The Senate President is charged with the responsibility of presiding over the National Assembly in the discharge of constituted duties which include, scrutiny of legislative instruments, initiation of bills for peace, order, and good governance, intervention in matters of National interests, confirmation of the President’s nominations of Senior Diplomats, Members of the Federal Cabinet, among other presidential appointments to establish check and balance.
This is a list of Presidents of the Senate in Nigeria’s history
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Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan
He is the current and 14th Senate President of the National Assembly of Nigeria. He assumed this post on June 11, 2019, after defeating Senator Ali Ndume in the race for the Senate President of the 9th Assembly. He got into the Nigerian political scene in 1999 when he was elected to represent Bade/Jakusko Constituency in the House of Representatives, of which he served two terms until 2007 when he successfully contested to become Yobe North Senator. He got reelected again in 2011, 2015, and 2019 as Senator representing Yobe North. He had served as Senate Majority Leader for over two years from January 2017 until June 6, 2019.
Before his detour into politics, he worked in the Yobe State Civil Service in the capacity of Education Officer in 1985 and 1986. He went on to lecture for ten years at the University of Maiduguri from 1987 until 1997.
He obtained his bachelor’s degree in Geography from the University of Maiduguri in 1984 and proceeded to receive a master’s degree in Remote sensing from Ahmadu Bello University in 1990. Thereafter, he obtained a doctorate degree in Remote Sensing/GIS from Cranfield University, England.
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Bukola Abubakar Saraki
He was the 13th President of the Senate that served from June 6, 2015, until June 6, 2009. He had occupied several other leadership positions before his reign as President of the Senate. Notable among these include, Two-term Governor of Kwara State, Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Director of Société Générale Bank (Nig.) Ltd and Special Assistant to President Olusegun Obasanjo on Budget.
He has acquired his post-primary education at Kings’s College, Lagos, and Cheltenham College, United Kingdom. He later obtained a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from London Hospital Medical College of the University of London in 1987. He worked as a Medical officer at Rush Green Hospital, Essex, the United Kingdom from 1988 until 1989 when he left the medical field.
He has received various awards and honors for his contributions, such as Ambassador at Large conferment by the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) in 2019.
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David Bonaventure Mark
He acquired military training at the Nigeria Defence Academy and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1976. Before retirement from the Nigerian Army, he attained the rank of Brigadier.
He was the President of the National Assembly of Nigeria for eight years from 2007 until 2015. His career as a Senator representing Benue South Senatorial District spun for a period of twenty years from May 1999 until May 2019. He occupied several other leadership positions prior to the positions of the Senate President, chief among these include, Military Governor of Niger State, Chairman of the Abandoned Properties Implementation Committee in 1976, and Head of Communication Ministry.
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Ken Nnamani
He represented Enugu East Senatorial District in the National Assembly from May 2003 until 2007. He assumed the position of the President of the Senate on April 5, 2005. His tenure elapsed in May 2007. His contributions in the National Assembly were evident in areas as he had Chaired Committees, as well as a been member to the following, Federal Character and Government Affairs, Privatizations, Federal Capital Training, Appropriation, and Finance.
Before entering the National Assembly, he worked in Dupont, a Fortune 500 Company, and Nova Chemicals Corporation in the job descriptions of marketing executive and consultant. He is also among the Executive Directors of Maradec Limited Company.
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Adolphus Wabara
He got elected as Senator for Abia South to the National Assembly in 1999. He got re-elected for a second term in 2003, and he became the Senate President that same year and occupied the position until he resigned from the office in April 2005. His run as a Senator in the Nigerian upper legislative chambers ended in 2007.
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Anyim Pius Anyim
He got elected to represent Ebonyi South Constituency of Ebonyi State at the National Assembly in May 1999. After the impeachment of Chuba Okadigbo by members of the National Assembly in 2000, he was elected by members of the Senate to occupy the post of President of the Senate. He held the position until May 2003.
After his time at the Nigeria National Assembly, he became the Secretary of the Federation under the administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
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Chuba Wilberforce Okadigbo
Born on December 17, 1941, and died on September 25, 2003. Chuba Okadigbo acquired his higher education in The Catholic University of America, Washington D. C., where he obtained a master’s degree in Political Science. With the zeal for education, he acquired double doctorate degrees and acted as Adjunct Association Professors in a number of universities in the United States of America.
He was President of the Senate from 1999 until his impeachment in 2000. He represented Anambra North Senatorial District at the National Assembly.
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Evan Enwerem
He served as the President of the National Assembly of Nigeria from June 3, 1999, until November 1999. He represented Imo East Senatorial Zone. He died on August 2, 2007.
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Ameh Ebute
Occupied the position of the Senate President of Nigeria in 1993. He represented Benue South Central Constituency of Benue State in the Senate.
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Iyorchia Ayu
He was the Senate President from 1992 to 1993 when he was impeached.
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Joseph Wayas
Elected to the position of the President of the Senate in 1979. His tenure as Senate President elapsed in 1983. He represented the Ogoja Senatorial District at the National Assembly.
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Nwafor Orizu
He was the Senate President for three years from 1963 until 1966.
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Dennis Osadebe
Served in the capacity of the President of the Nigerian National Assembly from 1960 until 1963.
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Nnamdi Azikiwe
He was the pioneer Senate President and occupied that office in 1960.