Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

SECTION

1.  Short title.

2.  Interpretation.

Freedom of speech

3.  Immunity from proceedings.

Evidence before committees

4.  Power of committee to order attendance of witnesses.

5.  Issue and service of summons to attend.

6.  Power to issue warrant to compel attendance.

7.  Witness may be examined on oath.

8.  Privileges of witnesses.

9.  Answers in committee not to be admissible in proceedings.

10.  False evidence.

11.  Refusal to answer or failure to attend.

12.  Fabricating evidence.

13.  Proceedings to be deemed judicial proceedings for certain purposes.

Conduct of strangers

14. Entry to Chamber or precincts of Legislative Houses.

15. Offences relating to admittance to the Chamber or precincts.

16. Obstructing members or officers, and creating disturbances, etc.

17. Power of arrest.

18. Strangers may be removed on orders of President or Speaker.

19. Influencing members.

Conduct of members

20.  Acceptance of bribes by members.

21.  Contempt of a Legislative House by members.

22.  Suspended member excluded from Chamber and precincts.

Evidence of proceedings

23.  Restriction on evidence as to certain matters.

Publication and reports

24.  Publication of certain statements and writings an offence.

25.  Printing false copies of laws or proceedings.

26.  Protection of persons responsible for publications authorised by a Legislative House.

27.  Publication of extracts of proceedings without malice.

Miscellaneous

SECTION

1. Powers of President or Speaker to be supplementary to powers otherwise conferred.
2. Notification of arrest of member of House of Representatives.
3. Courts not to exercise jurisdiction over acts of President, Speaker or officer.
4. Civil process not to be served in Chamber or precincts.
5. Restriction on prosecutions.
6. Seditious meetings, etc.

LEGISLATIVE HOUSES (POWERS AND PRIVILEGES) ACT

An Act to declare and define certain powers, privileges and immunities of the Legis-
lative Houses established under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nige-
ria and of the members of such Legislative Houses; to regulate the conduct of
members and other persons connected with the proceedings thereof and for mat-
ters concerned therewith.