Federal (National)Legislative

Member of the House of Representatives

The House of Representatives has 360 members, one per federal constituency. As the lower chamber of the National Assembly, the HOR has exclusive power to introduce budget bills and is where impeachment proceedings against the President begin.

Term length

4 years

Seats

360

360 federal constituencies, roughly proportional to population

Minimum age

30 years

Category

Legislative

Constitutional basis

Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Sections 48–89

Qualifications to stand

  • Nigerian citizen
  • At least 30 years of age
  • Member of a registered political party
  • Minimum School Certificate or equivalent
  • Resident in the federal constituency or owned property there for at least one year before the election
  • Not under sentence of death or imprisonment exceeding 12 months

Roles and responsibilities

  • Initiate or co-sponsor bills
  • Pass appropriation (budget) bills
  • Oversee Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs)
  • Represent constituency interests in national legislation
  • Participate in conference committees reconciling Senate and HOR bills
  • Receive and act on constituent petitions

Powers

  • Concurrent legislative authority with the Senate on most matters
  • Exclusive power to initiate money bills (Appropriation Bills)
  • Power to impeach the President or Vice President (proceedings start in HOR)
  • Committee oversight authority over MDAs

Checks and oversight

Who holds this office accountable?

  • Electorate — elections every four years
  • Speaker of the House and Standing Orders
  • National/State Electoral Tribunal — election petitions
  • Code of Conduct Bureau

Remuneration

₦2,026,400 per annum (basic)

Total consolidated package including allowances is set by RMAFC

Election

Conducted byIndependent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
Federal constituency election — plurality winner (first past the post)

Related offices

Information based on the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2022.