Harmonised Standing Orders: A Step Forward For Nigeria's Legislative Bodies

Revamping Legislative Procedures: The Adoption of Unified Standing Orders

Listen up, friends. In a bold move to clean up the legislative process and bring some much-needed consistency to the way things are done, the 36 States’ Houses of Assembly in Nigeria have agreed on a set of unified rules. These harmonised standing orders are designed to standardise how legislative operations run across all states, ensuring that key issues like suspensions, impeachments, and other parliamentary functions are handled fairly and uniformly.

Think of it like this: imagine each state's legislative body as a football team, but every team has its own set of rules. Now, it’s time to level the playing field. These new rules are meant to smooth out the bumps in the road when it comes to things like suspending members, removing presiding officers, dealing with budgets, and confirming executive appointments. It’s all about making sure everyone plays by the same rules, no matter where they are in the country.

A New Blueprint for Legislative Operations

But wait, there’s more. These harmonised standing orders don’t just stop at the basics. They also lay out guidelines for electing presiding officers, adopting legislative reports, approving constitutional changes, forming special committees, and even handling executive sessions. It’s like a comprehensive playbook that covers all the bases, ensuring that every state assembly is on the same page when it comes to important legislative functions.

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This big change happened during a workshop in Lagos, where members of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria gathered. The workshop was organised by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, a German foundation, in partnership with the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies. It was a meeting of minds, bringing together leaders from across the country to discuss and agree on these new standards.

Adebo Ogundoyin: Leading the Charge

In his remarks, Adebo Ogundoyin, the Chairman of the Conference of Speakers and Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, made it clear that this move puts Nigeria in the same league as countries like the United States, South Africa, and Rwanda. These nations already have centralised legislative frameworks, and now Nigeria is stepping up to join them.

Ogundoyin is confident that within the next three months, these harmonised rules will be adopted by all Houses of Assembly across the country. He described this as more than just a procedural tweak; it’s a major step forward in strengthening the efficiency, transparency, and uniformity of legislative operations. By standardising the rules, Nigeria is not only enhancing collaboration and improving oversight but also ensuring a more responsive and accountable governance framework at the sub-national level.

Ogundoyin also acknowledged the support and inspiration Nigeria has drawn from international partners, including the German Government and the United States, both of which have centralised standing orders for their states. He pointed to South Africa and Rwanda as examples of African nations that have successfully implemented similar frameworks.

“Nigeria is set to join the ranks of countries with harmonised legislative frameworks, solidifying our commitment to democratic governance and institutional strengthening,” Ogundoyin proudly declared.

Why These Rules Matter

Marija Peran, the Resident Representative of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Nigeria, kicked off the event by explaining why these harmonised assembly rules are so important. She said they’re designed to create a standardised approach that fosters collaboration, reduces procedural discrepancies, and enhances the overall effectiveness of legislative bodies.

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Reflecting on recent issues in the Lagos and Rivers States’ Houses of Assembly, Peran pointed out that these harmonised standing orders will ensure consistency, transparency, and efficiency in legislative processes. “We’re only two and a half months into 2025, and some states’ Houses of Assembly have already been rocked by controversy. This shows us that we can’t take stability or democratic processes for granted,” she remarked.

Peran emphasised the importance of having uniform standing orders, saying, “These orders are the backbone of legislative procedures, ensuring consistency, transparency, and efficiency in the legislative processes.”

Protecting Legislative Autonomy

Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, the Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, highlighted the vulnerability of legislatures due to executive interference. He argued that the standardisation of standing orders would ensure procedural clarity, uniformity in legislative conduct, and protection of legislative autonomy.

“By doing so, we can build a resilient legislative system where state assemblies operate effectively, free from external disruptions,” Sulaiman said. He also reflected on past incidents in Rivers, Lagos, and other states, noting that a harmonised framework for legislative rules would help promote consistency in parliamentary practices and safeguard legislative independence from undue executive and judicial interference.

So there you have it. Nigeria is taking a big step forward in ensuring that its legislative processes are fair, transparent, and consistent. It’s a move that could have far-reaching effects, not just for the country but for the entire region. Let’s hope this is just the beginning of a brighter, more unified future for Nigeria’s legislative bodies.