Section 143: Interpretation.

(1)
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-
"appointment" or its cognate expression includes promotion, appointment on promotion, transfer or confirmation of appointment ;
"authority" includes government ;
"bye-law" means enactment of a Local Government Council whose source is a State Law ;
"civil service of the State" means service of the government of a state in a civil capacity such as service rendered by the staff of the office of the Governor, the Deputy Governor or a Ministry of department of the Government of the State assigned with the responsibility for any business of the Government of the State;
"Commission" means the Independent National Electoral Commission;
"Commissioner" means a Commissioner of the Government of a State;
"Concurrent Legislative List" means any matter set out in Schedule 1 to this Act with respect to which a House of Assembly may make laws ;
"Constituency" in relation to a State means a Constituency established for that state ;
"decision" means in relation to a court, any determination of that court and includes judgment, decree, order, conviction, sentence or recommendation;
"enactment" means' provisions of any law or subsidiary instrument;
"financial year" means any period of 12 calender months beginning on the first day of January in any year or such other date as the National Assembly may prescribe ;
"function" includes power and duty ;
"government" includes the Government of the Federation or of any State or a Local Government or any person who exercises power or authority on its behalf;
"Governor" or "Deputy Governor" means the Governor of a State or a Deputy Governor of a State ;
"House of Assembly" means the House of Assembly of a State ;
"judicial office" means the office of the Chief Judge of a State, a Judge of a High Court, a Grand Kadi or Kadi of a Sharia Court of Appeal, or President or a Judge of the Customary Court of Appeal and a reference to a "judicial officer" is a reference to the holder of any such office ;
"Law" means a Law enacted by a House of Assembly;
"member" when used with reference to any commission or other bodies established by this Constitution includes the Chairman of that commission or body;
"Oath" includes affirmation ;
"Oath of office" means the appropriate Oath of Office prescribed in Schedule 2 to this Decree ;
"office" when used with reference to the validity of an election means any office the appointment to which is by election under this Decree;
"power" includes function and duty ;
"public service of a State" has the meaning assigned thereto in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;
"State" when used otherwise than in relation to one of the component parts of the Federation includes government ;
"Tribunal" means the Governorship and Legislative Houses Election Tribunal.
(2) In this Act, references to a person holding an office shall include references to a person acting in such office.