Senate | |
---|---|
8th National Assembly | |
Type | |
Type | |
Leadership | |
Structure | |
Seats | 109 |
Political groups
|
Governing Parties Opposition Parties |
Length of term
|
4 years |
Elections | |
Multi-member plurality system | |
Last election
|
29 March 2015 |
Meeting place | |
Abuja | |
Website | |
http://www.nass.gov.ng/ |
Governing Parties
Opposition Parties
The Senate is the upper house of the National Assembly of Nigeria. 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.
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 current Senate President is Sen. Bukola Saraki of the All Progressives Congress.
The lower house is the House of Representatives.
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. Though the approval of both the Senate and the house of representatives is required for any bill, including money bills, to become law.
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.