The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria has held a workshop aimed at harmonizing the Standing Orders of State Houses of Assembly to strengthen legislative governance and promote uniformity in parliamentary practice.
The workshop, which took place on today at the Lagos Continental Hotel, brought together Speakers, Deputy Speakers, and Majority Leaders from State Houses of Assembly across the country. Experts from the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) also participated.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Conference of State Speakers and Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, emphasized the importance of harmonizing legislative rules to enhance collaboration, improve oversight, and ensure a more accountable governance framework at the sub-national level.
“As Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures, I am elated to see one of my key visions being fulfilled. The Conference of Speakers in Nigeria is on the verge of a groundbreaking achievement. We are poised to make history with the planned introduction of a harmonized Standing Order for all State Houses of Assembly. This monumental step, which began in 2021, is not just a procedural reform; it is a strategic move towards strengthening the efficiency, transparency, and uniformity of legislative operations across all State Houses of Assembly. By standardizing our legislative rules, we are enhancing collaboration, improving legislative oversight, and ultimately ensuring a more responsive and accountable governance framework at the sub-national level. We are happy to draw inspiration from our partners—the German Government and the United States—whose fifty states operate under centralized standing orders. In Africa, South Africa and Rwanda stand tall in this regard, and Nigeria is set to join the list of countries with harmonized legislative frameworks, further solidifying our commitment to democratic governance and institutional strengthening.”
Rt. Hon. Ogundoyin also highlighted the significance of the ongoing constitutional review, noting that State Houses of Assembly play a critical role in shaping Nigeria’s constitutional landscape. He reaffirmed the commitment of the Conference of Speakers to supporting constitutional amendments that reflect the aspirations of Nigerians.
The Resident Representative of KAS in Nigeria, Marija Peran, welcomed participants to the workshop and reiterated the importance of strengthening legislative institutions. She affirmed that harmonizing Standing Orders would promote consistency, transparency, and efficiency in legislative processes, ultimately enhancing the effectiveness of State Houses of Assembly.
Also speaking, the Director-General of NILDS, Professor Abubakar O. Sulaiman, emphasized the need to build stronger and more effective state legislatures. He stated that the workshop provided a unique opportunity to strengthen the institutional frameworks guiding legislative governance at both the national and sub-national levels.
Prof. Sulaiman highlighted the challenges facing State Houses of Assembly, referencing recent developments in Rivers State, where a state of emergency was declared, leading to the suspension of the State House of Assembly. He stressed the need for a harmonized legislative framework to ensure consistency in parliamentary practice, strengthen legislative independence, and safeguard against undue executive and judicial interference.
The workshop featured technical sessions, group discussions, and plenary debates, where participants exchanged insights and best practices. The outcome of the workshop is expected to be a harmonized Standing Order for all State Houses of Assembly, which will be ratified by the Conference of Speakers.
The event was attended by Speakers, Deputy Speakers, and Majority Leaders from across the country, as well as legislative experts from NILDS and KAS.
