Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom) Michael Martin, also declined to wear the wig; moreover, he chose to simplify other aspects of the costume, doing away with the once customary buckled court shoes and silk stockings. His successor John Bercow abandoned traditional dress, wearing a plain black gown over his lounge suit when presiding. For ceremonial occasions such as the State Opening, the Speaker wears a black and gold robe with a train; previously, this was worn over court dress with a white waterfall cravat, but the present Speaker wears plain morning dress. Whilst presiding, the Speaker sits in a chair at the front of the
Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria The Speaker of the House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the Federal House of Representatives of Nigeria. Yakubu Dogara, the current speaker, was elected on June 9, 2015. Sir Frederic Metcalfe of Great Britain became Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria in 1955. He was replaced by the first indigenous speaker, Jaja Wachuku, in 1959. As Speaker of the House, Wachuku received Nigeria's Instrument of Independence, also known as Freedom Charter, on October 1, 1960, from Princess Alexandra of Kent (Alexandra was Elizabeth II's representative at the Nigerian