Speakers of the Federal House of Representatives

House of Reps

The Nigerian Federal House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the National Assembly, also known as Green Chamber headed by the Speaker. 

The House Speaker is the third person in line of succession to the Nigerian Presidency after the Vice President and the President of the Senate.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the Federal House of Representatives of Nigeria, elected by its membership. The House Speaker is third in line of succession to the Nigerian Presidency, after the Vice President of Nigeria and the President of the Senate of Nigeria. 

  • History of the Federal House of Representatives
  • Selection and Succession to Presidency
  • List of Speakers: Names, period of office and party affiliation
List of Nigerian Speakers are Sir Frederic Metcalfe, Jaja Wachuku, Ibrahim Jalo Waziri, Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, Chaha Biam, Agunwa Anaekwe, Salisu Buhari, Ghali Umar Na'Abba, Aminu Bello Masari, Patricia Etteh, Dimeji Bankole, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Yakubu Dogara and Femi Gbajabiamila.

Patricia Etteh was the first female Speaker in Nigeria while Dimeji Bankole was the youngest speaker elected by the House of Representative at the age of 37 after Patricia Etteh was impeached.

History of the Federal House of Representatives

Sir Frederic Metcalfe of Great Britain became the first Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria after its inauguration on 12 January 1955 by John Macpherson. 

He was replaced by the first indigenous speaker, Jaja Wachuku, in 1959. As Speaker of the House, Wachuku received Nigeria's Instrument of Independence, also known as Freedom Charter, on 1 October 1960, from Princess Alexandra of Kent (Alexandra was Elizabeth II's representative at the Nigerian Independence ceremonies). 

Chaha Biam hails from Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State. He was elected to the House of Representative on the platform of NPN in the 1983 general elections and was elected as the Speaker of House of Representative in the short-lived second tenure of Alhaji Shehu Shagari, 1 October 1983 – 31 December 1983. 

Dimeji Bankole is the youngest Speaker in the history of the House of Representatives, elected at the age of 37.

Selection and Succession to Presidency

The speaker is chosen in an indirect election conducted within the House of Representatives by its members. The line of succession to the Nigerian presidency goes to the Vice President, and then the President of the Senate should both the President and Vice President be unable to discharge the powers and duties of office. 

The "Speaker" of the House is the third in line of succession.

Chronological of the Speakers of the Nigeria's Federal House of Representatives: Their names, period in office and party affiliation.

Sir Frederic Metcalfe

1955–1959

 

Jaja Wachuku

1959 – 1960

NCNC

Ibrahim Jalo Waziri

1960 – 1966

NPC

Edwin Ume-Ezeoke

1979–1983

NPN

Chaha Biam

1983

NPN

Agunwa Anaekwe

1992 - 1993)

SDP

Salisu Buhari

1999

PDP

Ghali Umar Na'Abba

1999 - 2003

PDP

Aminu Bello Masari

2003 - 2007

PDP

Patricia Etteh

2007

PDP

Dimeji Bankole

2007 - 2011

PDP

Aminu Waziri Tambuwal

2011 - 2015

PDP

Yakubu Dogara

2015 - 2019

APC

Femi Gbajabiamila

2019 - 2023

APC

Tajudeen Abbas

2023 - date

APC


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