ABUJA — The Senate of Nigeria has approved a major amendment to its Standing Orders, restricting eligibility for the office of Senate President to lawmakers who served in the 10th National Assembly and are re-elected into the 11th Senate.
The decision was reached after a closed-door session on Tuesday, where senators adopted new guidelines aimed at strengthening hierarchy, experience, and institutional stability within the upper chamber.
Under the revised framework, only senators with at least two terms in office will qualify to contest for principal leadership positions, with one of those terms required to be the immediate preceding tenure.
The amended Order 4 also reinforces a ranking system that prioritises former presiding officers, principal officers, and experienced lawmakers over first-term senators in leadership consideration.
By implication, the Senate President and other principal offices will now be open only to returning members of the 10th Senate who secure re-election into the 11th Assembly.
Lawmakers say the reform is designed to preserve legislative tradition, improve order, and ensure that leadership roles are occupied by members with adequate parliamentary experience.
