Senators not in 10th Assembly can’t preside in 11th Assembly
Going by the amended Senate Standing Orders, senators who are not serving in the 10th Assembly cannot contest for the offices of Senate President and Deputy Senate President in 2027.
Going by the amended Senate Standing Orders, senators who are not serving in the 10th Assembly cannot contest for the offices of Senate President and Deputy Senate President in 2027.
The lawmakers amended the Red Chamber’s Standing Rules 2023 to bar fresh senators and those not returning from seeking presiding officers’ positions in the 11th Senate.
The amendment, which introduced stricter eligibility conditions for presiding and principal officers, was adopted during plenary as part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening parliamentary procedure and aligning the upper chamber with global legislative best practices, according to the lawmakers.
Under the revised rules, only senators, who have served for at least two terms of eight years — with one term immediately preceding the election — can contest for presiding offices.
The amended provision states: “A Senator shall not be eligible to contest as a Presiding Officer in an election unless he has been elected and served as a senator for at least two terms of eight years, one term of which shall immediately precede such election.”
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The implication of the new rule is that only lawmakers who served for two terms including the current 10th Senate would qualify to contest for the offices of Senate President and Deputy Senate President in the next Assembly.
The Senate also amended its rules to provide that only senators, who have been sworn-in can participate in proceedings of the chamber, including voting during the election of presiding officers.
The revised Order provides: “A senator-elect shall not participate in any proceedings of the Senate, including voting for the election of the President and Deputy President of the Senate, unless and until he has taken the Oaths.”
However, Order 3(1) of the amended rules states that “A Senator-elect may, before taking the Oaths prescribed in the Seventh Schedule to
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, take part in the election of the President and Deputy President of the Senate.”
The Senate added that senators, after taking their oaths, “shall thereafter participate in the election of the President and Deputy President of the Senate, which shall be presided over by the Clerk to the National Assembly.”
Another major amendment introduced fresh requirements for appointment as principal officers of the Senate.
The new provision states: “A senator shall not be eligible to be appointed as a Principal Officer of the Senate unless he has served as a Senator for at least a term of four years immediately preceding such an appointment.”
Leading debate on the amendment, Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Oyelola Ashiru, said the review was necessary to improve legislative efficiency and provide procedural clarity in the conduct of Senate business.
Ashiru said: “Section 60 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended empowers the Senate to regulate its own procedure, including procedures for summoning and recess, as well as the appointment and regulation of committees.”
He described the Senate Standing Orders 2023 as “the principal procedural framework guiding the conduct of legislative business, internal administration and operational realities.”
According to him, the amendments seek to “improve legislative efficiency, entrench best parliamentary practices and enhance clarity in the procedural rules.”
He said the review particularly addressed “the procedure for the first sitting of the Senate, including provision for the swearing-in of senators-elect who were absent on inauguration day within a specified timeframe.”
Ashiru explained that the amendment on election of presiding officers was intended to create “a clear ranking framework for eligibility to contest for presiding offices in line with parliamentary convention.”
He added: “The amendments also include participation in the election of presiding officers, strictly limiting self-participation to deal with issues that may arise among senators.”
The Deputy Senate Leader further said the reforms reviewed Senate sitting times and committee engagements for improved productivity, while also strengthening disciplinary procedures and committee representation across the six geopolitical zones.
He noted that the amendments formally recognised newly created standing committees, including those on Livestock Development, Regional Development Commissions for the six geopolitical zones, and Reparations and Repatriation.
“These committees are critical to strengthening legislative oversight, development frameworks, regional intervention agencies and socio-economic justice initiatives,” he said.
Ashiru warned that failure to amend the Standing Orders in line with current realities could “impede effective legislative oversight, create procedural uncertainty and weaken the institutional capacity of the Senate.”
He expressed confidence that the revised rules would “promote procedural certainty, enhance inclusiveness, strengthen oversight functions and align the Senate with global best parliamentary practices.”
