The Nigerian Senate has introduced a new rule that could lead to the removal of senators-elect who fail to take their oath of office within 14 legislative days after the inauguration of a new Senate.
Truthng reports that the new provision is part of the amended Senate Standing Orders recently adopted by lawmakers.
Under the new arrangement, any senator-elect who misses the first sitting of the Senate can still be sworn in later by the Senate President, but it must happen within 14 legislative days from the day the Senate is inaugurated.
If the senator-elect does not take the oath within that period, the Senate may declare the seat vacant and notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organise another election in the affected senatorial district.
The amendment is aimed at stopping long delays caused by court cases, political disagreements or prolonged absence of elected lawmakers after inauguration.
The Senate also retained another rule that limits the positions of Senate President and Deputy Senate President to ranking lawmakers who have spent enough years in the National Assembly.
According to the amended rules, anyone interested in becoming Senate President or Deputy Senate President must have served as a senator for at least two full terms, with one of those terms coming immediately before the election into the office.
