Seats 109 | Length of term 4 years | |
 | ||
Type Upper house of the National Assembly of Nigeria President of the Senate Bukola Saraki, APC
Since June 9, 2015 Deputy President of the Senate Ike Ekweremadu, PDP
Since June 9, 2015 Political groups Governing Parties
All Progressives Congress (60)
Opposition Parties
People's Democratic Party (49) | ||
The Senate is the upper house of the Nigeria's bicameral legislature, the National Assembly of Nigeria. The National Assembly (popularly referred to as NASS) is the nation's highest legislature, whose power to make laws is summarised in chapter one, section four of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution. It consists of 109 senators: the 36 states are each divided in 3 senatorial districts each electing one senator; the Federal Capital Territory elects only one senator.
Contents
- Legislation
- Checks and Balances
- Majority and minority parties
- Term
- The list of senators for Nigerias 8th Assembly
- References
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 third in the Nigerian presidential line of succession. He is assisted by the Deputy President of the Senate. The current Senate President is Sen. Bukola Saraki of the All Progressives Congress and the current Deputy Senate President is Ike Ekweremadu. The Senate President and his Deputy are also 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 54 Standing Committees in the Senate chaired by Committee Chairmen.
The lower house is the House of Representatives.
Legislation
Bills may be introduced in any chamber of the National Assembly. However,the Nigerian constitution provides that money bills (Revenue and Appropriation bills) must originate in the House of Representatives, although the approval of both the Senate and the House of Representatives is required for any bill, including money bills, to become law.
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.These include the requirement that the Senate may advice 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.
Majority and minority parties
The "Majority party" is the party that either has a majority of seats or can form a coalition or caucus with a majority of seats; 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.
Term
Senators serve a term of four years until a General election. Senators have unlimited tenure and can remain in the chamber for as long as they are re-elected in general elections.