Responsibilities of the office
Presiding duties
Presides over the House when the Speaker is absent, as provided by the Constitution.
Parliamentary procedure
While chairing, manages debate, puts questions to members and maintains order under House rules.
Support for the Speaker
Assists with assigned institutional and legislative responsibilities.
Representation and scrutiny
Remains the member for Bende and participates in lawmaking, public-spending scrutiny and oversight.
Limits
The office is parliamentary. It does not confer the executive powers of a governor, minister or council chairperson.
About Benjamin Kalu
Benjamin Kalu is Deputy Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives. He represents Bende Federal Constituency, having entered the National Assembly in 2019.
Education and professional background
The National Assembly records his law degree from the University of Calabar in 1998 and an MBA from Oxford Brookes University in 2006. His professional background includes business and arbitration.
Earlier public offices
Kalu served as transition chairman of Bende Local Government Area in 2003–2004. He later worked as an executive adviser to the Governor of Abia State from 2008 to 2010.
Deputy Speaker
The deputy supports the Speaker and presides over proceedings when required. Official House proceedings record Kalu chairing sittings, handling motions and putting matters before members.
Understanding the role
The office combines parliamentary leadership with constituency representation. House decisions remain subject to the Constitution and parliamentary procedure, including the votes required for legislation and other business.
