By Mosope Kehinde

The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria has convened a workshop to harmonize the Standing Orders of State Houses of Assembly, with the aim of strengthening legislative governance and promoting uniformity in parliamentary practice.

The workshop, which took place in Lagos brought together Speakers, Deputy Speakers and Majority Leaders from State Houses of Assembly across the country, as well as experts from the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS).

In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Conference of Speakers and Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Mr. Adebo Ogundoyin, emphasized the importance of harmonizing the Standing Orders of State Houses of Assembly. 

He noted that the move would enhance collaboration, improve legislative oversight, and ensure a more responsive and 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 as Conference head 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 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 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 the our partner – the German Government and the United States of America, whose fifty States operate a centralized standing order. In the African continent, 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.” Oyo Speaker said 

Mr. Ogundoyin also highlighted the significance of the ongoing constitution review process, stressing that State Houses of Assembly play a critical role in shaping the constitutional landscape of the country. 

He pledged the commitment of the Conference of Speakers to supporting the amendment process and ensuring that the voices of Nigerians are heard.