House of Assembly
Background
The House of Assembly is the state-level legislature, responsible for making laws and overseeing the executive branch. It is a unicameral body, meaning it has only one chamber, and its members are elected to four-year terms.
There are 36 Houses of Assembly in Nigeria from each state. Abuja has none as it is not a state; there is no territory-wide legislature analogous to a State House of Assembly, with its second-highest level of government being the federally appointed Federal Capital Territory Administration. Its second highest level of elected government is its six area councils.
Lagos state has the highest number of members of the House of Assembly, 40, while states like Abia, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Gombe, Kebbi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara has 24 members in their houses of assembly.
Each House of Assembly is headed by an elected Speaker.
Functions of State Houses of Assembly
Legislation
They make laws for the state on matters within their legislative competence and pass bills that can become state laws after assent by the governor.
Oversight
They monitor and supervise the activities of the state executive branch (governor and ministries). They ensure government funds are properly used and policies are effectively implemented.
Budget approval
They review, amend, and approve the state budget presented by the governor and control state expenditure through budgetary oversight.
Others functions of the houses of Assembly include representation, confirmation and appointment, impeachment powers, law amendment and repeal, constituency projects and others.
