Senate of Nigeria

Last updated

Senate
10th National Assembly
Seal of the Senate of Nigeria.svg
Type
Type
Term limits
None
History
New session started
13 June 2023 (2023-06-13)
Leadership
Godswill Akpabio, APC
since 13 June 2023
Barau Jibrin, APC
since 13 June 2023
Majority Leader
Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, APC
since 4 July 2023
Minority Leader
Patrick Abba Moro, PDP
since 21 November 2023
Majority Whip
Mohammed Tahir Monguno, APC
since 17 July 2024
Minority Whip
Osita Ngwu, PDP
since 21 November 2023
Structure
Seats109
Nigeria 10th Senate.svg
Political groups
Majority (58)

Minority (37)

Others (13)

Vacant (1)

  •   Vacant (1)
Length of term
4 years
Elections
First-past-the-post voting
Last election
25-26 February 2023
Next election
27 February 2027
Meeting place
Nigeria Senate Building (Red Chamber).jpg
National Assembly Complex
Abuja, FCT, Nigeria
Website
www.nass.gov.ng
Constitution
Constitution of Nigeria
Rules
placng.org/i/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Senate-Standing-Orders-2015-as-Amended.pdf

The Senate is the upper chamber of Nigeria's bicameral legislature, the National Assembly. The National Assembly (popularly referred to as NASS) is the nation's legislature and has the power to make laws, as summarized in chapter one, section four of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria. [1] [2] The lower chamber is the House of Representatives.

Contents

The President of the Senate is the presiding officer of the Senate, whose chief function is to guide and regulate the proceedings in the Senate. The Senate President is second in the Nigerian presidential line of succession. He is assisted by the Deputy President of the Senate. The current President is Sen. Godswill Akpabio while the current Deputy President is Sen. Barau Jibrin, both members of the APC. [3] The Senate President and his deputy are assisted by principal officers including the Majority Leader, Deputy Majority Leader, Minority Leader, Deputy Minority Leader, Chief Whip, Deputy Chief Whip, Minority Whip, and Deputy Minority Whip. In addition, there are 63 Standing Committees in the Senate chaired by Committee Chairmen. [4]

Composition

The Senate consists of 109 senators. The 36 states of Nigeria are each divided into 3 senatorial districts, with each district electing one senator using the first-past-the-post electoral system. The Federal Capital Territory elects only one senator at-large , also using first-past-the-post.

Senators serve a term of four years. There are no term limits [5] and senators can remain in the chamber for as long as they are re-elected in general elections.

The majority party is the party that has a majority of seats, either alone or as the main party of a coalition or caucus. If two or more parties are tied, the Senate President's affiliation determines which party becomes the majority party. The second largest party is the minority party.

State delegations

Functions of the Senate

Legislation

Bills may be introduced in either chamber of the National Assembly. [6]

Checks and balances

The constitution provides several unique functions for the Senate that form its ability to "check and balance" other elements of the Federal Government of Nigeria. [7] [8] These include the requirement that the Senate may advise and must consent to some of the President's government appointments; also the Senate must consent to all treaties with foreign governments and it tries all impeachments.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nigerian senators of the 9th National Assembly</span> Senators of the 9th National Assembly of Nigeria

The table below shows the list of Nigerian senators of the 9th National Assembly. The Senate includes three senators from each of the 36 states, plus one senator for the Federal Capital Territory. The Senate president is the head of the house, and assisted by the deputy Senate president. The Senate president and his deputy also work with the principal officers in the house including the majority leader, deputy majority leader, minority leader, deputy minority leader, chief whip, deputy chief whip, minority whip and deputy minority whip.

Mohammed Kola Balogun also referred to as KMB is a Nigerian politician who served as senator representing Oyo South senatorial district from 2019 to 2023. He defeated incumbent governor of Oyo State Abiola Ajimobi of the APC at the 2019 senate elections.

Yakubu Oseni is a Nigerian politician and a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for Kogi Central Senatorial District of Kogi State, Nigeria. He was elected in the February 2019 Nigerian general elections under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Shuaibu Isa Lau is a Nigerian politician who has served as the senator representing the Taraba North senatorial district since 2017. He is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Hezekiah Ayuba Dimka is a Nigerian politician who served as the senator representing the Plateau Central senatorial district from 2019 to 2023. He previously served as a board member TETFUND, North Central Nigeria in the year 2018, and was the chairman of the Senate drugs and narcotics committee from 2019 to 2023.

Halliru Dauda Jika was born in 1976 in Bauchi State, Nigeria. He is a businessman and a politician. He was once a member and shortly the speaker of Bauchi state house of assembly, member house of representatives and former senate member representing Bauchi Central. He is also known as Dokaji.

Abdulfatai Omotayo Buhari is a Nigerian Politician born 1965 in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria, who has served as senator representing Oyo North Senatorial district since 2015.

Kabir Abdullahi Barkiya is a Nigerian politician and senator. He is representing Katsina Central Senatorial seat in the Senate of Nigeria and was the director general of Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA).

References

  1. Federal Republic of Nigeria, National Assembly. "Administration" . Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  2. Federal Republic of Nigeria, National Assembly. "History And Roles" . Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  3. Federal Republic of Nigeria, National Assembly. "Principal Officers of The Senate" . Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  4. Federal Republic of Nigeria, National Assembly. "Find a Committee" . Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  5. "Pardoned for Senate". 7 August 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
  6. Article 58 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria  (1999)
  7. Federal Republic of Nigeria, National Assembly. "Senate Constitutional Role" . Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  8. Federal Republic of Nigeria, National Assembly. "Senate Constitutional Role" . Retrieved 7 August 2018.

Notes