Concerned about increasing external interference, speakers of the 36 state Houses of Assembly have taken steps to strengthen legislative autonomy by adopting harmonised standing orders.

At a workshop in Lagos, the Conference of Speakers ratified new rules to ensure uniformity in handling key legislative matters, including suspensions, impeachments, budgetary processes, and confirmations of executive appointments.

Chairman of the Conference, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, stressed the need for collective action to protect lawmakers from undue influence.

“We must work together to strengthen our legislative institutions and amend the constitution to safeguard presiding officers from external threats,” he said.

Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), described legislative interference as a threat to democracy, warning that lawmakers must be allowed to function independently.

The initiative has also gained international support, with Marija Peran of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Foundation commending the move as a step towards legislative excellence.