OFFICERS OF THE SENATE OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS OF OFFICERS OF THE SENATE OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

 1. THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

 The President of the Senate shall:

• Preside at sittings of the Senate
• Sign the Votes and Proceedings after Approval by the Senate
• Be responsible for the observance of the Rules of the Standing Order in the Senate and Committee of the Whole
• Receive all communications addressed to the Senate
• Have general control, except as provided by rule or law, of the Chamber of Senate, and its corridors and passages
• Sign all acts, addresses, Resolutions, writs, warrants and subpoena issued by Order of the Senate
• Be responsible for the observance of the Rules of debates. He shall give rulings on Points of Order or of Constitution raised during debates
• Have a casting vote to avoid equality of votes but shall not vote in any other case
• Interpret the Rules

2. DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

 The Deputy President of the Senate shall:

• Perform all the duties and functions of the President of the Senate in the absence of the President of the Senate
• In the absence of the President of the Senate and Deputy President of the Senate, such Senator as the Senate may elect for the purpose shall preside, such Senator shall be known as “President Pro-Tempore”.

3. LEADER OF THE SENATE

 The Leader shall be a Senator nominated from the party with the highest number of seats in the Senate.  The Leader of the Senate shall:

• Lead the business of the Senate
• Liaise with Committee Chairmen and other functionaries of the Senate, and
• Perform such duties as the President may allocate / assign to him

4. DEPUTY LEADER OF THE SENATE

 The Deputy Leader shall be a Senator nominated from the party with the highest number of seats in the Senate.  The Deputy Leader shall:

• Assist the Leader of the Senate in the performance of his functions; and
• Act for the Leader of the Senate in his absence

5. CHIEF WHIP

The Chief Whip shall be a Senator nominated from the party with the highest number of seats in the Senate.  The Chief Whip shall:

• Maintain Order and decorum in the Senate
• Manage the affairs of his party during meetings
• Organise the party members in divisions and debates
• Arrange the business of the party on the floor of the Senate

6. DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP

 The Deputy Chief Whip shall:

• Assist the Chief Whip in the performance of his / her functions; and
• Act for the Chief Whip in his / her absence

7. MINORITY LEADER

The Minority Leader of the Senate shall be nominated from the Minority parties in the Senate.  The Minority Leader shall:

• Liaise with the Senate Majority Leader
• Second motions for the parties on major issues
• Second motions on formal and non-partisan business of the Senate
• Perform such duties as the President may allocate to him

8. MINORITY WHIP

The Minority Whip of the Senate shall be a Senator nominated from among the minority parties in the Senate.  The Minority Whip shall:

• Manage the affairs of his party during meetings
• Organize Minority party members in divisions and debates; and
• Arrange the business of the minority parties on the floor of the Senate

9. DEPUTY MINORITY LEADER

The Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate shall be a Senator nominated from the Minority Parties in the Senate.  The Deputy Minority Leader shall:

• Assist the Minority Leader in the performance of his functions; and
• Act for the Minority Leader in his / her absence

10. DEPUTY MINORY WHIP

The Deputy Minority Whip shall be a Senator nominated from the Minority Parties in the Senate.  The Deputy Minority Whip shall:

• Assist the Minority Whip in the performance of his / her functions; and
• Act for the Minority Whip in his / her absence

Senate Standing Orders, 2022 (as amended)