One of the two
chambers of the Nigeria's National Assembly that make up the Bicameral
Legislature is the Senate. It is
popularly known as the Red Chamber in Nigeria.
The Senate is made up of 109 duly elected Distinguished Senators
representing Nigeria's 109 Senatorial Districts.
The
formation of the Chamber is based on three Senatorial Districts per State and
one for the Federal Capital Territory.
It is presided over by the President of the Senate and assisted by the
Deputy President of the Senate. They are also assisted by eight Principal Officers
and several Committee Chairmen and Vice Chairmen.
The
eight Principal Officers include Majority Leader, Deputy Majority Leader,
Minority Leader, Deputy Minority Leader, Chief Whip, Deputy Chief Whip,
Minority Whip and Deputy Minority Whip.
As
the highest lawmaking institution in the country, the Red Chamber is
constitutionally vested with the power of making laws for the peace, order and
good governance of the Federation. Similarly,
it is empowered to represent the interest, yearnings, aspirations and wellbeing
of the citizenry. Also, the apex Parliament
is saddled with the power of scrutinizing public institutions and officials to
ensure probity and accountability in governance.
Similarly,
the Upper Legislative house also intervenes in matters of urgent National interest
like insecurity, epidemic, drought, poverty, illiteracy, flood and other
national issues. It can also intervene
in resolving disputes between the government and labour unions with a view to
usher in industrial harmony and stabilize the nation's polity.
The
Red Chamber equally has a unique function of impeachment of the President, Vice
President, Federal Judges and other high officials of the Executives; including
the Federal Auditor General, Members of the Independent National Electoral
Commission and Federal Inland Revenue Commission.
The
Senate confirms the President's Nominations of Senior Diplomats, Members of the
Federal Cabinet, Federal Judicial Appointments, Members of the Nation's
Electoral Commission and so on.
In
discharging its Constitutional mandate, Section 62 (1) of the Constitution of
the Federal republic of Nigeria (1999) empowers the Senate and the House of
Representatives to appoint Committees of special and general purpose as may be
considered expedient. Accordingly,
members of the Senate are distributed into various Committees for the smooth
discharge of their legislative duties. The Chamber has been in the vanguard of
promoting Nigeria's democratic ideals, peace, unity and development.