(1) When the National Assembly first meets after any general
election and before it proceeds to the despatch of any other business, if shall
elect a person to be the Speaker of the Assembly; and if the office of Speaker
falls vacant at any time before the next dissolution of Parliament the Assembly
shall, as soon as practicable, elect another person to that office.
(2) The Speaker may be elected from among the members of the National
Assembly who are not members of the Cabinet or Parliamentary Secretaries or from
among persons who are not members of the Assembly but who are qualified for
election as a Representative or appointment as a Senator.
(3) When the National Assembly first meets after any general election and
before it proceeds to the despatch of any other business except the election of
the Speaker the Assembly shall elect a member of the Assembly who is not a
member of the Cabinet or a Parliamentary Secretary to be Deputy Speaker of the
Assembly, and if the office of Deputy Speaker falls vacant at any time before
the next dissolution of Parliament, the Assembly shall, as soon as convenient,
elect another such member to that office.
(4) No business shall be transacted in the National Assembly (other than the
election of a Speaker) at any time when the office of Speaker is vacant.
(5) A person shall vacate the office of Speaker or Deputy Speaker-
a) in the case of a Speaker elected from among the members of the National
Assembly or in the case of the Deputy Speaker-
i) if he ceases to be a member of the Assembly:
Provided that the Speaker shall not vacate his office by reason only that he
has ceased to be a member of the Assembly on a dissolution of Parliament, until
the Assembly first meets after the dissolution; or
ii) if he becomes a member of the Cabinet or a Parliamentary Secretary.
b) in the case of a Speaker elected from among persons who are not members of
the Assembly-
i) when the Assembly first meets after any dissolution of Parliament;
ii) if he ceases to be a citizen; or
iii) if any circumstances arise that would cause him to be disqualified for
election as a Representative or appointment as a Senator; or
c) in the case of the Deputy Speaker, if he is elected to be Speaker.
(6) a) If, by virtue of section 31(4),the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker is
required to cease to perform his functions as a member of the National Assembly
he shall also cease to perform his functions as Speaker or Deputy Speaker, as
the case may be, and those functions shall, until he vacates his seat in the
Assembly or resumes the performance of the functions of his office, be
performed-
i) In the case of the Speaker, by the Deputy Speaker or, if the office of
Deputy Speaker is vacant or the Deputy Speaker is required to cease to perform
his functions as a member of the Assembly, by such member of the Assembly (not
being a member of the Cabinet or a Parliamentary Secretary) as the Assembly may
elect for the purpose;
ii) in the case of the Deputy Speaker, by such member of the Assembly (not
being a member of the Cabinet or a Parliamentary Secretary) as the Assembly may
elect for the purpose.
b) If the Speaker or Deputy Speaker resumes the performance of his functions
as a member of the Assembly, he shall also resume the performance of his
functions as Speaker or Deputy Speaker, as the case may be.