Organisational Structure

To underscore its importance and functions, the National Institute is a Federal Parastatal in the Nigerian Presidency. At the top of the organisational chart of the Institute is the Board of Governors, charged with giving general directions and governance for the Institute.

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

The Board of Governors consists of a Chairman, the Director General of the Institute and nine other members including the Chief of Defence Staff or other senior member of the armed forces; an eminent economist; an eminent political scientist; the Adviser to the Federal Government on science and technology; four persons to be appointed by the President, being persons who because of their ability, experience or specialized knowledge of administration or of professional or business attainments are capable of making useful contributions to the work of the Institute.

The board has a specific responsibility to, on behalf of the Presidency, consider and approve:

The long-range plan of activities for the Institute
The program of studies and research to be undertaken by the institute.
The annual budget of the Institute and
The investment plans of the Institute

It is also to ensure the submission of an annual report on the activities of the Institute and its administration, including audited accounts for the preceding year, to the President.

Since its inception in 1979, the Institute has had boards of governors, chaired respectively by;

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

The chief executive of the National Institute is the Director General. He is appointed by the President and is responsible to the Board for the day-to-day management of the Institute. He is assisted in managing the daily affairs of the Institute by three Directors (the Director of Research, the Director of Studies and the Secretary/Director of Administration) and other Principal Officers who are answerable to him on matters concerning their respective Directorates and Departments.

Since its inception in 1979, the National Institute has had Directors General as follows:

#	NAME	PERIOD
1	Major. General T.B Ogundeko	March 1979 to March 1981
2	Professor Justice Tseayo	April 1981 to November 1984
3	Major General Charles Ndiomu, mni	December 1984 to January 1990
4	Major General Paul Ufuoma Omu, mni CFR RCDS	January 1990 to December 1992
5	Prof. Nura Alkali, AHSN	December 1992 to 1999
6	Major General Joseph Nanven Garba, CFR	October 1999 to June 2002
7	Major General Martin Chukwudi Osahor, CON	June 2002 to April 2004
8	Professor Ugo Alubo	April 2004 to May 2005 (Acted)
9	Venerable Prof. Akin Akindoyeni, OFR, mni	May 2005 to July 2008
10	Dr. Yakubu Sankey	July 2008 to January 2009 (Acted)
11	Mr. JK Opadiran	January 2009 to March 2009 (Acted)
12	Professor Shuaibu Ahmed Danfulani, DSC	March 2009 to May 2010
13	Prof. Tijjani Mohammed Bande, OFR	May 2010 to February 2016
14	Mr. Jonathan Juma Mela, mni	February 2016 to August 2019 (Acted)
15	Prof. Habu S. Galadima	August 2019 to December 2020
16	Brig. Gen. CFJ Udaya (rtd) plsc+, mni	December 2020 to March 2022 (Acted)
17	Prof. Ayo Omotayo	March 2022 till date

Since its inception in 1979, the Institute has had Boards of Governors, chaired respectively by:

#	NAME	PERIOD
1	Chief S.O. Adebo	1979 to 1982
2	S.O. Wei	Dec. 1982 to February 1983
3	Chief M.O. Ani	April 1983 to 1985
4	Maj Gen I.B.M. Haruna (rtd)	1985 to 1993
5	Maj Gen G.O. Ejiga (rtd)	1993 to 1994
6	Sylvester Ugo	2002 to 2006
7	Dakum Shawn	Feb. 2006 to October 2006
8	Lt Gen Saliyu Ibrahim (rtd)	October 2006 to 2008
9	Maj Gen Paul Ufuoma Omu (rtd)	2009 to 2015
10	Ignatius Longjam	2018
11	General AG Olonisakin	October 2018 - March 2021
12	General LEO Irabor	March 2021 - 2024
13	Senator Dr Ken Nnamani, GCON	Interim Chairman (April 2025 - Date)