Rules and Procedures Governing Legislative Process in Nigeria

Abstract

This research has come to spotlight on the standing rules and regulations guiding the passage of bills leading to promulgation of laws by the Nigerian National Assembly. Under the Nigerian 1999 Constitution as amended, the power to legislate is vested in its National Assembly which is bi-cameral: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The concurrence of both houses is required to make laws.However, the National Assembly has power to regulate its own procedure. Therefore, the legislation process in Nigeria is governed by standing rules and procedures in addition to the Constitution specifying how legislation will be considered by each Chamber. The paper concludes that these rules and regulations and the provisions of the Constitution are mandatory and failure to abide by them by the National Assembly in passing any law in Nigeria will be unconstitutional, illegal, null and void and to no effect.