Federal (National)Legislative

Speaker of the House of Representatives

The Speaker of the House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the lower chamber of the National Assembly and the fourth-highest constitutional office in Nigeria. The Speaker controls the legislative agenda of the House and chairs all plenary sessions.

Term length

4 years

Elected by the House at the start of each legislative session

Seats

Minimum age

— years

Constitutional basis

Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Section 50(1)(c)

Qualifications to stand

✓Must first be a serving Member of the House of Representatives
✓Elected by majority vote of all 360 HOR members at the start of each session

Roles and responsibilities

•Preside over all House of Representatives plenary sessions
•Maintain order and discipline during debates
•Sign bills passed by the House before transmission to the Senate or President
•Represent the House in formal and ceremonial functions
•Appoint HOR members to standing committees
•Jointly with the Senate President, can act as President if both President and VP are incapacitated

Powers

◆Power to rule on points of order and interpret House Standing Orders
◆Power to refer bills to relevant committees
◆Power to constitute and dissolve House committees
◆Casting vote in the event of a tie
◆Control of the House chamber and its precincts

Checks and oversight

Who holds this office accountable?

⚖House of Representatives — can vote to remove the Speaker by a majority
⚖Electorate — still answerable to constituency
⚖Code of Conduct Bureau — asset declaration

Remuneration

₦2,026,400 per annum (basic HOR member salary)

The Speaker receives additional allowances for the presiding office

Election

Conducted byHouse of Representatives (internal election)

Elected by majority vote of all 360 House members at the start of each session

How to run for this office

Step-by-step guide to becoming a candidate in Nigeria.

Browse current officials

See who holds elected offices in Nigeria right now.

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