The 36 state Houses of Assembly in Nigeria have officially adopted a harmonised set of standing orders to standardize legislative procedures across the country.
This move aims to address inconsistencies in the suspension and impeachment of lawmakers, the removal of presiding officers, and other parliamentary processes.
The new rules, ratified at a workshop in Lagos organized by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung in collaboration with the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, will also govern budgetary procedures, appointment confirmations, elections of presiding officers, legislative reports, and the formation of special and ad hoc committees.
Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Adebo Ogundoyin, highlighted the significance of this development, stating that Nigeria was aligning with global best practices by adopting a uniform legislative framework.
“This monumental step forward, which began in 2021, is not just a procedural reform; it is a strategic step towards strengthening the efficiency, transparency, and uniformity of legislative operations across all states Houses of Assembly. By standardising 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,” Ogundoyin said.
He further noted that countries such as the United States, South Africa, and Rwanda operate similar unified legislative frameworks, and Nigeria’s adoption of harmonised standing orders would reinforce democratic governance and institutional integrity.
He expressed confidence that state assemblies would fully integrate the new rules within three months.
“We are happy to draw inspiration from our partners, the German Government and the United States of America, whose 50 states operate a centralised standing order. On the African continent, South Africa and Rwanda stand tall in this regard, and Nigeria is set to join the list of countries with harmonised legislative frameworks, further solidifying our commitment to democratic governance and institutional strengthening,” he added.
Speaking at the event, the Resident Representative of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Nigeria, Marija Peran, explained that the harmonisation process is intended to foster consistency and collaboration among the state assemblies.
She cited recent legislative crises in Lagos and Rivers states as examples of why standardized rules are necessary.
“We are only two and a half months into 2025 and some states’ Houses of Assembly have already been shaken up massively. This shows us that we cannot take either stability or democratic processes for granted.
“As we further embark on this journey, it is essential to reflect on the significance of uniform standing orders within the states’ Houses of Assembly. These orders serve as the backbone of legislative procedures, ensuring consistency, transparency and efficiency in the legislative processes.”
“The objectives of harmonising these orders are clear: to create a standardised approach that fosters collaboration, reduces procedural discrepancies and enhances the overall effectiveness of the legislative bodies,” she said.
Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, emphasized that state legislatures often face interference from the executive arm of government, making their autonomy vulnerable.
He said the harmonised standing orders would provide a structured framework to safeguard legislative independence.
“By doing so, we can build a resilient legislative system where state assemblies operate effectively, free from external disruptions,” he said.
Reflecting on past legislative crises, he added: “We must reflect deeply on the lessons from Rivers, Lagos states and other similar incidents in the past. A harmonised framework for legislative rules across the states will help promote consistency in parliamentary practice, strengthen legislative independence, and create safeguards against undue executive and judicial interventions.”
The journey toward harmonising legislative rules started in 2016, culminating in the official adoption and ratification of the standing orders at the Lagos conference.
The new framework is expected to enhance stability, transparency, and efficiency within state assemblies nationwide.
