Nigerian National Assembly
Encyclopedia
The National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
is a bicameral
legislature established under section 4 of the Nigerian Constitution. It consists of a Senate and a 360-member House of Representatives. The body, modelled after the federal Congress
of the United States
, is supposed to guarantee equal representation of the states
irrespective of size in the Senate and proportional representation
of population in the House. The National Assembly, like many other organs of the Nigerian government, is based in the federal capital Abuja
.
, who stepped down from the job to become the country's first Head of State. The House is chaired by the Speaker of the House of Representatives
. At any joint session of the Assembly, the President of the Senate presides and in his absence the Speaker of the House presides.
s and the conduct of government officials. Since the restoration of democratic rule
in 1999, the Assembly has been said to be a "learning process" that has witnessed the election and removal of several Presidents of the Senate, allegations of corruption
, slow passage of private member's bills and the creation of ineffective committees to satisfy numerous interests.
In spite of a more than two-thirds majority control of the Assembly by the ruling People's Democratic Party
(PDP), the PDP government led by Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua
and the Assembly have been known more for their disagreements than for their cooperation. President Yar'Adua has been accused of being slow to implement policy. Many bills, some from as long ago as 2007, are still awaiting the President's assent. While the Assembly has made strong and often popular efforts to assert its authority and independence against the executive, it is still viewed generally in a negative light by the media and many of the Nigerian people. The Assembly sits for a period of at most four years, after which time the President is required to dissolve it and call a new Assembly into session.
The Senate has the unique power of impeachment of judge
s and other high officials of the executive including the Federal Auditor-General and the members of the electoral and revenue commissions. This power is, however, subject to prior request by the President. The Senate also confirms the President's nomination of senior diplomats, members of the federal cabinet
, federal judicial
appointments and independent federal commissions.
Before any bill may become law, it must be agreed to by both the House and the Senate, and receive the President's assent. Should the President delay or refuse assent (veto
) the bill, the Assembly may pass the law by two-thirds of both chambers and overrule the veto and the President's consent will not be required. The present Assembly has not hidden its preparedness to overrule the executive where they disagree.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
is a bicameral
Bicameralism
In the government, bicameralism is the practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers. Thus, a bicameral parliament or bicameral legislature is a legislature which consists of two chambers or houses....
legislature established under section 4 of the Nigerian Constitution. It consists of a Senate and a 360-member House of Representatives. The body, modelled after the federal Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, is supposed to guarantee equal representation of the states
States of Nigeria
Nigeria is currently divided into 36 states and Abuja, the federal capital territory. The states are further divided into 774 Local Government Areas....
irrespective of size in the Senate and proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
of population in the House. The National Assembly, like many other organs of the Nigerian government, is based in the federal capital Abuja
Abuja
Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria. It is located in the centre of Nigeria, within the Federal Capital Territory . Abuja is a planned city, and was built mainly in the 1980s. It officially became Nigeria's capital on 12 December 1991, replacing Lagos...
.
Leadership
The Senate is chaired by the President of the Nigerian Senate, the first of whom was Nnamdi AzikiweNnamdi Azikiwe
Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe , usually referred to as Nnamdi Azikiwe and popularly known as "Zik", was one of the leading figures of modern Nigerian nationalism who became the first President of Nigeria after Nigeria secured its independence from the United Kingdom on 1 October 1960; holding the...
, who stepped down from the job to become the country's first Head of State. The House is chaired by the 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:...
. At any joint session of the Assembly, the President of the Senate presides and in his absence the Speaker of the House presides.
| OFFICE | NAME | TERM |
| President of the Senate | David Mark David Mark David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark is the President of the Senate of Nigeria and Senator for the Benue South constituency of Benue State. He is a member of the People's Democratic Party .... |
06 June 2007–present |
| 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:... |
Aminu Waziri Tambuwal Aminu Waziri Tambuwal Aminu Waziri Tambuwal is the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria. He is a People's Democratic Party member and represents the Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency of Sokoto State.-Early life and education:Right Hon... |
06 June 2011–present |
Functions
The Assembly has broad oversight functions and is empowered to establish committees of its members to scrutinise billBill (proposed law)
A bill is a proposed law under consideration by a legislature. A bill does not become law until it is passed by the legislature and, in most cases, approved by the executive. Once a bill has been enacted into law, it is called an act or a statute....
s and the conduct of government officials. Since the restoration of democratic rule
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
in 1999, the Assembly has been said to be a "learning process" that has witnessed the election and removal of several Presidents of the Senate, allegations of corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
, slow passage of private member's bills and the creation of ineffective committees to satisfy numerous interests.
In spite of a more than two-thirds majority control of the Assembly by the ruling People's Democratic Party
People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)
The People's Democratic Party is a political party in Nigeria. Its policies generally lie towards the right wing of the political spectrum. It has won every single Presidential elections since 1999, namely: 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011, and is the dominant party in the Fourth Republic.-History:In...
(PDP), the PDP government led by Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua was the President of Nigeria and the 13th Head of State. He served as governor of Katsina State in northern Nigeria from 29 May 1999 to 28 May 2007. He was declared the winner of the controversial Nigerian presidential election held on 21 April 2007, and was sworn in on 29 May...
and the Assembly have been known more for their disagreements than for their cooperation. President Yar'Adua has been accused of being slow to implement policy. Many bills, some from as long ago as 2007, are still awaiting the President's assent. While the Assembly has made strong and often popular efforts to assert its authority and independence against the executive, it is still viewed generally in a negative light by the media and many of the Nigerian people. The Assembly sits for a period of at most four years, after which time the President is required to dissolve it and call a new Assembly into session.
The Senate has the unique power of impeachment of judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
s and other high officials of the executive including the Federal Auditor-General and the members of the electoral and revenue commissions. This power is, however, subject to prior request by the President. The Senate also confirms the President's nomination of senior diplomats, members of the federal cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
, federal judicial
Judiciary
The judiciary is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes...
appointments and independent federal commissions.
Before any bill may become law, it must be agreed to by both the House and the Senate, and receive the President's assent. Should the President delay or refuse assent (veto
Veto
A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is the power of an officer of the state to unilaterally stop an official action, especially enactment of a piece of legislation...
) the bill, the Assembly may pass the law by two-thirds of both chambers and overrule the veto and the President's consent will not be required. The present Assembly has not hidden its preparedness to overrule the executive where they disagree.
National Assembly State Delegations
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See also
- Nigerian First RepublicNigerian First RepublicThe First Republic was the republican government of Nigeria between 1963 and 1966 governed by the first republican constitution.-Founding :...
(1963-1966) - Nigerian Second RepublicNigerian Second RepublicThe Second Republic was the republican government of Nigeria between 1979 and 1983 governed by the second republican constitution.- Founding :...
(1979-1983) - Nigerian Third RepublicNigerian Third RepublicThe Third Republic was the planned republican government of Nigeria in 1993 which was to be governed by the Third Republican constitution.- Founding :...
(1993) - Nigerian Fourth RepublicNigerian Fourth RepublicThe Fourth Republic is the republican government of Nigeria. Since 1999 it has governed the country according to the fourth republican constitution. It was in many ways a revival of the Second Republic, which was in place between 1979 and 1983 and suffers many of the same problems, such as multiple...
(1999-present) - Elections in NigeriaElections in NigeriaElections in Nigeria are democratic forms of choosing representatives to the Nigerian federal government and the various states in Nigeria.-Background:...