. The council did not include civilian participants, emphasizing the centralization of military authority and decision-making in governance.
Functions of the Supreme Military Council
The Supreme Military Council exercised extensive powers over Nigeria. It directed national policy on governance, security, and economic management, and its decrees had the force of law, replacing parliamentary legislation. The council controlled the appointments, promotions, and removal of senior military officers and state administrators, and it managed national crises, from civil war to periods of political instability. Decisions were made collectively in council meetings, but the Head of State held ultimate authority, reflecting the hierarchical nature of military command and the centralization of power.
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Command Politics and Power Struggles
Command politics defined the operations of the Supreme Military Council. The Head of State used the council to consolidate authority and maintain loyalty among officers, while officers often formed alliances based on regional, ethnic, or personal loyalties. These internal dynamics sometimes resulted in coups or leadership changes. Key events such as the removal of Yakubu Gowon in 1975, the assassination of Murtala Muhammed in 1976, and the 1985 coup that brought Ibrahim Babangida to power demonstrate how the council was both a decision-making body and a stage for power struggles within the military hierarchy.
Dissolution and Legacy
The SMC was dissolved in 1979 when General Olusegun Obasanjo handed over power to a civilian government, marking the beginning of the Second Republic. It was briefly revived in 1983 after the coup that brought Buhari to power and replaced by the Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC) in 1985 following Babangida’s takeover.
The SMC’s legacy is enduring: it enabled the military to centralise authority during crises, maintained stability in the short term, but entrenched authoritarian rule, limited civil liberties, and delayed democratic development in Nigeria.
Author’s Note
The Supreme Military Council was the cornerstone of Nigeria’s military governance, embodying centralised authority, strategic decision-making, and internal military politics. It controlled national policy, legislation, and leadership appointments, shaping the nation during times of crisis. The takeaway is that while the SMC ensured order and centralised decision-making, it also reinforced authoritarianism and delayed the country’s democratic evolution.
References
Adu, Funmilayo Modupe and Olayemi Aluko. An Examination of Military Regimes and Development in Nigeria: Strengths and Weaknesses, 1966–1979. International Journal of Humanities Social Science and Management.
The Military in Nigerian Politics. AUDRI.
Military Rule in Nigeria: 1966–99. World History.
The Management of Transition to Civil Rule by the Military. IFRA.
Military Factor in Nigerian History Since 1960. NJH Journal.
1985 Nigerian Coup d’état. Historical account.
SS3 First Term Government Lesson Note – Military Rule in Nigeria. Erudites Academy.
22 Years of Uninterrupted Democracy – THISDAYLIVE.
