the National Assembly is made up of two separate houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives. The senate is presided over by the Senate President while the House of Representative is presided over by the Speaker. The Senate President and the Speaker are elected by the members of each house from among themselves at the commencement of the legislative session or in the event that one of them is impeached during the session. Section 50 of the 1999 constitution provides for the creation of the offices of the Senate President and that of the Speaker. Section 50 also provides fore a Deputy Senate President and a Deputy Speaker.

Order VII of the House Rules provides extensively for the powers and duties of the Speaker which includes general control and supervision of the House. He signs all major documents emanating from the House and preserves order, and decorum. He leads controls and sets the pace for deliberations and other activities in the House. His or her powers are extensive and the office embodies the dignity and prestige of the House.

An affront or contempt on the Speaker is seen as an affront to the House as a whole and will be dealt with as such. The essential role of the Speaker is to be fair at all times. He has to ensure that all parties are given an opportunity to express their views. (In fact, in the UK, once the Speaker is elected, he has to renounce all political allegiances and resign membership of his party). The office of the Senate president is no different form that of the speaker. The Speaker is supported by a Deputy Speaker and in the absence of both of them a Speaker Pro Tempore may be appointed.