ABOUT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Nigeria operates a three-tier system of government viz; Federal, State and Local Governments with a legislative arm at each level.
At the federal level however, Nigeria operates a bicameral legislature called ‘the National Assembly’ which is subdivided into two chambers namely: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The National Assembly is thus, the country’s apex law making institution.
FUNCTION
As contained in Section 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended), “the National Assembly shall have power to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the Federation or any part thereof with respect to any matter included in the Exclusive Legislative List set out in Part I of the Second Schedule to this Constitution.”
MEMBERSHIP
Furthermore, the Constitution provides that the House of Representatives shall consist of three hundred and sixty (360) members representing constituencies of nearly equal population across the country as far as possible.
Each of these members emerge through a direct election conducted in a Federal Constituency ahead of a new Assembly and they occupy the seat for a fixed term of four years (renewable).As is common in every democracy, they perform the core functions of Law-making, Oversight and Representation. Importantly, the House of Representatives is also known as the Green Chamber.
LEADERSHIP
Upon proclamation and inauguration of a new Assembly, the sum total of Members elect a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives from among themselves. Each Assembly stands thus dissolved at the expiration of a period of four years commencing from the date of the first sitting of the House.
The Tenth Assembly is led by Right Honourable Abbas Tajudeen PhD representing Zaria Federal Constituency, Kaduna State and Right Honourable Benjamin Okezie Kalu representing Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State.They were elected as Presiding Officers of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, June 13, 2023.
Supported by the Clerk and Deputy Clerk of the House of Representatives, Leadership of the Green Chamber also comprises Principal Officers drawn from the Majority and Minority Caucuses of the House.
COMMITTEES
To ensure effective oversight of the Executive arm of government, Members of the House are further appointed into Standing Committees constituted by the Selection Committee of the House at the beginning of every Assembly. The Tenth Assembly currently consists of one hundred and thirty six (136) standing committees.
